A little over six years ago, disaster struck in the Gulf of Mexico. An oil rig called Deepwater Horizon blew up, and subsequently leaked gallons of oil into the water. It was the worst oil spill in United States history, and it claimed the lives of eleven men.

Director Peter Berg took inspiration from the incident and released the film, Deepwater Horizon. The story follows Mike Williams, a worker on Deepwater Horizon, and his mission to escape the burning rig.

Mark Wahlberg gives an incredible performance as WIlliams. Half of the film depicts Williams efforts to save the lives of other workers, while surviving himself. Thus, Wahlberg was forced to endure multiple difficult action sequences. This is nothing new to the veteran actor who faced a similar role in his 2013 film, Lone Survivor.

Those unfamiliar with the oil industry may be slightly confused in the first act of the film, as it deals with the ins and outs of the complex business. The mechanics behind the oil rigging are moderately overwhelming in the initial half hour of the movie, but this does not cloud the overall message the film is trying to make. The story of survival is apparent throughout the entire movie as various characters desperately attempt to flee the blazing rig.

Aside from Wahlberg, Kurt Russell gives another standout performance. He plays Mr. Jimmy, the boss of Deepwater Horizon. At the time of the initial explosion, Jimmy is in his room showering. As a result, he is temporarily blinded, and covered in lacerations and shards of glass. However, his character is unlike the others. Jimmy is seemingly the most knowledgeable on the operations of the rig, and he is the man that everyone looks up to. Despite his life threatening injuries, Jimmy does not abandon his convictions, as he attempts to thwart the leak and save the lives of his crew members.

Overall, the movie is informative yet emotional, while offering a compelling outlook on the oil spill and what led to it. John Malkovich plays Donald Vidrine, a greedy BP worker, who arguably causes the spill. He views a safety test as too expensive; however, it could have prevented the entire incident from occurring. This storyline expresses corporate greed, and the impact that a dollar can have on human lives and the planet.

Berg’s Deepwater Horizon is harrowing and powerful, and the performances given by the lead actors give the film a gripping foundation. If you are someone who, like me, was ill-informed about the catastrophic oil spill of 2010, it would definitely be worth your while to see Deepwater Horizon.