PLOT: The true story of a rescue mission to save twelve soccer players and their coach from a flooded cave in Thailand.
REVIEW: It’s nice to see a miracle. And frankly, having people from all over the world come together for a rescue mission to save twelve young boys and their soccer coach is a shining example of a gift of one. In 2018, a soccer team in Thailand went to the Tham Luang cave and was stuck there for days after it flooded. It was a harrowing story. And now, director Ron Howard brings us a bold, emotional story called Thirteen Lives, about a group of divers that helped lead to the team’s rescue. Beautifully shot, the film features excellent performances from Colin Farrell, Viggo Mortensen, Joel Edgerton, Tom Bateman, Sahajak Boonthanokit, and Pattrakorn Tungsupkul, and many more.
After celebrating their game, a young soccer team and their coach explored a cave called Tham Luang Nang Non in Chiang Rai Province in northern Thailand. That’s when an unexpected rainstorm leaves the young players trapped in a flooded cave. When Governor Narongsak (Boonthanakit) realizes it may be too much for the Royal Thai Navy SEALs alone, he makes a plea for help from the best divers in the world. That’s when John Volanthen (Farrell) and Rick Stanton (Mortensen) decide to join in on the rescue. The two bring on fellow divers, Chris Jewell (Bateman), Harry Harris (Edgerton), as other divers join the team in hopes of getting the children out alive.
Imagine a rescue that involved more than 10,000 people in saving Thirteen Lives. Frankly, very few directors could pull this off quite like Ron Howard. The film’s opening smartly introduces us to the young boys who innocently get trapped in the cave. Along with cinematographer Sayambhu Mukdeeprom, Howard creates a stunning look that brilliantly explores the majestic beauty of Thailand. Considering this part of our history is as recent as it is, the film brings the viewer into the rescue efforts effectively. The director also explores the quiet moments of dread as the parents and rescuers question whether the children will survive long enough to save them. Harrowing is an understatement.
The film centers around a team of British divers who answer Thailand’s government’s call for assistance. It shouldn’t be shocking to audiences that Colin Farrell, Viggo Mortensen, Joel Edgerton, and Tom Bateman give great performances. And each actor creates such authentic portraits of the real-life men they portray. The same is true for the rest of the cast, including Vithaya Pansringarm, Teeradon Supapunpinyo, Thira Chutikul, Bernard Sam, Shakriya Tarinyawat, and the previously mentioned Tungsupakul and Boonthanakit. The young boys who portray the real-life soccer team are exceptional here. The way Howard balances the multiple characters and how they are affected by this story is a feat in itself.
Considering much of this film takes place in the dark caves and underwater, you have to give a lot of credit to the sound department. When the divers are maneuvering their way through the twisted tunnels, it is visually and audibly intense. It certainly helps that Farrell, Edgerton, Bateman, Mortensen, and others did much of the diving sequences. Having that realism on display makes the tension and fear palatable and effective. It’s thrilling watching this rescue take place on a massive movie screen.
The rescue itself is a white-knuckle cinematic event to witness. Howard takes full advantage of this by recreating this daring story. If you aren’t aware of how they saved these children and the constant reporting of this on the news, I’d recommend going to see the film and not looking it up online. While I remember how big this story was in 2018, I had no idea the massive effort and dedication it took. Yet watching this fine film brought much of it back. While this feature focuses on the British divers, it still gives credit to the many others involved in this incredible story. Nearly 10,000 people joined forces to help save thirteen lives. That’s a beautiful thing, and it certainly made a crowd-pleaser of a movie to cheer on.
Thirteen Lives is an exciting and moving film by director Ron Howard. With an intelligent script by William Nicholson – a story by Don MacPherson – the filmmaker has crafted an impressive work. It’s nice to see a tale of a rescue that isn’t overly sentimental or emotionally manipulative. Instead, we get an impressively acted and beautifully directed story of a daring rescue. Frankly, this may be one of my favorite works from Ron Howard. Much of the success comes from the incredible collection of talent he has collected. That includes both in front of and behind the camera. There is no doubt audiences will be cheering Thirteen Lives, which opens in limited theatrical today, and premieres on Prime Video beginning next Friday.