Deadly Voyage

An excellent movie. I couldn't take my eyes off the TV screen for a second. It has a strong plot based on a true story, a story of stowaways, which I heard of only from news but never had a chance to have an indirect experience through a movie or any other medium. Every American, especially non-white immigrants can empathize with the characters who hop on a ship and take a risk for a better life in New York City. Even before they put a foot on the American land, they are confronted with the hate by the Russian crew, one of whom said that "niggers" are not welcome in the US--niggers' lives are not worth a dog's life or the oil they might have to waste for a stopping. How surprising and shocking it is for the Russian crew to adopt American white supremacists' hate towards blacks without any hesitation.

Brutal and boring. A bunch of thugs kill a group of refugees and one refugee escapes. It does not make a good movie. The best movies add something to the human experience, this is just boring low grade story telling. The fact that it is based on true events just makes it all the more tragic.

This searing drama based on a true incident concerns several ambitious African nationals who decide to temporarily leave their families by stowing away on an outbound ship. They think that if they successfully make the voyage they can better their lives by making enough money in New York to send for their families. Unfortunately for them, the ship that they select is a rundown Russian freighter which has already been heavily fined at a previous port for harboring stowaways. The captain and the first mate are determined not to let this happen again as their jobs are on the line. The group of blacks begin their harrowing voyage in the cargo hold and are eventually discovered, forced out of hiding and murdered by the ruthless mate (an outstanding performance by Sean Pertwee.) A few (convincingly terrified leader Omar Epps among them) manage to temporarily escape and are mercilessly pursued through the ship with their lives forfeit if they are caught. Altogether a riveting film which will have audiences biting their nails and gritting their teeth wondering how such dire events could take place in modern civilization.

Some people ask how the events in this film could happen? Instead of asking what type of person could take advantage of, abuse and murder such desperate people? Well watch your evening news for the answer, some people are as evil today as they have been. History is chock full of such individuals and incidents. Its a difficult film to watch, but its riveting and very well made. The acting is completely believable, ill never be able to watch Sean Pertwee again without thinking of his evil character.

Definitely not a date movie unless you are a psychopath or a racist.

No doubt racists will cling to the belief that the stowaways deserved what happened to them , whilst explaining how they would feel the same about any potential illegal immigrant or artefact thief (?) Conveniently forgetting that all civilised people acknowledge that murder is illegal regardless of the race of the victim or how they encountered their murderers. Racism is racism and murder is murder this film has lots of both. Its very telling that some people seem to think that murder is justified because of the race and circumstance of the victim. this is not a bleeding heart liberal movie its a gritty retelling of a series of heinous crimes by a crew of racists.

If you are interested in learning more about this sort of thing happening in modern civilization, there is an excellent book called "Outlaw Seas" or "The Outlaw Sea", and it describes, in story after story, how these things do happen. The lawlessness of the high seas is a reality for a number of reasons. One, many of the world's freighters are of questionable registry (nationality) and it's difficult to impossible to enforce international laws when the ships owners don't have an office in a real country. Two, many ship lines employ crews from dirt poor third world countries. The crews are often (like illegal immigrant workers) threatened and bullied into complying with questionable or illegal practices. Three, there is often a language barrier, not only between the officers and the crew, but also between the crew members themselves. The crew are rewarded for their compliance and their silence. Four, once committing an illegal act, the ships are able to hide in plain sight with little more than a fresh coat of paint. Anyway, it's fascinating reading.

Horrifying story, excellent movie. Does anyone else notice how HBO seems to make the best and most important movies? Hollywood has trouble releasing enough Oscar worthy movies in any given year, so that several of the top 5 contenders usually come from Britain. Jerry Bruckheimer = the end of quality cinema.

I loved the thoroughly evil performance by Sean Pertwee. I also, as usual, loved Omar Epps.