The Finest Hours, the newest Walt Disney Film out in theaters this Friday, tells the true story of an incredible rescue by a small team of Coast Guard who against all odds found and rescued 32 of the 33 men stranded on board what was left of the SS Pendleton. The story also shows the courage of the survivors on board the tanker. Casey Affleck who stars as First Assistant Engineer Ray Sybert gives an incredible performance as a quiet and soft spoken man who is thrown into the position of leadership when the T-2 he is on is ripped in half by the storm of the century. Taking charge, he and his 32 remaining crew members do the impossible to stay afloat until help arrives.
During a press event, I had the opportunity to be a part of a round table session with Mr. Affleck. Discussing the character he plays, Casey mentioned both his character and Chris Pine’s (Bernie Webber) were although different in some ways, similar in that they were both thrust into a role of heroism or leadership that was not the norm for them, and which required a lot of heart. He continued sharing how one of the things he liked about the movie was that it was about people helping each other in one of the worst times possible, which led to “an uplifting story.” “It’s also sort of old fashioned and has kind of simpler ideas about, you know, valor and virtue and stuff.” Asked about how Casey decided to portray Sybert, he responded saying as an actor, “you decide on a character and certain elements and the rest of it you’re sort of making it up as you go” and there is always the script that is used as a guideline. Casey mentioned his character had an almost librarian on an oil tanker personality, which once he said it, was in fact, the perfect description of Sybert.
Casey was asked about any research he did of the actual event before filming, to which he responded that most of the time, the crew spends years on research and at the end of the process the actors are handed a packet with all the necessary information. However, he did personally visit the museums, and ships to try to get the feel of being below deck.
One question we were all eager to ask was about the filming conditions. Casey brought up the weather in Boston as cold and wet but since the film involved the constant water being thrown at the cast, they eventually got used to being cold. Casey continued talking about the water scenes and when asked if they were given wet suits to help, he replied that some used the wet suits, and some (like himself) did not.
Casey also talked about how inspirational the film was and that although the jobs are hard, the people who perform them, love doing so. He did not think of them as victims and went on to say that like law enforcement, the Coast Guard is one of those where “you are asked to put your own life on the line for someone else’s and that takes a special kind of person.”
In discussing the most challenging part of the his character, Affleck, responded it would have to be trying to figure out the amount of fear to show and how a person would have actually responded to the situation. Casey said his best guide was going on line and looking up videos of persons under the most stressful situations.
Casey Affleck’s performance in The Finest Hours, gave his character, the exact amount of strength and quiet leadership needed to successfully convey to the audience. the fear, tension and at times dispair that must have been felt by Sybert. The film is a must see for all family members. An edge of your seat/feel good/happy ending that will warm your heart and remind you that everyday heroes can be found in the most unlikely places.
The Finest Hours, starring Casey Affleck, Ben Foster, Chris Pine, Eric Bana and a stellar cast arrives in theaters, Friday, January 29, 2016.
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