A gripping World War II drama, U-571 isn’t the second coming of Das Boot, though it’s a fine submarine effort regardless. Matthew McConaughey leads a solid cast into the water, under fire from German troops. With moments of eerie silence and overbearing explosions, U-571 is almost flawlessly put together.
Jonathan Mostow directs this undersea affair, split into two parts. The first consists of a botched plan to steal a German device known as the Enigma. This would allow US troops to decipher German messages, unable to be done without the machine. The second pits the crew in a long and harsh stand-off against a German boat in an effort to escape with the machine.
Problems mount as the crew is stuck inside a German sub after their own is assaulted. Unable to read the labels on the parts, the crew runs blind as a young, unguided McConaughey struggles to keep everyone in line. Attacks from another submarine lead to a brilliantly crafted showdown, including an unforgettable shot in which a torpedo scrapes the hull of the Americans' sub.
U-571 comes alive thanks to its audio presentation. It would be nominated for two Oscars (winning one) based on the audio alone and it’s as critical to the film as the human performances. The creaking sub, bursting with water and fire, is a fantastic film set piece. It should be a requirement to view this film in the proper sound environment.
Countless action sequences fill the screen with astounding visual moments. Mostow directs for maximum intensity, focused on the emotional impact of being trapped underwater and under constant stress from enemy forces. Action fans will be at home here.
Sadly, that leaves little time for character development. Bill Paxton and McConaughey are the only actors given any time to develop, and their relationship is cut short, leaving only one sailor for the audience to follow. The tension could have been dramatically heightened if the audience was given something to fall back on.
U-571 is a hard film to find fault with. It’s a finely crafted piece of action cinema, and the drama creates a heightened sense of danger. This is one well worth your time. 
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