Film "all is lost"

[alberto]

I had the opportunity to watch this movie (which I fully recommend) of Robert Redford crashing to a floating container with his sail boat and finally sunk in the Sumatra straights area.

Apart of the good role of Robert Redford (the only actor) I would like to address 2 points for discussion:

1.- How many of you have seen these containers floating

2.- What kind of right/wrong decisions he is taking to survive

 

[hfoster]

I had the opportunity to watch this movie (which I fully recommend) of Robert Redford crashing to a floating container with his sail boat and finally sunk in the Sumatra straights area.

Apart of the good role of Robert Redford (the only actor) I would like to address 2 points for discussion:

1.- How many of you have seen these containers floating

2.- What kind of right/wrong decisions he is taking to survive

I have not seen the film as of yet but I want to and will. I did hear it was pretty good film so I hope it is.

I cannot speak on the right and wrongs due to not seeing the film.
I can say I have seen a few containers floating out there, but I have never been that close to any of them like in the picture nor would I want to be.

happy cruising

H. Foster

 

[alberto]

Do you know if ere they detected by Radar?

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. alberto. I expect if some portion of the container is above water you can pick it up on radar particularly if in a similar position to the picture you posted. I've noted some crab pot floats on radar in the past. Usually on a close pass to the floats a large metal washer is evident, thus the radar reflection. I have not seen the movie.

 

[texasnielsen]

All is lost . . .

I didn't care for the movie.

Acting was stiff and the activities undertaken for rescue left me frustrated.

Spent the first twenty minutes talking out loud (which I rarely do for a movie) questioning this and that . . as it was a rental and I was watching it from home, the only one I was disturbing was my significant other . . .

The lay-up of the glass repair should have had a great deal more "backing" for strength (a couple of wood strips? - rip a wood door off a cabinet or a ply hatch cover under a cushion for pete's sake. . . where the safety gear was stored . . . no EPRIB . . . his flares seemed to be for coastal and not oceanic signaling. As well as how many were available . . . survivors that I've read about mention the difficulty being seen during daylight by passing ships and the ensuing debate as to when to sleep (sleep during day, awake at night for better possibility of flares being seen at night). His "SOS" hailing (seriously?).... About the only thing I thought ingenious by the time he was where he was emotionally was the ending. I won't comment on the specifics as as not to ruin the ending for anyone not having seen the picture (recomment saving your money however).

It was this movie or Captain Phillips Saturday night. I've since spoken to folks who have seen both movies and far and away they all say the hostage movie was much better. Coincidentially, Hanks did a better job with his role in Cast Away. You bought in to his character and the desperation, etc. of being in that situation (alone, marooned) IMO.

BTW, have never seen any containers floating by, but I've seen "lots" of "bales". . .

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. t. Of course the acting is stiff. Redford is 78.

 

[jwnall]

Saw the movie and enjoyed it. Agree that he should have had an EPIRB. Interesting comment from Ebert on the film review:

.

"The utter solitude is almost vertiginous. Redford's silent lone sailor is the tree falling in the forest with no one to hear it. And all his activity directed at remedying the problem – intelligent and focused, capable and professional – appears also to be pointless. The game is up. Everything he's doing could be just an existential dead cat bounce: the entire drama works well as a parable of old age. He could as well be at home, on dry land, pottering around the house in his late 70s, losing his sight and hearing, the news of impending mortality pouring in through the windows like seawater."​

.

 

[Daddyo]

I have never seen a container and that's OK by me. I do much of my cruising as overnighters and it really is just a roll of the dice. That said I still like my chances much more than the drive to the boat in a car.

 

[hollywood8118]

In almost 20,000 offshore miles I have never seen a container.. I did find a fishing float once though. On one trip off the coast I did see a big Sony TV though.. with the high pressure sodium lights in the rigging I could even see the Sony name on the back!
Did have a friend find a sailboat that was adrift about 700 miles off Hawaii.. and a nice one at that.

