COVID-19 Special: 'Greyhound' (12)

Director: Aaron Schneider

Cast: Tom Hanks, Stephen Graham

Where can I watch?: Greyhound is streaming on Apple TV+

Rating: 3/5

Review: Based on a fictitious novel that used real events from the Battle of the Atlantic as inspiration, Greyhound, Apple's foray into World War Two big screen entertainment, is a nuts and bolts naval drama that both hits and misses in equal measure. Returning to the 1940s conflict for the third time, Tom Hanks takes on the role of inexperienced Captain Krause. Tasked with escorting cargo and troop ships across the perilous waves of the Atlantic, his job is to keep an eye out for the Nazis U-boats determined to eliminate any aid from the US. As such, there's lots of panicked sonar readings, numerous 'right rudder' or 'left rudder' commands and plenty of stressed, meaningful glances exchanged as the crew turn their binoculars to the rolling grey waves. It's pretty formulaic stuff, but Hanks' undeniable charm, supported by Stephen Graham's stoic second-in-command, and a couple of touching moments with the kitchen hand manage to elevate Greyhound a smidge above other naval offerings. There are a couple of unforgivable dud notes, however: for starters, the over-reliance on computer graphics is immediately obvious - the fake crashing waves, the just-not-quite-right oil staining the sea, and aerial shots which reveal the full extent of this computer-generated world heavily diminish the realism, and I felt that this really detracted from the film. Similarly, composer Blake Neely apparently decided early on to use a piercing, electronic shriek to announce the arrival of the Nazis U-boats... And with so many submarines on display, it becomes a bit repetitive and grating. Also, whoever decided that having the German captain of the enemy U-boat (aptly named 'Grey Wolf') howl maniacally over the radio should probably be made to walk the plank.

A COVID-19 Must-Watch?: It's clear that Apple are aiming to appeal to the blockbuster market with this tick box World War Two flick. However, despite the usual tropes and a somewhat predictable ending, there remains something wholly nail-biting about tracing invisible submarines on sonar. And, of course, Tom Hanks is immensely watchable too.