Not sure why there's so much criticism. This was a thoughtful showing of what must have been a terrifying time for all the crews in the Atlantic
It gave us nothing more than getting straight to the point kill or be killed in 24 hrs and to think the reality would have gone on for weeks .
I thought the effects were great and the realism worked well , really saw what a cold , wet and very hostile place and they were stuck in a very cramped tin tub without a break .
Because it was only about a day then the film is kept very short , especially compared to most nowadays.
Just watch and enjoy and thank it will never be like that for any of us
953 Reviews
This was spectacular...
paul_haakonsen10 July 2020
Holy moly...
Well, another amazing World War II endeavor notch on Tom Hank's belt. "Greyhound" was definitely an amazing movie. When I sat down to watch it, I didn't really believe it would be up there alongside with the likes of "Saving Private Ryan" or "Band of Brothers", but it was. Oh yes, it was.
"Greyhound" is a very intense naval war movie, and it was just great entertainment from beginning to end. I particularly liked the way that the movie was filmed, because it felt very dynamic and action-packed, sort of like I was right there alongside the fellows aboard the Greyhound and could almost smell the brine in the air.
I must admit that I was surprised to find that Tom Hanks himself was the screenwriter for "Greyhound", and hats off to him for this achievement, because this was without a doubt a very enjoyable war movie.
The movie also had a great cast ensemble to boast, with lots of great performances from the actors in the movie. That definitely helped to add authenticity to the movie.
Visually then "Greyhound" was just spectacular. I really liked the presentation of the movie and the way it was shot. There was so much activity and realism in the scenes that it most certainly had a great war movie feel to it.
My rating of "Greyhound" is an eight out of ten stars. This movie definitely took me by surprise, and if you enjoy World War II movies - with a naval theme, mind you - then "Greyhound" is the movie you should sit down and watch. Quite entertaining and well worth the time spent watching it.
Well, another amazing World War II endeavor notch on Tom Hank's belt. "Greyhound" was definitely an amazing movie. When I sat down to watch it, I didn't really believe it would be up there alongside with the likes of "Saving Private Ryan" or "Band of Brothers", but it was. Oh yes, it was.
"Greyhound" is a very intense naval war movie, and it was just great entertainment from beginning to end. I particularly liked the way that the movie was filmed, because it felt very dynamic and action-packed, sort of like I was right there alongside the fellows aboard the Greyhound and could almost smell the brine in the air.
I must admit that I was surprised to find that Tom Hanks himself was the screenwriter for "Greyhound", and hats off to him for this achievement, because this was without a doubt a very enjoyable war movie.
The movie also had a great cast ensemble to boast, with lots of great performances from the actors in the movie. That definitely helped to add authenticity to the movie.
Visually then "Greyhound" was just spectacular. I really liked the presentation of the movie and the way it was shot. There was so much activity and realism in the scenes that it most certainly had a great war movie feel to it.
My rating of "Greyhound" is an eight out of ten stars. This movie definitely took me by surprise, and if you enjoy World War II movies - with a naval theme, mind you - then "Greyhound" is the movie you should sit down and watch. Quite entertaining and well worth the time spent watching it.
Worthy WW 2 Navy Saga - Greyhound
arthur_tafero19 May 2022
Tom Hanks is like a fine wine; he gets better with age. He was very entertaining when he started out several years ago, and now he is as good as any actor in Hollywood. And now, he is also an accomplished screenwriter. He did a great job with this one, and I look forward to his next work. Greyhound is about a convoy vs a wolfpack of German subs. Simple story; complex features. The cinematography and pacing is first-rate. Thankfully, the film is not bogged down by romantic devices often found in WW2 films; it is strictly meat and potatoes warfare. Don't miss this one, and don't forget the sacrifices that generation made for us.
Entertaining movie without over doing it
dsk-917-1471310 July 2020
Spectacle? Dramatization? No. This movie allowed me to experience ww2 naval combat without the bombast of the usual action movie. It felt realistic with a decent amount of suspense, a glimpse through the eyes of the captain.
Technically right but ... something missing
lewisaldo10 July 2020
Though the movie might have been right on technical terms , it somehow did not unleash the potential it had
I felt the movie could have been longer with a better depiction of the enemy to understand the details on strategy better
The climax (if any) was not up to the mark
U571 and Das Boot had done a better job long time ago
However in these time of pandamic with nothing new in the offering; this is worth a watch
I felt the movie could have been longer with a better depiction of the enemy to understand the details on strategy better
The climax (if any) was not up to the mark
U571 and Das Boot had done a better job long time ago
However in these time of pandamic with nothing new in the offering; this is worth a watch
Good example of Battle of the Atlantic action during WW2.
