Although I will always be there watching, I can also understand how it is easy to criticise the studios for churning out very slight variations on the same stories, action and characters. Sequels are the worst for it but there are also plenty of films that will just copy anything that has been successful before. It is not just films of course, television does it endlessly as well churning out endless entries in whatever genre is doing well at that moment (DIY, reality competitions etc). I am rambling here so let me get to the point, or rather, let me say why I am currently thinking this stuff.
Well the reason is that there are countless personal and public untold stories out there from today and yesterday that are ripe for the telling and Deep Water should be commended for not only doing that, but doing it in such an effective and engaging manner. We pick up the story here at the point where the solo round the world effort had just been completed but with one stop in Australia where extensive repairs etc were carried out. With the public engaged and spirits high, The Times launched a prize race to go around the world on solo yacht but with no stops. Nine men stepped up to the challenge and one of these was Donald Crowhurst. Starting from scratch and rushing to keep to the race deadline, Crowhurst risks everything to take part not just his life but possible financial ruin as well.
From the start he had problems but he had not yet gone south round Africa before it was clear the extent of his problems would see him die in the most challenging part. However his only other option (to give up and turn back) would see him ruined and ridiculed. At this point his lies began as he began over reporting his location a claim that saw him heralded as breaking existing speed records. However this was unsustainable as a lie until he picked his third option to remain in the Atlantic and wait for the race leaders to slip in behind them for the comparatively easy journey north back to England. He would not try and win but would be a runner-up and thus subject to less scrutiny, and hopefully he would get away with it. However things didn't turn out that way.
To say what happened out loud just makes it sound like a man cheated in a race and had a breakdown as a result but that is doing it a disservice and happily the film does not make that mistake. Instead what it does is tell the story in a way that does not shirk the facts but does not ignore the fact that Crowhurst was a man and that his story is ultimately a tragedy. It is a difficult balancing match but it achieves it by using Crowhurst's logs and footage to let him speak from beyond the grave. Contributions from others in the race and his family help to flesh this out but their "opinions" are well balanced by letting Crowhurst speak for himself. The use of lots of archive footage also helps bring the story alive and prevents it feeling like old and irrelevant. As others have commented already, I was surprised by just how engaging and touching it was and, having never heard this story in the slightest, it did then put me in mind of how many other interesting stories must be out there that are gripping even if they don't involve giant transforming robots fighting one another.
Overall an engaging and very well put together documentary. The story is told with a documentary tone but it never forgets that this is a story of a person and that it ultimately is a tragedy for the individuals involved, even if it is a footnote in a sporting history book if you look at it from a distance. The intimacy of the telling stops it being this way and ultimately it is a better film for it.
Well the reason is that there are countless personal and public untold stories out there from today and yesterday that are ripe for the telling and Deep Water should be commended for not only doing that, but doing it in such an effective and engaging manner. We pick up the story here at the point where the solo round the world effort had just been completed but with one stop in Australia where extensive repairs etc were carried out. With the public engaged and spirits high, The Times launched a prize race to go around the world on solo yacht but with no stops. Nine men stepped up to the challenge and one of these was Donald Crowhurst. Starting from scratch and rushing to keep to the race deadline, Crowhurst risks everything to take part not just his life but possible financial ruin as well.
From the start he had problems but he had not yet gone south round Africa before it was clear the extent of his problems would see him die in the most challenging part. However his only other option (to give up and turn back) would see him ruined and ridiculed. At this point his lies began as he began over reporting his location a claim that saw him heralded as breaking existing speed records. However this was unsustainable as a lie until he picked his third option to remain in the Atlantic and wait for the race leaders to slip in behind them for the comparatively easy journey north back to England. He would not try and win but would be a runner-up and thus subject to less scrutiny, and hopefully he would get away with it. However things didn't turn out that way.
To say what happened out loud just makes it sound like a man cheated in a race and had a breakdown as a result but that is doing it a disservice and happily the film does not make that mistake. Instead what it does is tell the story in a way that does not shirk the facts but does not ignore the fact that Crowhurst was a man and that his story is ultimately a tragedy. It is a difficult balancing match but it achieves it by using Crowhurst's logs and footage to let him speak from beyond the grave. Contributions from others in the race and his family help to flesh this out but their "opinions" are well balanced by letting Crowhurst speak for himself. The use of lots of archive footage also helps bring the story alive and prevents it feeling like old and irrelevant. As others have commented already, I was surprised by just how engaging and touching it was and, having never heard this story in the slightest, it did then put me in mind of how many other interesting stories must be out there that are gripping even if they don't involve giant transforming robots fighting one another.
Overall an engaging and very well put together documentary. The story is told with a documentary tone but it never forgets that this is a story of a person and that it ultimately is a tragedy for the individuals involved, even if it is a footnote in a sporting history book if you look at it from a distance. The intimacy of the telling stops it being this way and ultimately it is a better film for it.