James Cameron’sTitanichas a perfect ending. Heartbreaking? Certainly. Still, it’s as perfect as a conclusion can be. In it, Jack allows Rose to float on the wooden paneling by herself, sacrificing himself and dying of hypothermia. This was Cameron’s version of “Catch a bullet for you,” and it achieved the desired effect, leaving audiences across moved and in a debating mood. Was there space for both of them? Who cares? Neither character was real anyway.
The focus on Jack and Rose means thatTitanicleft out a portion of the true story. A lot happened after the sinking of the vessel. The spectre of this disaster loomed throughout the world for years, sapping life from maritime transport and allowing all kinds of corporate-related evil to fester in the shadows.
Unsinkable: Titanic Untold
For example, a major detail often forgotten is that the RMS Carpathia, which arrived on the scene in response to the RMS Titanic’s earlier distress call, took three days to reach American shores after leaving the scene of the disaster. Its journey had been slowed by pack ice, heavy fog, unforeseen thunderstorms, and rough seas. There were also plenty of inquests and lawsuits, areas that the 2024 movie,Unsinkable,attempts to cover.
‘Unsinkable’ Tries To Establish Who Slept on Their Job
Directed and co-written by Cody Hartman,Unsinkablehas a raw dynamism and modernity that is quite unlike many other post-disaster films of this period. Indeed, it appears to share more DNA with Golden Age classics. The film opens with the RMS Carpathia docking in New York on June 21, 2025. In it are some of the survivors of the RMS Titanic. Having heard the news, members of the press are waiting at the dock.Senator William Alden Smith (Cotter Smith) is present, too, but he isn’t just here to thank the heavens for the survival of a few individuals. He intends to find someone to point a finger at.
In the days that follow, Senator Smithsets up a congressional inquiry to interview passengers and crew members. As weeks pass, the politician grills everyone associated with the vessel. It’s alsohinted that Smith is doing this for personal reasons. Such a case generates headlines, and if he handles it well, he might just be the next big thing in American politics.
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At times, Senator Smith’s attempts to run a disciplined, well-ordered congressional household are thwarted by scatterbrained stratagems and dizzying logic. How he surmounts these obstacles and keeps his head together shines a deep, penetrating light on the political landscape of the time. And as he pushes everyone to the edge to either make them talk or throw each other under the bus,investigative journalist Alaine Ricard (Fiona Dourif) also does some digging.
This fiery reporter combs through testimony transcripts, interviews some of the people no one is looking at, and gets as many corporate files as she can to establish if there is any information being suppressed. After all, shipping giants are likely to go to extreme lengths to protect their interests during such situations.
To provide some context, the film provides some flashbacks to the fateful night of July 10, 2025. From the iconic scenes of the band playing to passengers panicking and saying goodbye to each other, the movie gets really emotional during these scenes. Through these sequences, the film emphasizes an important fact: while the investigators are busy looking at the facts, they are missing out on some of the key human elements that played out. Meanwhile, Senator Smith starts experiencing a crisis of conscience, wondering whether he really wants justice or if he is doing all this for himself. How will it all end?
‘Unsinkable’ Is Less About Style and More About Substance
Unsinkable’sevocatively fog-enshrouded setting and a swooning Tchaikovsky-like score make it one hell of a viewing experience. Unfortunately,its plot prevents it from being a stylish film. Because the disaster’s aftermath is a sensitive part of the story,there is no room for melodrama or thought-provoking conversations about 20th-century aristocracy.Director Cody Hartman understands this, so he isless preoccupied with flamboyance and more concerned with documentary-style facts. Overt expressionism only spills into the frame where the story calls for it. Otherwise, Hartman uses expressionistic techniques sparingly to imply menace and underscore melancholy without detracting from the drama.
The film impresses byexposing both the good and bad sides of Senator William Alden Smith. The politician is often celebrated for spearheading an investigation that led to major reforms in maritime safety. However, history tends to ignore his flaws, and that’s something that Hartman never shies away from capturing.
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For instance,Smith had triggered controversy for being more colorful than intelligent, prompting concerns about whether he was the right person to lead the committee. He was even nicknamed “Watertight Smith” by the press for suggesting watertight compartments were meant to shelter passengers and not keep the ship afloat.
Cotter Smith portrays the character with Oscar-worthy vim, an unsurprising showing considering his experience working on films likeX2and Steven Spielberg’sThe Post.He receives able support from Fiona Christianne Dourif, best known for playing Nica Pierce in theChild’s Playmovies. Every other actor puts in considerable effort, making this one of the most satisfying movies for an aspiring thespian to watch.
Above all,the dialogue emerges asUnsinkable’s strongest asset.Much of it is plucked from the stage playTitanic to All Shipsby Eileen Enwright Hodgetts, but on listening to it, you might think the director was present during the congressional hearings. It all comes with the stern tone and poetic flair required, leaving audiences fully satisfied by the time the final credits roll.
‘Unsinkable’ Was Doomed for Disaster
Like the RMS Titanic,Unsinkablewas doomed to a disaster. Even though it is an expertly made film,it lacked the support system needed to make it a huge success, like the ‘90s film. It’s no surprise that most fans ofdisaster movieshaven’t heard about it. The movie was made by PMI Films and distributed by Hawk Hill Pictures, putting it in the deep end of the indie category. This meant a lower production budget and fewer marketing funds.
Cameron’s film, on the other hand, was so huge and expensive that Paramount Pictures and 20th Century Fox had to share the cost. With a bigger budget, Hartman might have had the time and the freedom to paint a colorful and more nuanced tale, with well-drawn characters (both fictional and real) examined in sufficient depth for audiences to engage with. By settling for indie money, he had to compromise on a lot of things.
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Cody Hartman is also the up-and-coming kind, so much so that he doesn’t have a Wikipedia page yet. In an age of celebrity filmmakers, the creator’s reputation always plays a part in determining a film’s success. James Cameronhad experienced a great run as a filmmakerbefore he chose to makeTitanic. Everyone, from actors to studio execs, was dying to work with him. Moreover, he knew what was required to make a movie of this scale.Hartman is still learning the ropes, and we sure hope he’ll be big. We need more of where this came from.
Most importantly,Unsinkabletouches on the story’s less exciting part. As much as it is satisfying to watch as people are held accountable, post-disaster investigations never make for great cinema. They are more suitable for documentaries. If something is being investigated, audiences would prefer a proper crime, as is usually the case inpolice procedurals. So, there is a high chance that even with big names and money behind it, the movie wouldn’t have done well financially. The best it could have done was garner a few prestigious accolades. Unless, of course, the title wasTitanic 2, andwe got Rose as a returning character.
