The 33

The true story about 33 Chilean miners trapped under more than 2000 feet below ground is a fascinating story that captivated the whole world for months when it happened. The question here is can "The 33" captivate us as well, with this film adaptation of the book "Deep Down Dark" by Hector Tobar; which tells the untold stories of the men buried in that Chilean mine? 

Director Patricia Riggen does a good enough job in showcasing the drama about how desperate the situation is for these trapped men, the family waiting for them, and the people trying to help. Of course with this huge cast, the story can only really focus on certain primary characters. Like Antonio Banderas as the man who helps keep the group together, and Rodrigo Santoro as the government man who has to fight through red tape just to help. 

The problem is that the desperate situation only lasts about half the movie, as the second half starts showing the promising progression of the rescue. As soon as it seems like the men are on the way to being rescued, all the tension is almost completely alleviated. The back stories of the characters can only carry the movie so much, and it ends up being a simple straightforward story about a tragedy becoming a reaffirmation of hope and life. 

I can't really fault "The 33" for meeting the minimum expectation of how to tell this story. It's still a captivating true tale, and I do appreciate the message of the story. I'll just have to live with the fact that it's just trapped in the simplicity of it's presentation as a movie. 

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