Woody Harrelson’s ‘Last Breath’: A Gripping Dive into Survival and Drama!

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People unfamiliar with saturation diving would likely not have known about it until they watched Richard da Costa and Alex Parkinson’s 2019 documentary titled Last Breath. The film narrates the real-life tale of Chris Lemons, a diver who was conducting repairs on an oil rig in the North Sea when his umbilical cable broke at approximately 300 feet beneath the surface. Despite having merely five minutes of oxygen remaining in his emergency tank, he managed to remain motionless at the ocean floor for over half an hour before being rescued by his colleagues.

The Parkinson’s documentary imparted two crucial insights: One, it revealed that saturation divers, who work under extreme conditions for prolonged periods in small capsules at depths up to 1000 feet, are incredibly brave rather than insane. Two, it highlighted that the hazards associated with saturation diving, primarily conducted for gas and oil industries, serve as compelling reasons to abandon fossil fuels and provide everyone with electric vehicles instead. The documentary’s straightforward approach was almost clinical in its delivery. Despite the uncertainties surrounding what led to Parkinson’s death at the bottom of the North Sea, the film ended up feeling surprisingly understated.

However, Parkinson demonstrates his knack for crafting a gripping survival tale once more in his latest adaptation titled “Last Breath“. In his first foray into fiction filmmaking, Parkinson maintains a grip on familiar grounds, employing the same tense, chaotic atmosphere from the documentary. Some of the original footage is even reincorporated. Therefore, while both productions share similar strengths and manageable weaknesses, Parkinson showcases enhanced visual prowess (perhaps not as much in storytelling) and elicits concentrated and intense performances from Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, and Finn Cole as Lemons.

Shang-Chi Himself, Simu Liu, Plays an Unemotional “Vulcan”

In a different rendition, the original documentary about Parkinson was skillfully crafted, leading up to its shocking third act revelation. However, this cinematic interpretation of the documentary offers Parkinson more leeway to heighten the suspense and introduce subtle elements of melodrama. Alongside production designer Grant Montgomery, Parkinson swiftly introduces us to the frigid, macho, and intricate setting of saturation diving, a world filled with valves and switches. Since Parkinson is well-versed in this environment, it all seems incredibly real, and we easily immerse ourselves in it. As Lemons joins the ship that will transport him and his two fellow divers to their underwater mission, we follow along.

In this scenario, the divers named David Yuasa (portrayed by Simu Liu) and Duncan Allcock are involved. David, often referred to as the Vulcan due to his composed and emotionless demeanor, handles underwater repairs alongside Chris. Inside the small diving bell, it’s Duncan who orchestrates the operation, self-proclaimed as the “finest sat daddy.” The character of Duncan is brilliantly played by Woody Harrelson, who skillfully combines a sense of gravity with a witty humor that prevents the film from becoming overly somber.

As a cinephile, I appreciate how Duncan’s character is enriched by the additional nuances crafted by screenwriters Mitchell LaFortune, David Brooks, and Parkinson. These touches make this seemingly procedure-focused narrative more relatable and human. In this story, an aging diver reveals that this mission signifies his last rotation. Though he may not transform into a deep-sea equivalent of the cop who retires just short of retirement, it’s still a dramatic move to add depth to his character, even if it feels a bit contrived.

In this scenario, Parkinson tactfully minimizes the drama, making effective use of the interactions between Lemons and his concerned fiancée (Bobby Rainsbury, avoiding excessive melodrama). He resists being comforted by the idea that Chris’ job is akin to space exploration but underwater.

What’s It Like Working in a ‘Glamorous Tin Can?’

As David, Duncan, and Chris enter their “shiny tin can” for a 28-day journey into the dark ocean depths using compressed air, it’s intriguing to wonder how far Parkinson will escalate the suspense without making the tale seem artificial. Fortunately, he largely maintains a balanced approach, providing a gripping narrative while also not shying away from bold, directly expressive statements that are perfect for trailers.

While Chris and David are working on underwater repairs, unexpectedly, the computer controlling their mother ship above the diving bell malfunctions, causing the ship to drift away due to the intense storms. The umbilical cord that supplies Chris with oxygen, communication, and warmth gets tangled and snaps, forcing him into the depths of the North Sea with only a limited amount of air remaining.

During the unfolding rescue mission, both on the ship led by an underutilized Cliff Curtis and within the diving bell of Duncan’s predicament, cinematographers Nick Remy Matthews and Ian Seabrook skillfully capture haunting deep-sea scenes and interior colors that echo off the faces of concerned crew members.

The crewmates, with a standout performance by dive supervisor Mark Bonnar, urgently brainstorm a plan to reach Chris. This will involve fixing a faulty computer, which might as well be called the Bruckheimer 3000, due to its unnecessary deviations from real-life events and added action movie drama, complete with red wire-blue wire explosions. However, everything falls into place in a compact and gripping manner, with editor Tania Goding maintaining high tension while skillfully avoiding turning it into an exhilarating white-knuckle rollercoaster ride, which seems fitting under the circumstances.

In ‘Last Breath,’ Solving the Problem Means Saving a Life

In the thrilling movie “Last Breath,” a small cast of men (with only two women appearing briefly) work diligently to unravel a mystery. Once the puzzle is solved, the film concludes. This straightforward approach gives the film a somewhat sparse feeling. However, we’re glad it ends on an optimistic note, acknowledge its technical finesse, and are relieved that we won’t have to experience deep-sea saturation diving!

Yet, much like the documentary, the film doesn’t delve any deeper into the themes related to its narrative. Moreover, there remains a lingering question as to what occurred with Chris while he was unconscious on an oil rig manifold.

The movie titled ‘Last Breath’, produced by Longshot Films, Dark Castle Entertainment, and MetFilm, boasts studio funding, top-notch quality, a stellar performance by Woody Harrelson, and the actor who portrayed Shang-Chi. Despite its strong delivery, it should be noted that it essentially reiterates what the documentary has already conveyed about this particular story. Focus Features will distribute it starting February 28.

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2025-02-28 21:03