10 Best Naval War Films You Need To See
3. U-571
On the fictional side of things, U-571 is a made-up tale of American forces boarding an enemy submarine to retrieve their enigma machine. To do so, they disguise one of their own submarines as a German one in a bid to sneak onto the enemy craft.
Led by a cast that includes Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton and Harvey Keitel, Jonathon Mostow's middle-tier production is able to deliver strong action, polished visuals and a sense of danger as the opposing subs clash in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. It makes for an exhilarating thrill ride all the way through.
The film was not without controversy however; the British government at the time was especially critical of U-571, saying it dishonored the memory of those who served in the conflict. Further criticism was directed at the portrayal of the Germans who sunk the enemy without mercy rather than taking prisoners.
Anyone familiar with history knows it was really HMS Bulldog and not the American naval forces who captured the Enigma machine; be that as it may, U-571 still offers a rousing action roller-coaster with some excellent cinematography to boot. Much like Braveheart before it, it's able to overcome its questionable historic portrayal to craft an entertaining production.