TxMike12 July 2020
One interesting fact about this movie is the decision to sell rights to Apple TV for online streaming rather than wait until movie houses are allowed to open again. It streams with great video and with Dolby sound.
This is a fictional story, based on the 1955 novel "The Good Shepherd" by C. S. Forester, and Tom Hanks wrote the script. He also stars as the fictional Captain Krause making his first trans-Atlantic trip as Commander of the destroyer code named Greyhound.
This was early 1942, not long after Pearl Harbor and before the battle of Midway. The US was still new to the war and Germany had to be defeated. Support required many merchant ships to deliver people and goods from the US to Britain. Germans patrolled that area of the North Atlantic with a fleet of submarines (U-boats) with the goal to sink as many as possible. In the middle of the transit, far from land, air support was unavailable. The Greyhound's task, along with a small handful of other military ships, was to protect the large fleet of commercial ships until they get back into air support range. U-boats didn't do well against aircraft with bombs and depth charges.
The producers took pains to make details, conversations, and action as realistic as they could. There isn't much character development, except for a bit at the beginning the entire movie is almost non-stop action at sea as the convoy battles U-boats and gets back into aircraft range.
This is a well-made movie, my wife and I had a good viewing experience. A graphic at the end states that during the war, 3,500 commercial ships were sunk and many thousands died. Allies sank 783 U-boats.
This is a fictional story, based on the 1955 novel "The Good Shepherd" by C. S. Forester, and Tom Hanks wrote the script. He also stars as the fictional Captain Krause making his first trans-Atlantic trip as Commander of the destroyer code named Greyhound.
This was early 1942, not long after Pearl Harbor and before the battle of Midway. The US was still new to the war and Germany had to be defeated. Support required many merchant ships to deliver people and goods from the US to Britain. Germans patrolled that area of the North Atlantic with a fleet of submarines (U-boats) with the goal to sink as many as possible. In the middle of the transit, far from land, air support was unavailable. The Greyhound's task, along with a small handful of other military ships, was to protect the large fleet of commercial ships until they get back into air support range. U-boats didn't do well against aircraft with bombs and depth charges.
The producers took pains to make details, conversations, and action as realistic as they could. There isn't much character development, except for a bit at the beginning the entire movie is almost non-stop action at sea as the convoy battles U-boats and gets back into aircraft range.
This is a well-made movie, my wife and I had a good viewing experience. A graphic at the end states that during the war, 3,500 commercial ships were sunk and many thousands died. Allies sank 783 U-boats.
Ridiculous but watchable.....
s327616910 July 2020
The US has a habit of bending the truth to suit its ends but in this case, it breaks it.
"Greyhound" heavy handidly plays the underdog, with its premise of a destroyer on its first outing taking on an absurdly brazen wolfpack of German U-boats. Its captain is an honest, hardworking, god bothering, sterotype. He'll give no quarter and fight till the end, against overwhelming odds.
Now for the reality. The US suffered massive losses in the early days of merchant shipping. The U-boats had a free hand. Indeed, even when the US military started deploying destroyers and the like, to escort shipping, they had no idea how to counter their experienced German adversaries. To make matters worse, their proud admiralty were reluctant to take advice from the British, who had considerable experience dealing with the threat.
The notion too, that German U-boats would sit openly on the surface, in defiance of a destroyer or send goading messages, is complete and utter nonsense. Its unfair too, to assume the Germans "liked" what they did. Most historical accounts showed they had considerable sympathy for the plight of the men whose ships they sunk. A fate they often shared.
On the upside this film is entertaining for those who are oblivious to historical reality. Its paced well, has loads of action and as per usual Tom Hanks fits hand in glove, into his role. Their is no denying the mans acting credentials. To round things off, cinamatography is top notch and the special effects are convincing.
6/10.
"Greyhound" heavy handidly plays the underdog, with its premise of a destroyer on its first outing taking on an absurdly brazen wolfpack of German U-boats. Its captain is an honest, hardworking, god bothering, sterotype. He'll give no quarter and fight till the end, against overwhelming odds.
Now for the reality. The US suffered massive losses in the early days of merchant shipping. The U-boats had a free hand. Indeed, even when the US military started deploying destroyers and the like, to escort shipping, they had no idea how to counter their experienced German adversaries. To make matters worse, their proud admiralty were reluctant to take advice from the British, who had considerable experience dealing with the threat.
The notion too, that German U-boats would sit openly on the surface, in defiance of a destroyer or send goading messages, is complete and utter nonsense. Its unfair too, to assume the Germans "liked" what they did. Most historical accounts showed they had considerable sympathy for the plight of the men whose ships they sunk. A fate they often shared.
