THE 33: Not Deep Enough

The 2010 Chilean mining incident was an enormous event that had the rare ability to unite most of the world to help the victims. The event gained massive media coverage and resulted in books, interviews, TV specials, etc.

So, of course, a movie revival was inevitable. In a way, this film reminds me a great deal of The Walk. It has to tell a story that most people already know the ending of and still be able to make itself stand out. Sadly, while there are definitely some standout performances and heavy hitting emotional moments, The 33 rarely establishes itself as more than a emotion exploitation.

More Emotion Than Fact

For those who missed the story, The 33 centers on the tale of a group of miners who get trapped when the cavern they are working in collapses, placing an Empire State Building mass size of rock above them, with no way out. Of course, there had been warnings. The canary had flown, so to speak. Then there is the ironic timing of a retirement party in the mine right before its collapse. This may have been what happened in the real event but it translates poorly to screen.

There are two stories that this chronicle tells. First and most obvious is the trials of the miners themselves, trapped beneath the surface. Second, and much less impactful is the journey of the families and concerned parties trying to pull off one of the most difficult rescue attempts in history. Most of the time above ground focuses on the Chilean Minister of Mining Laurence Goldburne (Rodrigo Santoro) and the Chilean President Sebastian Pinera (Bob Gunton). Goldburne in particular is rather confusing.

He is made out to be a sympathetic character, wanting to help but being prevented from doing so by higher powers and a lack of resources. He barely puts up a fight and is easily convinced of the miners inevitable demise. He promises families the government’s full cooperation one second, then quits almost immediately. Then he changes his mind. Again. And again. And again. His shoddily written character is a base for most of the above ground players and a good number of the secondary characters who aren’t part of the miner A-team. They are poorly presented and never convince you of what are supposed to be their true motivations.

The film may be based on a true story, but its presentation feels sloppy. Like a cheesy horror film, you feel the incessant urge to yell at the screen “obviously you all are going to get trapped!” Of course our pleas fall on deaf ears as the accident happens and the miners are trapped in an inescapable hell. The actual mine collapse is visually impressive. The immense shift of earth and aura of danger feel palpable. When the dust finally settles, all the film has to explore is the human relationships of both victims and potential rescuers. Most of the screen time is spent exploring these relationships and where the film finds most of its strength.

As the marketing suggests, the film often revolves around Antonio Banderas’ Sepúlveda who is easily the most interesting of the 33 survivors. It may surprise viewers that the film, which focuses on literally being buried alive, is actually quite funny. Banderas and company see the morbid humor in their situation and often poke fun at their (seemingly) inevitable demise. That’s not to say the gravity of the situation doesn’t set in.

Though most of the miners are sidelined in favor of four or five heavy hitters, the relationships that develop between these characters is where the story truly shines. Normally the most tender moments happen when the group shrinks down to a pair, and they are forced to come to terms with their situation. The sad truth is though while touching, these moments are almost completely fake.

Stuffed With Filler

Director Patricia Riggen takes an enormous deal of creative liberties with the story of The 33. Based on the novel Deep Down Dark: The Untold Stories of 33 Men Buried in a Chilean Mine, Riggen takes already gripping source material and stuffs it with filler. These added moments are enjoyable, but so unnecessary. With this kind of dedication to the actual story, The 33 would have turned out to be a visionary film. Instead, we have a bunch of sweaty guys talking about the meaning of life and depth in a cave.

Each of these men plays a stock character: the one who drinks, the one who cheats on his wife, the one who does a mean Elvis impersonation. All of them have their own demons to face, and where better to do so then in their own improvised sweat lodge. Or at least that’s what it’s supposed to be.

The collapsed mine is supposed to have been at an average temperature of a toasty 100 degrees Fahrenheit, but aside from a little bit of sweat here and there, this danger never becomes a big enough problem. The mine itself is impressively terrifying. Minimal use of CGI and impenetrable shadows bordering our survivors keep the constant thought: “They are going to die.” Of course, as everyone knows they don’t and the suspense is worthless but credit where credit is due.

Bottom Line

The story is there, the talent is there, but the storytelling isn’t. Clumsily executed and poorly handled source material take what is an incredibly moving story of human survival and fraternity and turns it into just another cash grab. Director Patricia Riggen does her best to explore the human emotion of the story but only partially succeeds. For those who are specifically interested in the tragedy itself and the personal stories of the trapped miners, The 33 may provide an interesting couple of hours, but those just looking for a nice feel-good picture would be better off elsewhere.

Did The 33 give the survivors’ stories justice or does Hollywood need to leave it alone? Let us know in the comments!

The 33 is currently on release in the U.S. & will be coming to the U.K. on 29 January. For release dates in your country check here.