FilmSnobReviews

Title: Adrift
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Baltasar Kormákur
Starring: Shailene Woodley, Sam Claflin, Jeffrey Thomas
Runtime: 1 hr 36 mins

What It Is: Tami (Woodley) is a drifter of sorts. Floating from one island to another all to stay away from her hometown of San Diego. While in Tahiti she meets the slightly older Richard (Claflin) and the two start to hit it off. Eventually the two fall in love. When Richard is asked by some longtime family friends to take their boat to, of all places, San Diego they agree to help. When the boat hits a rough patch it leaves them out to sea and fighting for life. 

What We Think: I was a little surprised by this particular film. I did not go into it expecting much. What I got instead was a harrowing film lead by a powerhouse performance from Shailene Woodley. To know that this is something that actually happened gave the film the gravitas it needed. Kormákur has some experience telling these life or death stories. Look no further than his 2015 film Everest. Instead, here we get stuck out at sea. Kormákur does everything he can to make us feel left out there. He’s very good at that. The script is good enough for what the material is and Claflin is good but overshadowed.

Our Grade: B-, Overall another pretty good film by Kormákur. The guy knows what he does and does it well. Woodley should continue to do great work. She’s a really talented actress and I can’t wait to see what she does next. Things like The Fault in Our Stars and The Spectacular Now are where she’s earned her reputation. Let’s hope she continues to do what she did here and step out of that. I’m going to give this film a definite recommendation. Most will find something excellent here and while it isn’t one of 2018’s best offerings its still pretty good.