Tom Hanks captains ‘Greyhound’
Our quarantine-age crisis continues to reshape daily life and weekly entertainment. Rather than debut in theaters as its creators intended, the World War II drama “Greyhound” will stream on Apple TV+.
Written by Tom Hanks, who also stars, the film concerns the battle in the North Atlantic in 1942, when convoys of American vessels shipping equipment and supplies to Britain were set upon by German submarines. Hanks plays Commander Ernest Krause, commanding his first ship rather late in his naval career.
The destroyer Greyhound pursues a Nazi U-boat within 10 minutes of the opening credits. And the action doesn’t let up for much of the film. These chases involve a lot of men charting graphs and examining vintage analog equipment and urgently shouting coordinates while the gray seas churn in the background. The hunt provides for a great deal of tension, but few opportunities for conversation or character development. One flashback to a prewar attempt at romance unfolds with Hanks looking crestfallen as Eva (Elisabeth Shue) rejects his proposal. If the dialogue were any more wooden, the USS Greyhound might develop a termite problem.
Even while discussing sonar and depth charges, commander Krause affects a pious reticence. He’s seen on his knees praying at times and often speaks with his men as if reaching for inspiration from on high. When an oil slick confirms that his crew has sunk a U-boat, Krause dampens the enthusiasm of his men to reflect on the lost souls beneath the waves.
By my reckoning, an obscenity is not heard until 22 minutes into the movie. And even then, the sailor apologizes for spouting profanity in front of Krause.
With “Greyhound,” Hanks has fashioned an old-fashioned war movie. And once again, he plays a noble character, free of blemish or apparent inner conflict.
Also streaming on Apple TV+, “Little Voice” stars Brittany O’Grady as an unsure singer/songwriter who composes
numbers while working gig jobs as a dog walker and piano teacher. Every scene offers a glossy and romanticized view of the life of an artist in New York. Co-created by Sara Bareilles, “Voice” is nothing if not ardent and self-involved. The first words heard, or rather sung, are: “I don’t know what it is, but it is about ME.” Help yourself.
“Greatness Code” also debuts on Apple TV+. It represents an ambitious effort to reimagine the sports documentary, even if installments run from only five to eight minutes. “Greatness” basically offers interviews
with legends, including LeBron James and Tom Brady, processed through an aggressive use of computer graphics and gray scale animation. Good design should never draw attention to itself. At least “Greatness” distracts us from the cliche-heavy observations that drive most sports talk.
› Also streaming today, Andy Samberg stars in the 2020 romantic comedy “Palm Springs” (Hulu), and Charlize Theron stars in the 2020 supernatural thriller “The Old Guard” (Netflix).