CRIMSON TIDE (1995) - February 6th
DAS BOOT (1981) - February 7th

With apologies to Run Silent Run Deep and The Hunt for Red October, these are simply the finest submarine films ever made, though for entirely different reasons.

Wolfgang Peterson's Das Boot is a study in cineamatic claustrophobia. Jurgen Prochnow is the captain of U-96, at war in the North Atlantic, striking fear into Allied warships and passenger liners. While the battle sequences are frightening, they are thankfully devoid of special effects, enabling Peterson to focus instead on the crew's dueling emotions, the simultaneous fear and thrill of battle. And it's all experienced in the oppressively tight confines of U-96. The film is so good it achieves the impossible: you can find yourself rooting for the German captain and his crew in a World War II thriller.

In Crimson Tide, rather that claustrophobia, we experience vastness - of the ocean, of the Cold War, of competing nuclear arsenals capable of annihilating the enemy a dozen times over. But in this case, the only missiles that matter are aboard the U.S.S. Alabama, which suffers a breakdown in the chain of the command when the captain, Gene Hackman, wants to follow orders and launch missiles while his XO, Denzel Washington, insists on waiting for confirmation of the order.

Though the Navy refused cooperation, the movie feels completely authentic, permeating the drama with a constant sense of nervous realism. Crimson Tide is also notable for supporting roles played by some future A-list stars: James Gandolfini, Viggo Mortensen and Ryan Phillipe.

Which one is better? Submerge yourself in both, and make your own decision.

by Ben Mankiewicz