U-571

First Brad Pitt, and now Matthew McConaughey. What is it that drives these devastatingly attractive, charming men to shear their blond locks and become grim and pock-faced in "serious" roles on the silver screen? I suppose trying to be more than a pretty face.

Whatever the motive, McConaughey's humourless performance as the ambitious Lt Andrew Tyler is one of the main reasons this World War II thriller by Jonathan Mostow (Breakdown) is so relentless. While Mostow creates an engrossing atmosphere and highlights the intriguing world of WWII submarines, an unbelievable plot and one-dimensional characters detract from the film.

The sailors aboard the S-33 are on a mission to capture an Enigma code machine from a German U-boat stranded in the Atlantic Ocean. "Our inability to decipher their messages is costing us this war," Tyler is told. Meanwhile, Tyler's smarting from being passed over for a promotion to skipper of his own sub. His captain Bill Paxton (Lt. Commander Mike Dahlgren) tries to explain that Tyler needs to learn to make decisions that could cost men lives, a lesson the younger man will learn all too soon.

The premise of the film is very imaginative. For those who haven't seen the movie trailers, go straight to the cinema. The main gimmick is revealed in most previews, and it's more fun as a surprise. After that, the crew faces tougher and tougher challenges, straining our credulity with each hurdle they overcome.

The production is impeccable. WWII-era submarines and ships are lovingly recreated, giving us a priceless glimpse back in time. Interiors are lit with spooky red or blue lights, and the underwater shots are beautiful in their grace. The sound effects give the final touch, with the creaking ship, water leaking in, distant echoes and the crew shivering and breathing shakily.

The acting is strong but not spectacular. Paxton and Keitel are good solid men who help show Tyler the way. Others serve merely as foils for Tyler's halting efforts to become a leader worthy of the name. When he devises a series of creative exits to the sub's tangles, the praise heaped on him made me a little sick. Still, Mostow's watery world draws you in. By the end, when the sonar operator says, "splashes", you yourself brace for the explosion of the depth charge.