On the upside this film is entertaining for those who are oblivious to historical reality. Its paced well, has loads of action and as per usual Tom Hanks fits hand in glove, into his role. Their is no denying the mans acting credentials. To round things off, cinamatography is top notch and the special effects are convincing.
6/10.
Wanted to Like This More than I Did
leftbanker-110 July 2020
It was just OK which is reflected in my 6 star rating, which I think is generous. They made little effort at any sort of character development. Hanks has some sort of love interest that is hinted at, but that's it. I thought they were going to build some sort of bond between the captain and his Black cook, but that never got off the ground. We know almost nothing more about the man at the end than in the beginning.
It's a difficult challenge to portray on film the battle between a destroyer and a submarine. This movie never really pulls that off, it's like listening to one side of a telephone conversation. The German U-boats never seem to be part of the narrative. They try to bring the U-boats in with their radio broadcasts which come across more as obscene phone calls than viable dialogue.
Almost exactly half of the dialogue is sailors repeating orders. It got very tedious, very quickly. I thought they went too far in the whole "navy talk" department.
I found the U-boat attack theme music to be mostly bothersome and heavy-handed, like death wail of a fat man, or a runner-up in Dumb and Dumber's most annoying sound in the world.
The sea burial onboard was a moving tribute to our military dead. I couldn't imagine a better resting place than the open sea. I was air force and not really sure what we did. Threw bodies out the back of a C130? That'd be cool with me.
It's a difficult challenge to portray on film the battle between a destroyer and a submarine. This movie never really pulls that off, it's like listening to one side of a telephone conversation. The German U-boats never seem to be part of the narrative. They try to bring the U-boats in with their radio broadcasts which come across more as obscene phone calls than viable dialogue.
Almost exactly half of the dialogue is sailors repeating orders. It got very tedious, very quickly. I thought they went too far in the whole "navy talk" department.
I found the U-boat attack theme music to be mostly bothersome and heavy-handed, like death wail of a fat man, or a runner-up in Dumb and Dumber's most annoying sound in the world.
The sea burial onboard was a moving tribute to our military dead. I couldn't imagine a better resting place than the open sea. I was air force and not really sure what we did. Threw bodies out the back of a C130? That'd be cool with me.
Intense, compressed, brief...
rodpevoto11 July 2020
Having served in the Cold War on both a destroyer and on a submarine, I found this story contrasting the tensions between both worlds. The action is shown from the bridge, CIC, and decks of the Greyhound, which BTW is the slang term for destroyers and those who serve on them. Hanks subtly conveys the ache of leaving a loved one behind and her presence with him during the battle. He and his crew feel the presence of the subs stalking the surface ships and the deaths of sailors both above and below the icy water. There is no perfect rendering of combat in film, but the repeated commands and protocols between naval personnel and vessels are accurate enough to convey a sense of proper urgency to the story. Compressing roughly 48 tense hours into a ~2 hour film doesn't give much time to absorb all that's happening, and that's the point. Training and subsequent reactions shape the story in the faces of the bridge crew as they watch the captain and follow his orders which he does not explain. This is about relationships between combatants, among the ships in the convoy, and between U.S. and British allies. This film, The Enemy Below, and Das Boot make a reasonable trilogy for a weekend marathon. Enjoy this story from either a technical or a relational view as you see fit.
So much unrealised potential...
adamsansom5 November 2023
This movie could have been great. A gripping subject, a thrilling environment and the challenge of fighting against both the enemy and the sea. However, Greyhound fails to bring the characters to life. Hanks is, as always, great on screen, but his own writing fails to give us enough to understand and empathise with the captain, let alone any other character who remain ciphers. Similarly, the Germans are completely ignored, their only communication through the (ridiculously implausible) radio broadcasts that insult and taunt the Allies. There was a sadly missed opportunity to show the U-boat crews and portray the enemy as human beings, rather than as an unseen terror.
Overall it's a watchable movie, but with better writing and a willingness to invest the screen time to flesh out the people, could have made a superb 6 hour mini-series.
Overall it's a watchable movie, but with better writing and a willingness to invest the screen time to flesh out the people, could have made a superb 6 hour mini-series.
Memorial to my father - Ensign JD
grtsmarket11 February 2022
First I am eternally grateful to Tom Hanks and the whole cast and production crew who brought GREYHOUND to the screen. Second, I can say that my father who served in kind aboard a US Destroyer, escorting convoys across the Atlantic and even to Murmansk Russia, would have been honored by this accurate portrayal of The Battle of the Atlantic, thus thirdly I am, as an arm chair historian, I'm undoubtably impressed with Mr. Hanks' accuracy in his helming this critical time in our Allied fight against Fascism.
