Epic Adventure Blockbuster With Multiple Avengers Stars Is Already Being Forgotten
By now, Marvel has enlisted so many A-list actors for their enormous roster of superheroes that there are tons of examples of MCU stars crossing over with each other in other films. One of the better examples of this phenomenon is 2015’s In the Heart of the Sea which unites Thor actor Chris Hemsworth and Spider-Man actor Tom Holland. Despite the movie’s high profile cast of stars and incredibly compelling storyline, the film is currently not available to watch on any major streaming services.
In The Heart Of The Sea
In the Heart of the Sea was written by Blood Diamond scribe Charles Leavitt and directed by visionary filmmaker Ron Howard, based on the non-fiction book In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex.
The film presents a fictionalized narrative of the real-life story of the Essex whaling ship, which sunk in the Southern Pacific Ocean in 1820. The true story was a major inspiration for the great American novel Moby-Dick, which is made abundantly clear within the film adaptation.
The Cast
As stated, the cast of In the Heart of the Sea includes Chris Hemsworth and Tom Holland, though the pair aren’t the only two big name stars on board. Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson, Benjamin Walker, Ben Whishaw, and Game of Thrones‘ Michelle Fairley round out the cast, each providing highly moving and period-specific performances.
Other MCU heroes were also considered to appear in the film, including Doctor Strange‘s Benedict Cumberbatch, Loki‘s Tom Hiddleston, and even one flagship DCU actor, Henry Cavill.
The Only Survivor
In the Heart of the Sea is a frame narrative, which opens on Moby-Dick author Herman Melville as he prepares to write his tale, based on the account of the last surviving member of the Essex.
At first, the sailor declines to recount his story, explaining that the tale is too painful to discuss, and too absurd to be believed. After some prodding from his wife, the man finally acquiesces to Melville’s requests, and regales him with his incredible story.
As the sailor tells it, a whaling company operating out of Nantucket, Massachusetts offered the Essex as a vessel to collect whale oil back in 1820, hiring a number of experienced whalers to man the boat.
Chris Hemsworth’s Owen Chase is brought on as a first mate, despite having significantly more experience than the ship’s captain, George Pollard. As the Essex sails into the heart of the sea, the two men disagree on how to handle an impending storm, causing major chaos to the ship.
Destined For Disaster
Months later, the survivors are barely left alive, as they continue to search for any signs of whaling life across the Atlantic. After the captain is alerted to the presence of fertile whaling waters in the Southern Pacific, he reroutes, though he is warned of a massive white whale, known for sinking ships and killing men with extreme prejudice.
If you’ve ever read Moby-Dick, you know exactly where the plot of In the Heart of the Sea is headed, though nothing can truly prepare viewers for the stunning visuals and unbelievable suffering endured by the Essex crew.
Watch It However You Can
GFR SCORE
The film received mixed reviews, and admittedly, Chris Hemsworth seems to really struggle to nail a Boston accent, but it’s still a worthwhile watch if you get the chance. Unfortunately, it seems that new viewers will encounter a white whale of their own searching for In the Heart of the Sea on streaming, as none of the major streamers are currently offering the movie in their library.
