MOVIE: A Merciful hour and a half watch

IF you come out of a movie and your only reaction is “why?”, that’s probably not a good sign. Such was the case at the recent screening of ‘The Mercy’. 

Why did someone think this was a good story? Why did people invest their money to make it? Why did they think that audiences would want to go and see it? All these questions creating intense emotion and intrigue on exiting the cinema, something that was sorely lacking during the film itself.

‘The Mercy’ tells the true story of Donald Crowhurst (played by Colin Firth), an amateur sailor who competed in the 1968 Sunday Times Golden Globe Race in the hope of becoming the first person in history to single-handedly circumnavigate the globe without stopping. 

With an unfinished vessel and his business and house on the line, Donald leaves his wife, Clare (Rachel Weisz) and their children behind, hesitantly embarking on an adventure with his boat, the ‘Teignmouth Electron’. 

Not a bad setup and there is a twist in the end that we won’t spoil (don’t google Donald Crowhurst) but unfortunately there is very little drama to speak of, and if that key ingredient is missing, you’re in trouble.  The film drifts along aimlessly like a branch on a barely moving river, never shifting into second gear. 

There has been some criticism of Crowhurst’s decision to up sticks and leave his wife and kids for nine months (they don’t seem too bothered by the way) and remortgage his house which was probably worth £5,000 for a chance to win a first prize of £5,000, but our gripe isn’t with that. 

Our beef centres around the fact that if you’re going to build a film around a man who apparently is desperate for fame and terrified of failure (this is stated towards the end), then you better show those hopes and fears at the beginning. We award ‘The Mercy’, a sinking two stars. 

Something that may float your boat this week is ‘Roman J. Israel Esq’, a compelling and thought provoking drama starring the always amazing, Denzel Washington. 

Paul O’Rourke