My father never spoke of his service, having kept his memories sealed in the now worn and battered sea chest that he lugged around during his commission as a Naval officer.
My mother, then his fiancé awaited his return in New York, downtown Manhattan on West 56th street in a Brownstone apartment, a stone throw's to the Eleanor Roosevelt Memorial Park. They were high school sweethearts and soon married after Germany surrendered.
My father retired as an assistant dean to a law school he help build throughout his life time, a man of impeccable ethics to the rule of law and yet a humble man in character to all who came to know him.
It was in his mid-seventies that I coaxed him to open up the sea chest and reveal that epoch period of so many souls' conviction and sacrifice to our democratic cause.
I do believe God has a hand in all things, and it was shown to me one early evening while he read from his private sea log journal to my mother and I revealing his personal thoughts journaled during those treacherous convoy crossings in stormy, icy seas.
And perhaps, given all that he overcame in life's hardships and accomplishments leading him in becoming a living legacy who embraced his community's common good, of which he was publicly honored, molded him into the loving husband and father that I still admire.
My father passed that evening while reading from his personal ship log in mid sentence before his wife and son. It was tragic and yet God's blessing he did not suffer, for which I am grateful.
Hundreds attended his memorial. I arranged a military 21 gun salute, as one more WWII veteran passed on to a better place, I'm sure he would meet up with his two cousins who gave their lives in The Battle of the Bulge.
Since that time I've researched all I can about our naval destroyers role in the Atlantic convoy crossings, so I can attest that GREYHOUND is so much more than a movie. It has, for me, given an authentic visual and emotional portrayal of the reality that my father participated in, no easy task in surviving the Wolf Pack attacks. It filled in the gap to my fathers own story.
Thank you.
My father never spoke of his service, having kept his memories sealed in the now worn and battered sea chest that he lugged around during his commission as a Naval officer.
My mother, then his fiancé awaited his return in New York, downtown Manhattan on West 56th street in a Brownstone apartment, a stone throw's to the Eleanor Roosevelt Memorial Park. They were high school sweethearts and soon married after Germany surrendered.
My father retired as an assistant dean to a law school he help build throughout his life time, a man of impeccable ethics to the rule of law and yet a humble man in character to all who came to know him.
It was in his mid-seventies that I coaxed him to open up the sea chest and reveal that epoch period of so many souls' conviction and sacrifice to our democratic cause.
I do believe God has a hand in all things, and it was shown to me one early evening while he read from his private sea log journal to my mother and I revealing his personal thoughts journaled during those treacherous convoy crossings in stormy, icy seas.
And perhaps, given all that he overcame in life's hardships and accomplishments leading him in becoming a living legacy who embraced his community's common good, of which he was publicly honored, molded him into the loving husband and father that I still admire.
My father passed that evening while reading from his personal ship log in mid sentence before his wife and son. It was tragic and yet God's blessing he did not suffer, for which I am grateful.
Hundreds attended his memorial. I arranged a military 21 gun salute, as one more WWII veteran passed on to a better place, I'm sure he would meet up with his two cousins who gave their lives in The Battle of the Bulge.
Since that time I've researched all I can about our naval destroyers role in the Atlantic convoy crossings, so I can attest that GREYHOUND is so much more than a movie. It has, for me, given an authentic visual and emotional portrayal of the reality that my father participated in, no easy task in surviving the Wolf Pack attacks. It filled in the gap to my fathers own story.
Thank you.
It had potential
statol10 July 2020
I had great expectations as I had just finished season 2 of Das Boot. I was disapointed. It fails to even come close to the suspense and the horror of the battles in the Atlantic during WW2. Watch Das Boot instead.
Good reenactment of a WWII sea battle, but nothing else really
Zaffy-119 July 2020
Good production, quite intense, very interesting reenactment of a battle at sea, although I am not sure how realistic and accurate it is (those submarines liked to fight a lot in plain sight over the water, right?).
My main issue? It was like a documentary, lots of battle time but no much human drama. No time given to develop any characters or even make us feel something about these people. Ships were sinking in the middle of the Atlantic and we never had a look in the horror of trying to survive this. Even Hank's character felt flat. The few scenes with his love interest were rather awkward and didn't contribute much. At one point we were wondering if the captain was in the spectrum or something..
Still, if you are a fan of WWII movies I suggest to watch it for the unique perspective of a battle at sea.