The Admiral saw the movie (She gets all gushy when she sees a movie with Redford I have to remind her he is old as dirt)... the said it sucked.. he did EVERYTHING wrong,was worthless etc.

She said that it was like the movie from years ago with Nichole Kidman on the sail boat where The Admiral just kept saying she would of killed the dude and be done with it (the Admiral is a force to be reckoned with and a expert shot). Redford's character in the movie made so many mistakes it was just sad.

HOLLYWOOD

 

[texasnielsen]

Greetings,
Mr. t. Of course the acting is stiff. Redford is 78.

Fonda and Hepburn were 76 & 74 respectively when they filmed On Golden Pond. Age had no bearing on their performance. I believe for any great actor, it doesn't. (Guess I answered my own point there).

If you're a Reford fan, set aside the 2 hours. Otherwise ....

 

[Boydski]

I spent 14 years working offshore (including 2 Circumnavigations) and I've never seen a floating container. However, when we spent 5 years searching for wrecks, we found the bottom littered with Crab Pots and Containers. I think most of them sink pretty fast as few are really air tight.

 

[healhustler]

I've never seen a container either, but having handled a few incidents on land where the container actually came off the chassis on Interstates back in the 70's, a sea collision with one could surely put one in a very compromising position.

I saw the movie, and even though I'd have to say it was not my kind of movie, I think Redford did exactly what he intended to do and the directorship made one feel exactly what they wanted you to feel. Frustration, anxiety, boredom, denial, half-hearted spirit and even disgruntled resignation flowed through the audience. I've rarely heard so much verbal expression from the audience and seen so much uncomfortable tossing and turing in their seats during a movie. The movie lacked the pizzazz in plot or outcome that we hunger for. My last mental comment was "Duh?". I think most of us have forgotten what acting is without action. Me too. I think it was a great movie.....but I would have shot it between the eyes at least a half-dozen different times.

 

[Besslb]

Overall I liked the movie. I am a RR fan so I may be a little biased. But I kept thinking why the heck does he not have on his PFD? WTH? I kept saying WTH the whole way through the movie. I don't want to give more examples for those who haven't seen it but want to.

It was entertaining I thought. Great? Not really, but entertaining. I think we were the only "non sailors" in the theater.

 

[markpierce]

I saw a "container" (an empty plastic tub) floating at the west end of Carquinez Strait last Saturday.

 

[Art]

In 1950's, 60's I helped my dad take power cruisers from LI South Shore up Hell's Gate fast currents in NY NY; to points up the Hudson. Talk about floaters coming at cha!!! Geezzzz... back then, dumping rubbish in the water had little restriction. Crates, truck tires, pallets, telephone poles, tree stumps, wood framed box springs, desks, chairs... and... items that simply couldn't be named! I'd crouch for stability over fore peak on the bow's deck grasping tight to bow rail so I could yell back any unseen dangers to pops if boat had no fly bridge. Boats w/ a bridge let us see all from above... those rides I was comfy on the bridge too!

And, that is why I love Flying Bridge on each boat I own. Pilot from there 99.9% of the time!

Jus sayen!!

No, then and in times forward I've never spied a floating tractor trailer container, thankfully!

 

[alberto]

Nevertheless I have some considerations:

1.- What is doing a 78 old man at his own in a sailboat of 11 meters in the middle of the pacific at 1700 miles from Sumatra Straights?
2.- Why he was sleeping with no radar alarm?
3.- after looking to the situation, why he does not start the engine to save the batteries and switch the bilge pump on?
4.- Why he jumps on to the container risking himself to roll and fall into the water?
5.- Why he does not reinforce the hull repair by inside of the hull?
6.- Why he risks himself in crawling to the top of the mast (by the way totally oversized) to detect that the antenna connector is loose... apparently the damage was before the crash...
7.- Why he is not using the formal Mayday call?
8,- Why he was not using the sea anchor to stand the storm avoiding rolling?
9.- How he is able to know his position with the sextant without looking later in the tables?
10.- Why he does not take everything possible to the raft?
11.- Why he does not make sun signals with the mirror?
12.- What is he doing in the middle of the Pacific with no EPIRB?
13.- Only one radio, no BLU?
14.- no back up portable battery?
15.- all sweet water was coming from the sink tap?

and some more that I avoid in order to not disclosure the end of the movie.

