In the Eye of "The Perfect Storm"

a look at the film

Perfect Storm, The (2000)

 

Director: Wolfgang Petersen

 

Undoubtedly one of the most technically demanding films of its time, requiring hundreds of artists in a fantastic collaboration, Petersen tells the story of a 1991 event in the North Atlantic where three storms collided to make a storm of monumental proportions. It is essentially the story of one boat, the Andrea Gail which was unable to withstand the waves of over 100 feet and capsized, sending its captain Billy Tyne (George Clooney) and crew to a watery doom.  Also the film stars Mark Wahlberg, Diane Lane, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, William Fichtner, Karen Allen among others. A smaller sail boat, the Mistral, heading to Bermuda is also caught up in the storm. The film tells  several different stories including those of the loved ones who are waiting at home in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

 

To get the full impact of the technical aspects of the film, listen to the informative commentary by Stephen Fangmeier of ILM and Helen Elswit who worked on the special effects  which included everything from full size ships and models to CGI.

 

Many of the people seen in the film are residents of Gloucester who were there during the storm.

 

It is an amazing story of humanity.