My main issue? It was like a documentary, lots of battle time but no much human drama. No time given to develop any characters or even make us feel something about these people. Ships were sinking in the middle of the Atlantic and we never had a look in the horror of trying to survive this. Even Hank's character felt flat. The few scenes with his love interest were rather awkward and didn't contribute much. At one point we were wondering if the captain was in the spectrum or something..
Still, if you are a fan of WWII movies I suggest to watch it for the unique perspective of a battle at sea.
Gripping and poignant
Gordon-1111 July 2020
A Slice of History Done Well!
grahammwiles12 July 2020
An enthralling non-stop sea battle action flik that delivers all the right blows - if you will excuse the pun.
Even though there is absolutely no character development, the film worked well. From the action, the special effects amd the overall storytelling, which for the record, Tom Hanks did very well when writing the screenplay. A slice of history well portrayed
A blasting 7 out of 10 stars for this film that could have seen 2 more stars if there was a more in-depth story to the opening and closing that would have supported the core of the film.
Even though there is absolutely no character development, the film worked well. From the action, the special effects amd the overall storytelling, which for the record, Tom Hanks did very well when writing the screenplay. A slice of history well portrayed
A blasting 7 out of 10 stars for this film that could have seen 2 more stars if there was a more in-depth story to the opening and closing that would have supported the core of the film.
Feels flat
saraccan3 December 2021
This movie generally lacks that sense of excitement and ww2 drama we are accustomed to in Hollywood productions. It feels like a story that the filmmakers weren't particularly crazy about telling and that makes the movie feel just kind of flat. Everything is just mediocre and no aspect of it really stood out to me.
The inexperienced captain of a US navy ship must manouver their way out of German U-boats.
The inexperienced captain of a US navy ship must manouver their way out of German U-boats.
Battleship on the Big Screen
claudio_carvalho19 August 2020
In the World War II, the rookie American Captain Ernest Krause (Tom Hanks) is assigned in his debut to escort thirty-seven (37) Allied ships through the Atlantic to Liverpool on board of the destroyer Greyhound and commanding two other destroyers and one corvette. When they reach a spot out of the range of the air cover, they are successively attacked by German U-Boats along the next days and nights. Will the Allied vessels survive the German attack?
"Greyhound" is a film of war that gives the sensation of playing the strategy type guessing game "Battleship". The location of the U-Boats concealed from the Allied enemies trying to destroy the escorts and the convoy is engaging and entertaining, with great performance of Tom Hanks. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Greyhound: Na Mira do Inimigo" ("Greyhound: In the Sight of the Enemy")
"Greyhound" is a film of war that gives the sensation of playing the strategy type guessing game "Battleship". The location of the U-Boats concealed from the Allied enemies trying to destroy the escorts and the convoy is engaging and entertaining, with great performance of Tom Hanks. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Greyhound: Na Mira do Inimigo" ("Greyhound: In the Sight of the Enemy")
A great procedural movie, and a great tribute
charleski200010 July 2020
This is a movie about the procedure of command. This is an innately more complex task than the more common episodic approach that buries the procedural reality under a mask of plot and character. But this film pulls it off, largely by not shying away from the task.
Guess what? Naval warfare, especially the sort of highly asymmetric warfare shown here, doesn't really revolve around the captain demanding more speed while the engineer says she canna take it. If you're looking for a movie that's truly respectful of the labours and sacrifices made in the Battle of the Atlantic, then this is a fitting tribute.
Don't expect a character movie, don't expect to spend time below decks exploring the usual stereotypes. This movie is seen through the eyes of the captain, and the captain alone. I can think of very few other films that dare to depict the loneliness of command quite so clearly. There's little time for thought, there's no time to process or even truly grasp the horrors that they encounter (something which forms one of the roots of PTSD). What there is is the fight.
The fight is relentless and deeply technical. We've become used to fight scenes carrying a few bits of technical gibberish followed by some visceral and personalised action. There's no gibberish in this film, and the latter consists of the captain cutting his feet on broken glass. The movie, like the mind of the captain, is consumed with the intricate technical and personal demands required to hunt down a submarine at that time. That was clearly the aim here, and the movie has succeeded admirably at showing that particular aspect of this type of warfare. This is not a common way to stage a war movie, but it's worth doing well on a few occasions, and this movie achieves its goal.
The reviews show that many come looking for something more conventional, and end up missing the point, which is a shame.
Guess what? Naval warfare, especially the sort of highly asymmetric warfare shown here, doesn't really revolve around the captain demanding more speed while the engineer says she canna take it. If you're looking for a movie that's truly respectful of the labours and sacrifices made in the Battle of the Atlantic, then this is a fitting tribute.