I do not think that these mistakes were intentionally on the script, but a nautical advisor for the film is so noticeable.

In real life I understand that the stress of the situation could force you to make mistakes, but, that size?

 

[healhustler]

All good points, Alberto. But the story being told in Hollywood has a lot to do with it. It's kind-of like asking why all the passenger planes in Die Hard II were in being held in rotation around Dulles Airport until their fuel was nearly expired, all the time knowing that Washington National and Baltimore-Washington International were only minutes away.

 

[BruceK]

Greetings,
Mr. t. Of course the acting is stiff. Redford is 78.

"They don`t make actors like that anymore. You can`t get the wood, you know"
(With acknowledgement to the late Peter Sellers,and apologies to RR)

 

[Art]

RR does OK for a lightweight pretty face! Problem with being born that pretty as a male is it's all downhill after bout 33 yrs. Me, I never have had to nor will have to worry bout that kinda stuff; it's all steady as she goes for me! - LOL

Doubt I'll watch the film... TY all for full-scope reviews. BTW - From sounds of some shenanigans he pulled during tight times it sounds if reality (not Hollywood) was present no one would have know why that Skipper disappeared!

 

[Ronald]

Good friend who is an experienced sailor watched the movie recently and said it was trash. As mentioned , many mistakes, poorly done movie. His advise, don't waste your time , or money.

 

[shufti]

I beleive containers have (for some time now) a water-activated mechanism which ensures they sink when lost overboard. My knowledge of this is only due to news/current affairs reports a few years ago when a continer ship lost a substantial amount of containers outside of Moreton Bay. I;ve never seen one floating, either, in 40-something years of rec boating around busy coastal shipping lanes.

 

[healhustler]

Of course, if it happens to be loaded with Nidacore, Ping-pong balls or West Marine auto-inflate Life Jackets, who knows.

 

[Art]

Good one Larry!

 

[psneeld]

Remember folks it's just a movie...not a survival training film....

I rarely look to Hollywood for facts.....even better is closely watching Hollywood portrayals of mechanics fixing things....anyone copy those guys?

 

[healhustler]

Remember folks it's just a movie...not a survival training film....

I rarely look to Hollywood for facts.....even better is closely watching Hollywood portrayals of mechanics fixing things....anyone copy those guys?

Well, actually, yeah! Once aboard a charter schooner, I barked out a line of instructions that I copied from Erol Flynn on the movie "Capt. Blood", but everyone just ignored me.

 

[Art]

Remember folks it's just a movie...not a survival training film....

I rarely look to Hollywood for facts.....even better is closely watching Hollywood portrayals of mechanics fixing things....anyone copy those guys?

Well actually yes! MacGyver (i.e. Rube Goldberg for us young birds - lol) has some really good ways to jury rig items... when necessary!

 

[Pinball63]

The way Redford moved around the boat, it had seemed he'd never been on one. He looked very uncomfortable!

 

[psneeld]

Well actually yes! MacGyver (i.e. Rube Goldberg for us young birds - lol) has some really good ways to jury rig items... when necessary!

Well feel free to use Hollywood for survival techniques too then...let me know how it works out.......

 

[Besslb]

Just watched it again for reference. Still not a "bad movie". I am sure it was not intended to, but it has made us all ask questions and have answers for what we would have done if it was us. So, while unintentional, perhaps we do learn something from it. (like never go ocean cruising without an EPIRB or a PFD)

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Still haven't seen the movie but what I learned (anecdotal) is don't go ocean cruising with Robert Redford.