Is there a greater tragedy than when a real live event sparks a hollywood frenzy to produce a story and the lasting result is a mismash of bad acting, writing, storytelling and overall production value. A Glimpse of Hell (out now on DVD) was a made for TV movie regarding the truth and subsequent cover up of the 1980's turrett explosion on the USS Iowa. As the true story goes, a turrett was practicing live fire when an explosion ripped through the loading area killing many marines. The cover-up begins with investigation that has the navy looking for an answer and not the truth. The truth would lead to the decommissioning of the IOWA and, as the movie quickly points out, guns on ships are no longer a necessity when missiles can make direct and accurate hits on programmed targets. James Caan stars as Captain Fred Moosaly, and it has been a long time since he has drifted and slept through an acting role as much as he does here. His emotions cannot be carried by the silly dialogue, so his furrowed brow tries to convince us that he is a troubled man that wants to do the right thing for the decesased and their families while still looking after the well being of those who remain under his command. The investigation leads the navy towards a coverup based on a proposed gay relationship between one of the deceased and a survivor. The navy is quick to conclude that it was a love triangle that sent many to their deaths in a suicide attempt, and it is up to the good guys to bring justice to the situation. Good grief. The writing is implicitly bad and characters are thrown in it seems just to show the families that they were all a part of equipment gone bad, and men who ultimately do good. The acting all around is simply stiff. If I was ever commissioned and had to spend months along side these characters, I think I would jump overboard and take my chances with the sharks. As Hollywood films go, the climax is a court scene when the Captain must choose between telling the truth or protecting the navy. I will let you guess what happens.
I find it offensive when a true story where men or women who fight for a cause (in this case, their country) is put to film with such lack of passion as to leave the viewer with more of a sense of wanting to fast forward rather than to pay homage to those fallen. Every character is portrayed so stale, that I would be embarassed if I was a crew member who wants to see his story put on the big screen.
Keeping such an interesting and historical story on such a low level of enthusiasm and effort is truly the injustice and director Mikael Salomon should be put in front of a judge himself for sentencing.
To those families that lost lives in this tragic and horrific event, I apologize on everyones behalf that it took so long to bring your story to the general public and when it was finally completed, we had no interest.
For those who really want to know what happened, I suggest contacting CBS for the 60 minutes special report and follow up. That segment did the sailors justice.
I find it offensive when a true story where men or women who fight for a cause (in this case, their country) is put to film with such lack of passion as to leave the viewer with more of a sense of wanting to fast forward rather than to pay homage to those fallen. Every character is portrayed so stale, that I would be embarassed if I was a crew member who wants to see his story put on the big screen.
Keeping such an interesting and historical story on such a low level of enthusiasm and effort is truly the injustice and director Mikael Salomon should be put in front of a judge himself for sentencing.
To those families that lost lives in this tragic and horrific event, I apologize on everyones behalf that it took so long to bring your story to the general public and when it was finally completed, we had no interest.
For those who really want to know what happened, I suggest contacting CBS for the 60 minutes special report and follow up. That segment did the sailors justice.