Don't expect a character movie, don't expect to spend time below decks exploring the usual stereotypes. This movie is seen through the eyes of the captain, and the captain alone. I can think of very few other films that dare to depict the loneliness of command quite so clearly. There's little time for thought, there's no time to process or even truly grasp the horrors that they encounter (something which forms one of the roots of PTSD). What there is is the fight.
The fight is relentless and deeply technical. We've become used to fight scenes carrying a few bits of technical gibberish followed by some visceral and personalised action. There's no gibberish in this film, and the latter consists of the captain cutting his feet on broken glass. The movie, like the mind of the captain, is consumed with the intricate technical and personal demands required to hunt down a submarine at that time. That was clearly the aim here, and the movie has succeeded admirably at showing that particular aspect of this type of warfare. This is not a common way to stage a war movie, but it's worth doing well on a few occasions, and this movie achieves its goal.
The reviews show that many come looking for something more conventional, and end up missing the point, which is a shame.
Greyhound
Prismark1013 July 2020
Greyhound starring and written by Tom Hanks was meant to had been released in 2019. It got delayed to 2020. The Covid pandemic meant that it was bought by Apple for its streaming service.
It does indicate that Sony Pictures did not have complete faith in the film.
The movie is a stripped down version of C. S. Forester's novel The Good Shepherd. Forester knew how to write naval stories. Some of the tactical cat and mouse displayed here really does have a Forester feel about it.
Hanks is not new to the World War 2 genre. This shares its DNA with Band of Brothers but there is a clear lack of character development and story here.
Captain Ernest Krause (Hanks) is the commander of the US destroyer guiding the Allied convoy crossing the north Atlantic.
They are attacked by a fleet of German U-boats and Krause has to evade them, protect the ships and sink the U Boats.
It turns out that Krause is actually new to the job, but his inexperience is not much of a factor here. Krause knows his naval jargon and he has tactical nous.
It is a small scale film with loud bombastic music. There is a lot of CGI here.
The ocean is rough and grey with waves crashing into the ship. It was enough to make me feel seasick. However I have been on enough boats to know that when you are in rough seas, you certainly know it. Here everyone is remaining static when they should be bobbing up and down and sideways.
Frankly there is something static and flat about Greyhound. It lacks the claustrophobia and tension of Das Boot. It is too much of a boy's own naval adventure, which is why you get a few glimpses of the sole female in the film.
It does indicate that Sony Pictures did not have complete faith in the film.
The movie is a stripped down version of C. S. Forester's novel The Good Shepherd. Forester knew how to write naval stories. Some of the tactical cat and mouse displayed here really does have a Forester feel about it.
Hanks is not new to the World War 2 genre. This shares its DNA with Band of Brothers but there is a clear lack of character development and story here.
Captain Ernest Krause (Hanks) is the commander of the US destroyer guiding the Allied convoy crossing the north Atlantic.
They are attacked by a fleet of German U-boats and Krause has to evade them, protect the ships and sink the U Boats.
It turns out that Krause is actually new to the job, but his inexperience is not much of a factor here. Krause knows his naval jargon and he has tactical nous.
It is a small scale film with loud bombastic music. There is a lot of CGI here.
The ocean is rough and grey with waves crashing into the ship. It was enough to make me feel seasick. However I have been on enough boats to know that when you are in rough seas, you certainly know it. Here everyone is remaining static when they should be bobbing up and down and sideways.
Frankly there is something static and flat about Greyhound. It lacks the claustrophobia and tension of Das Boot. It is too much of a boy's own naval adventure, which is why you get a few glimpses of the sole female in the film.
I wish it was significantly longer...
Eve4411 July 2020
Honestly, I decided to write a review to counter some of the more trivial reviews found in this thread and to try and present an objective perspective of this film.
Firstly, the dialogue in this movie is typical for a movie depicting World War II Naval life and is accurate to the time period. Do not watch this film if you expect anything other than period correct Naval terminology or the constant passing of orders between the captain and the crew, as you are not going to be satisfied with this movie. Ninety percent of the dialogue in this movie relates to the business of conducting asymmetrical naval combat in a high-speed situation and is way too short to have a grand introspective or extrospective expose on the psychology of warfare or one's place in the world. Sadly, the short length of this film prevents any adequate amount of time dedicated to forging interesting and dynamic characters or a complex plot with a villain that was somewhat pointless. If anything, the director should have lengthened the film to expound upon the narrative and bring our cautious, somewhat hesitant, captain to life or pick a handful of critical Sailors to develop a relationship with within 80-minute time constraint.
