Unsinkable: Titanic Untold Review | Investigating the Disaster’s Aftermath

Table of Content show

1 Summary

2 Balancing Courtroom Drama and Disaster Scenes

2.1 Unsinkable: Titanic Untold

3 Characters and Charisma in Unsinkable

4 How the Outside World Is Affected by the Aftermath

Summary

• Unsinkable: Titanic Untold
  focuses on the aftermath of the disaster, providing a unique perspective from the usual dramatizations.
• The film balances courtroom drama with disaster scenes well, creating a compelling narrative despite some weak performances and unnecessary characters.
• Strong attention to detail and period accuracy, plus a pertinent study of class difference, make
  Unsinkable
  a worthy watch.

Widely recognized as two of the most heart-wrenching movies revolving around a historical disaster, Roy Ward Baker’s A Night To Remember and James Cameron’s Titanic frame the unfortunate sinking of that massive ocean liner in ways that are simply unmatched. From the emotional display of English actor Kenneth More as Second Officer Charles Lightoller in the 1958 rendition to the plagued romance between Leonorda DiCaprio’s Jack and Kate Winslet’s Rose in the updated take almost 40 years later, the performances shown in these films held onto people’s emotional cores and never let go.

With that being said, there are many other features out there that put their own thematic spin on the 1912 unmitigated accident that happened in the North Atlantic Ocean. But almot none are like Cody and Brian Hartman’s Unsinkable: Titanic Untold.

While the film does spend time on the pivotal moments where those on the notorious ship didn’t know if they were going to live or die, the Hartman duo have decided to shift the spotlight and focus on the suspenseful, almost conspiratorial aftermath of that disastrous expedition instead. The brisk historical drama follows William Alden Smith (played by Cotter Smith of Mindhunter and The Americans), the U.S. Senator who headed the Senate subcommittee meetings that looked into the catastrophe. Unsinkable: Titanic Untold easily transports audiences back into a very tumultuous time — not only in regard to the victims and their families, but also with international relations concerning the United States and Britain.

Balancing Courtroom Drama and Disaster Scenes

Right off the bat, Senator Smith’s official inquiries are in themselves dramatically entertaining. Accompanied by an underlying musical score that only becomes quite noticeable when it absolutely needed to, the dialogue between the Senator and the numerous deck hands who were involved that night (whether they were on the sinking Titanic or other ships within range) quickly gives Unsinkable great momentum from within the first 30 minutes.

This holds especially true with the very first person that Smith talks to — Sam Turich’s character, Joseph Bruce Ismay. The actor’s rhythmic mannerisms when responding are just a sight to behold. Turich thankfully injects some dignity and pride into playing a person who many scholars feel was wronged by history (and the way the character is contemptuously treated by Smith is historically accurate). Even with strong dialogue and some foreboding gongs guiding the tension between the two parties, flashbacks are also used sporadically to visually detail what these same people were actually doing that night. Related: Titanic 25 Years Later: A Masterpiece or a Disasterpiece?

These sequences undoubtedly enrich Unsinkable, bringing a much more drastic and frantic tone compared to the slow and boiling suspense that came before it. For a movie that has a limited budget, the scenes that depict passengers trying to desperately survive out in the middle of the sea are done extremely well. Camera angles focus on the characters without giving too much of the background away, and the lighting is just enough to replicate the natural dim rays of the moon and the sinking beams of the ship.

Just like a large swath of ocean, the water is constantly rippling and presenting a danger to those who are hanging on for dear life to floating refuse. At times, the focus on showing what only needs to be seen becomes a weakness though, as the manipulated light affects the audience’s visibility to see as well.

Characters and Charisma in Unsinkable

As much as there is for viewers to take in from the informal inquiries as well as through all the life-altering decisions from those that were on the Titanic, the film also provides other storytelling avenues through Smith’s assistant, Maggie Malloy (played by actress Jayne Wisener), and determined newspaper reporter, Alaine Ricard (brought to life by Fiona Dourif). While both actresses play their parts extremely well, Wisener’s character doesn’t have a significant arc, nor does she add any remarkable weight to the movie. She mostly functions as an ear to William Smith when he is not trying to find answers to the sinking or talking to his wife (played by Karen Allen).

On the other hand, Dourif’s newspaper reporter goes from someone who has to work under a fake name and getting beat up for writing the truth to eventually finding an inner strength that is inspirational to journalists who are actually interested in the dogged pursuit of facts. This character is also the key to finding some truths that even our main character would never have come to himself. Unfortunately, she appears to be a fictional amalgam of various other reporters at the time, which does impact the historical accuracy of the film, but she’s a great character nonetheless and Dourif is great as always.Related: How Many People Died on the Titanic?

Cotter Smith’s take on a US senator who is hellbent on finding answers as to why the Titanic fell into this dire situation is very reserved. The stunted emotional showing could very well be attributed to the professionalism that the real life Smith showed during the initial proceedings, but there was no reason to hide any sort of fervor when your character is the one who voluntarily leads these investigations. It’s a generally muted performance that resists emotional investment.

That’s not to say the actor cannot provide a charged enthusiasm when need be. His strong monologue at the conclusion of Unsinkable: Titanic Untold shows that he was hiding this side until the very end — possibly as a last plea (from the character) towards the public press who have criticized his way of conducting the subcommittee. Either way, more visible cues from Smith would have greatly added to his presence at times, especially since he’s mainly the audience surrogate here.

How the Outside World Is Affected by the Aftermath

Even though character development and casting unfortunately come into question at some points in Unsinkable, the film definitely shines in other areas. The movie not only conveys to the audience how the aftermath affects both politicians and maritime officials but goes one layer deeper, showing the repercussions at a more common, socioeconomic level.

Headlines from everyday papers show a divided opinion on how Smith operates his inquiries. In between the informal meetings of the Senate members and those who were previously out at sea, the upper class make their voices heard, evidently displeased with the displaced passengers making temporary encampments on the streets. Those same individuals are then actually shown sometime later as Smith visits and consoles them. This adds depth to the film; after all, class consciousness and disparity has often been a big theme of Titanic-related media.

It goes without saying that the Hartmans have created a worthy watch with their interesting and very driven drama. Unsinkable is a period-accurate study of what many people believe to be the most interesting and damning aspect of the Titanic disaster — the aftermath. Unlike the suspicious ending of the ocean liner, there is plenty that this film has to offer in order to keep it afloat (and very entertaining).

From PMI Films, Hawk Hill Pictures, and Movies Plus, Unsinkable: Titanic Untold will have a limited theatrical run starting on April 12th, 2024. You can find showtimes and more information through the link below.

Unsinkable: Titanic Untold