[FILM REVIEW] THIRTEEN LIVES Review (2022)

January 9, 2023January 9, 2023 Dave Aci Jinapanyo, Bernard Sam, Blake McFarlane, Christopher Story, Colin Farrell, David Griffiths, Eduard Alexander Waloni, Ensai O'Haire, Gerwin Widjaja, Girati Sugiyama, Helen Cassidy, Joe Chuensawan, Joel Edgerton, Jonathan Fang, Josh Helman, Kai Pantano, Kaokuson Sorapap, Kevin Spink, Lewis Fitz-gerald, Mayuree Ruapom, Natvara Hongsuwan, Nawanut Kaeomueangsi, Neungruthai Bungngern-Wynne, Nophand Boonyai, Pasakorn Hoyhon, Pattrakorn Tungsupakul, Paul Gleeson, Peter Knight, Phitakphong Boonet, Popetorn Soonthornyanakij, Pratuang Boontang, Ron Howard, Sahakaj Boonthanakit, Sam Arnold, Shakriya Tarinyaway, Sukniran Sukcharoen, Sukollawat Kanarot, Tanatat Sita, Teeradon Supapunpinyo, Teerawat Mulvillai, Terdphong U-Kham, Thanaphat Thopiata, Thanthapthai Chanin, Theerapat Sajakil, Thinatya Popanum, Thira Chutkul, Thirteen Lives, Thitpat Bheganan, Tom Bateman, U Gambira, UK, Viggo Mortenson, Vithaya Pansringarm, Waraporn Khamsingha, Watcharaphong Hiruntanakitjakul, William Nicholson, Zahra Newman

Summary: A rescue mission is assembled in Thailand where a group of young boys and their soccer coach are trapped in a system of underground caves that are flooding.

Year: 2022

Cinema Release Dates: NA (Australia), NA (Thailand), NA (UK), NA (USA)

VOD Release Dates: Available in all regions now.

Country: UK

Director: Ron Howard

Screenwriter: William Nicholson

Cast: Sam Arnold (Richard), Tom Bateman (Chris Jewell), Thitipat Bheganan (Don), Pratuang Boontang (Yod), Neungruthai Bungngern-Wynne (Mae Noi), Phitakphong Boonet (Rit), Sahajak Boonthanakit (Governor Narongsak), Nophand Boonyai (Thanet Natisri), Helen Cassidy (Anabel), Thanthapthai Chanin (Dew), Joe Chuensawan (Tul), Thira Chutikul (Commander Kiet), Joel Edgerton (Harry Harris), Jonathan Fang (Jay), Colin Farrell (John Volanthen), Lewis Fitz-gerald (Vern Unsworth), U Gambira (Kruba Boonchum), Paul Gleeson (Jason Mallinson), Josh Helman (Major Hodges), Natvara Hongsuwan (Preeya), Pasakorn Hoyhon (Chai), Achi Jinapanyo (Prem), Nawanut Kaeomueangsi (Nop), Sukollawat Kanarot (Saman), Waraporn Khamsingha (Kampang), Peter Knight (Police Captain Bas), Watcharaphong Hiruntanakitjakul (Dusit), Blake McFarlane (Matthew), Viggo Mortenson (Rick Stanton), Teerawat Mulvilai (Somboon), Zahra Newman (Captain Olivia Taft), Ensai O’Haire (Decha), Vithaya Pansringarm (General Anupong), Kai Pantano (Josh Morris), Thinatya Popanum (Kanda), Mayuree Ruanpom (Wanna), Theerapat Sajakil (Captain Arnont), Bernard Sam (Pichai), Tanatat Sita (Arm), Popetorn Soonthornyanakij (Dr. Karn), Kaokuson Sorapap (Aat), Kevin Spink (Josh Bratchley), Christopher Story (Connor Roe), Girati Sugiyama (Lek), Sukniran Sukcharoen (Poom), Teeradon Supapunpinyo (Coach), Shakriya Tarinyawat (Manop), Thanaphat Thopiata (Wit), Pattrakorn Tungsupakul (Buahom), Terdphong U-Kham (Park Ranger Kittipong Saisor), Eduard Alexander Waloni (Navy Official Rear Admiral Apakorn), Gerwin Widjaja (Udom)

Running Time: 147 mins

Classification: M (Australia), 16+ (Thailand), 12-A (UK), PG-13 (USA)

OUR THIRTEEN LIVES REVIEWS

David Griffiths ‘s Thirteen Lives Review:

During his illustrious career as a film director American filmmaker Ron Howard has shown repeatedly that when it comes to telling stories of historic moments on the big screen few can capture emotion and life-changing moments the way he can. From Apollo 13 to Frost/Nixon Howard’s eye-for-detail has proved the perfect to capturing history for cinema.

Now with Thirteen Lives Howard turns his attention to the 2018 Thai Cave disaster – a time when the world waited for baited breath as experts from around the world gathered to save the lives of 12 young soccer players and their coach. He treats the disaster with dignity and respect while managing to capture the raw emotion and suspense that the world went through during that time.

The film itself is told through the eyes of cave diving experts John Volanthen (Colin Farrell – S.W.A.T.) and Rick Stanton (Viggo Mortensen – The Lord Of The Rings). It shows the moment when they first decided that they needed to travel to Thailand to lend their expertise and the frustration they went through when it felt to them that nobody was listening to the ideas that they were coming up with.

One of the most memorable parts of the movie is the time when Volanthen and Stanton meet with Australian doctor and experienced diver Harry Harris (Joel Edgerton – The Great Gatsby) and share with him an idea that many thought were dooming the thirteen to death.

The power of Thirteen Lives comes from the fact that Howard did everything that he could to make this film feel as natural as possible. There are no green screens and very little special effects throughout this film. Such was Howard’s push for realism that he made the entire cast learn how to scuba dive and then he placed them in similar circumstances to what the heroes went through during that time. So rigorous was the training and those scenes that there were reports coming from the set that some of the actors become quiet traumatised by the experience and have vowed to never scuba dive again.

It is that realism that makes this film one of the films of 2022 that should not be missed. The scenes within the cave itself are suspense driven despite the fact that Ron Howard was extremely disappointed that he couldn’t make the water as dark as it really was because it would have meant that cinema audiences would not have been able to see anything on the screen. That aside though these scenes are eerily real and the result is a film like Titanic where despite the fact you know how the real events finished you sit for most of the film on the edge of yours seat.

Perhaps the most impressive part of Thirteen Lives though is the fact that Howard as a filmmaker doesn’t sugar-coat any of the events. Buoyed on by screenwriter William Nicholson’s (Gladiator) screenplay the film shows the often over-looked parts of the tragedy from Stanton’s grumpy nature right through the small mistakes that very nearly resulted in catastrophe time and time again.

While Ron Howard certainly rises to the occasion so does the actors in all the main roles. Colin Farrell and Virgo Mortensen are almost unrecognisable in their hard-hitting roles and it is easy to see while watching the film that these were roles that meant a lot to them. They are also well supported by Edgerton whose arrival in the film brings a new tone to the film such is the power of his performance. While it is hard to believe that any filmmaker could have created a film that captures the events of this disaster to the same amount of power that we saw in the National Geographic documentary The Cave that was released last year Ron Howard certainly manages to do that with Thirteen Lives. This is a brilliant film that needs to be viewed on the big screen.

Dave’s rating Out Of 5

Average Subculture rating Out Of 5

Other Thirteen Lives Reviews:

You can read our review of Thirteen Lives that appeared in The Phuket News here – https://www.thephuketnews.com/thirteen-lives-a-realism-masterpiece-85516.php

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