Secondly, there are better movies or shows that depict the Battle of the Atlantic which brings me to my second point. If anything; this film should have been broken into a mini-series, like Das Boot or a full feature series like Band of Brothers or The Pacific. Had the directors decided to embark upon that route, we could have had a significantly stronger plot and been able to identify with the characters in a more empathetic way. As a former United States Navy Sailor, I felt right at home with the style, accuracy, and briskness with which the film endeavored to portray. However, I did not find myself overly attached to any of the featured characters. In fact, the film attempts to "show" us that we should feel shocked, saddened, or disheartened by the plight of these Sailors, however, without any in-depth character development, I found it difficult for me to feel any more than somewhat saddened, and by the time that I did experience this emotion, the movie moved onto another chaotic event. Reflecting upon the movie now, maybe that is the point of the plot? Maybe, the film tries to showcase that the chaos of battle does not grant us a moment of emotional expression aside from the adrenaline rush of combat or a life-threatening event. In any case, if you are looking for significant character development, and a grander view of the Battle of the Atlantic at large, this is certainly not the film for you.
Lastly, I do not, in any capacity, feel like I wasted an hour and half of my life like some of the other viewers felt. For me, it was a nostalgic trip back into an old life that I long forgotten and I enjoyed every minute of this film despite its shortcomings. Has Tom Hanks done better? Certainly. Did I think he did a poor job with this film? Absolutely not. While my main complaint is that this film could have been significantly longer, I am left with a desire to want to explore more in regards to the treacherous Battle of the Atlantic and the men of all nations who participated.
Overall - I was pleasantly surprised with this movie, and while I felt that this film could have been produced as its own mini-series in order to develop the plot and the characters better, I thoroughly enjoyed my time, and I am sure I will return to it again in the future.
Enjoy!
Firstly, the dialogue in this movie is typical for a movie depicting World War II Naval life and is accurate to the time period. Do not watch this film if you expect anything other than period correct Naval terminology or the constant passing of orders between the captain and the crew, as you are not going to be satisfied with this movie. Ninety percent of the dialogue in this movie relates to the business of conducting asymmetrical naval combat in a high-speed situation and is way too short to have a grand introspective or extrospective expose on the psychology of warfare or one's place in the world. Sadly, the short length of this film prevents any adequate amount of time dedicated to forging interesting and dynamic characters or a complex plot with a villain that was somewhat pointless. If anything, the director should have lengthened the film to expound upon the narrative and bring our cautious, somewhat hesitant, captain to life or pick a handful of critical Sailors to develop a relationship with within 80-minute time constraint.
Secondly, there are better movies or shows that depict the Battle of the Atlantic which brings me to my second point. If anything; this film should have been broken into a mini-series, like Das Boot or a full feature series like Band of Brothers or The Pacific. Had the directors decided to embark upon that route, we could have had a significantly stronger plot and been able to identify with the characters in a more empathetic way. As a former United States Navy Sailor, I felt right at home with the style, accuracy, and briskness with which the film endeavored to portray. However, I did not find myself overly attached to any of the featured characters. In fact, the film attempts to "show" us that we should feel shocked, saddened, or disheartened by the plight of these Sailors, however, without any in-depth character development, I found it difficult for me to feel any more than somewhat saddened, and by the time that I did experience this emotion, the movie moved onto another chaotic event. Reflecting upon the movie now, maybe that is the point of the plot? Maybe, the film tries to showcase that the chaos of battle does not grant us a moment of emotional expression aside from the adrenaline rush of combat or a life-threatening event. In any case, if you are looking for significant character development, and a grander view of the Battle of the Atlantic at large, this is certainly not the film for you.
Lastly, I do not, in any capacity, feel like I wasted an hour and half of my life like some of the other viewers felt. For me, it was a nostalgic trip back into an old life that I long forgotten and I enjoyed every minute of this film despite its shortcomings. Has Tom Hanks done better? Certainly. Did I think he did a poor job with this film? Absolutely not. While my main complaint is that this film could have been significantly longer, I am left with a desire to want to explore more in regards to the treacherous Battle of the Atlantic and the men of all nations who participated.
Overall - I was pleasantly surprised with this movie, and while I felt that this film could have been produced as its own mini-series in order to develop the plot and the characters better, I thoroughly enjoyed my time, and I am sure I will return to it again in the future.
Enjoy!
Short But Not Sweet...
Xstal10 July 2020
... often chaotic and confusing, like the events they portray. More aptly called Greylamb as the 'Wolves' gather for the slaughter in the mid-Atlantic during WW2. A valiant attempt but doesn't quite achieve. Hard to be original with so many precedents.
All action and subtle character development
quidam-brujah12 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Funny... reading the other reviews is what encouraged me to write mine. Most of the low scoring reviews complain about poor character development or thin plot lines. We've had 80 years of movies giving us lots of historical detail, real or imaginary characters development and simple or convoluted plot lines from the World War II era. This movie didn't really need a lot of that to tell the story it was trying to tell. If you're paying attention, you can see the characters develop as the story is told. You can see the scared people gather their courage, the dedicated and loyal people that "take one for the team," and the dedicated captain who will change out of his service shoes bloodied from days of constant wear into the slippers that his girl friend gave him as a gift.
There are plenty of movies that have tried to give you complex stories with multiple plot lines and lots of character development only to fail and perhaps try to make it up in the form of some action scenes. This movie was never about that. The action is first and foremost what drives it, and you learn about the characters through the course of the events of the action. This movie was great for Apple TV+ but, it probably would not have been as great for a theatrical release.
There are plenty of movies that have tried to give you complex stories with multiple plot lines and lots of character development only to fail and perhaps try to make it up in the form of some action scenes. This movie was never about that. The action is first and foremost what drives it, and you learn about the characters through the course of the events of the action. This movie was great for Apple TV+ but, it probably would not have been as great for a theatrical release.
Torpedoes but no Tension
sebpucher11 July 2020
The overall problem I have with Greyhound is it's lack of tension. Thrillers, especially war movies need to build the conditions of the plot to keep the audience engaged. The movie assumes the stakes of the plot from the second it starts. The lack of developing the circumstance of a ship being sunk suffers to motivate the viewer into really caring about the events that the characters will endure. This idea is also applicable to the characters: all are hardly developed leaving me underwhelmed in empathizing for them and wanting to root them on. Because the majority of the movie is filmed on a ship, there's little opportunity to get immersed in the setting. This element is especially frustrating for me due to how good this setting could of been. If the cinematography and directing was better, the Greyhound ship could of felt super claustrophobic, conveying a sense of no escape and little hopes of survival. I just never felt the full incentive to care about much of the movie's plot... this is not due to the lack of historical significance, but the lack of the film's ability to fully immerse me into the it's circumstances. Meh... go watch Dunkirk.
Left full rudder! Bring me my slippers!
Renatus7716 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Hanks:
"Left full rudder!
All ahead flank!"
"Bearing, range? What?"
"Harry Dicky!"
Butler named Cleveland:
"Sir, I made you pancakes. They're actually still warm somehow."
Crew kid: "Torpedo!"
Hanks:
"Where?"
Butler named Cleveland:
"Right here sir and I made coffee! it's still warm!"
Hanks:
"I mean torpedo where?"
"We don't know sir."
Hanks:
"Right Full Rudder!"
"NO, left full starboard bearing 69!
"All ahead flank!"
"Bring my mittens, not the silk, but the wool. Scratch that they're too itchy. Bring the sheepskin ones!"
"Starboard flank!"
"Left full halfmast rudder flank 1,5 knots."
45 minutes later:
Evil Nazi Submarine wolverine captain through intercom: "Mr Hanks! You will all die in the middle of the night while you are warm in your beds dreaming about hamburgers and milkshakes! We like to kill people just for fun! We are evil! Tonight you will all die. You cannot escape! MUahahahaahahaha . Did I mention we are evil?" Hanks: (with a face that expresses love, fear, passion, uncertainty, frostbite, (or maybe his feet are just killing him) "Left right flanking rudders!" "Hard right rudder! Hard over! Steer course 110! Flank their rudders!" "Brace for impact and bring me my slippers." Butler named Cleveland: "Here's a bacon and egg sandwich sir! Miraculously its still warm. Better eat it since I'm not gonna be around much longer. After all, I'm the token black guy and must be killed off soon!" Hanks: "Harry Dicky! I want you to come!" "Left full rudder all the way home!" (Where are my slippers?)
45 minutes later:
Evil Nazi Submarine wolverine captain through intercom: "Mr Hanks! You will all die in the middle of the night while you are warm in your beds dreaming about hamburgers and milkshakes! We like to kill people just for fun! We are evil! Tonight you will all die. You cannot escape! MUahahahaahahaha . Did I mention we are evil?" Hanks: (with a face that expresses love, fear, passion, uncertainty, frostbite, (or maybe his feet are just killing him) "Left right flanking rudders!" "Hard right rudder! Hard over! Steer course 110! Flank their rudders!" "Brace for impact and bring me my slippers." Butler named Cleveland: "Here's a bacon and egg sandwich sir! Miraculously its still warm. Better eat it since I'm not gonna be around much longer. After all, I'm the token black guy and must be killed off soon!" Hanks: "Harry Dicky! I want you to come!" "Left full rudder all the way home!" (Where are my slippers?)
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