The Nights That Roll Over White

Author(s): D.W. Dillon
Location: NV

"The Nights that Roll Over White"

Directed by Steven Spielberg
Written by John Milius
Music by John Williams
Cinematography by Bill Butler
Edited by Michael Kahn
Art Direction by Luke Freeborn
Special Effects by John Knoll

Main Cast
Ed Harris as Captain Charles McVay
Benjamin McKenzie - Machinist Mate Willard Barnes
Ian Somerhalder - Lt. Cp. Edward Stauffer
Colin Hanks - Ensign Donald Blum
Glenn Morshower - Captain Edwin Crouch
Kevin Pollack - Lt. Dr. Earl Henry

Tagline: "They delivered the atom bomb to end the war. Only for the crew of the U.S.S. Indianapolis, the end was just the beginning"

Synopsis: Litchfield, Connecticut-November 6th, 1968, retired U.S. Rear Admiral Charles McVay, former captain of the WWII battleship, the USS Indianapolis, holds in one hand a toy army man, and in the other, his service revolver. He stands at his back porch underneath a clear blue sky, looks over his blossoming garden, and ends his own life.Somewhere off the coast of the Philippines, 1945. Captain Charles McVay of the USS Indianapolis, surveys the vast Pacific Ocean, on the way to the island of Leyte. His crew, under top secret orders, had just delivered the atomic bomb to the bomber planes that would soon end the Japanese threat in World War II. McVay admires his crew, from the chef to the gunners mate. He was harsh, but fair, and expected the best from his men and lived to reward them, and for that the crew remained loyal and inspired. Some though, couldn't help but fear the worst.18 year old, Ensign Donald Blum. Following in his late father's footsteps of serving in the military. His acquiesce demeanor lays heavily on his conscience. He's timid, often sea-sick and fears the unknown.20 year old, Machinist Mate Willard Barnes. The rugged and strong bully-type who lives for action, preys upon the weak-willed. Undoubtedly the best soldier aboard.22 year old, Lt. Cp. Edward Stauffer. Yale graduate and popular leader amongst the smaller ranks. His compassion remains his strongest asset, but also his most vulnerable.As two Japanese torpedoes strike the proud Indianapolis, these three soldiers along with Captain McVay form together in a tight group adrift the dark Pacific Ocean. Their legs dangle below the dark blue unknowing nothingness of the sea, where they will fight off the most horrific feeding frenzy in the history of man. For four grueling nights, one by one, survivors are picked out of the water by the dangerous Oceanic White-Tip sharks. The horror that awaits will scar them for life, from not only keeping the vicious sharks at bay, but battling starvation, hunger, dehydration and even fighting off one other through hysteria. Some will lose their lives, some will find courage they never thought they had, enemies become saviors, some will become heroes, and some will go on living the rest of their days in regret. This is a story of courage, fear, and terror. This is the story of the U.S.S Indianapolis and the four nights that rolled over white.

What the Press would say:
In war, men and women face extremes of the unimaginable. It's a time when logic and morals are lost to Darwinism. And there is no one better to express these transition of emotions better than legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg. A director who personifies paying just tribute in the most honorable way. His retelling of the Holocaust and the D-Day invasion are memorable and inspiring. This is a side of Spielberg we've yet to see in his new film, "The Nights that Rolled Over White". He brings to life what the character Quint infamously retold in his masterpiece, "Jaws" with the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis during WWII and the terrifying aftermath that lay ahead for the survivors, floating aimlessly at sea. This is a war film that tells of the enemy within ourselves, and the fight we have to make to stay alive, stay strong and challenge our fears. This is Spielberg taking on a more grim and all too frightening look at what man is capable and not capable of within the extremities of horror. Spielberg meshes the fear of Jaws with the honesty of Saving Private Ryan, with the strong heavy-hearted characters of a Schindler's List. With that formula, Spielberg can do, and does no wrong.Within the framework of Spielberg's new epic, we are introduced to an array of spot-on casting choices. From Kevin Pollack as the optimistic dentist, to 24's Glenn Morshower as the Commander just hitching an ill-fated ride, to Ian Somerholder's admiring leader amongst the crew. But it's not hard to find the brilliant performances within such an intriguing character driven story. Colin Hanks follows in his father's footsteps off and on the screen with his portrayal of the meager Donald Blum whose character struggles before the torpedoes even hit. His fear builds up while expecting the inevitable. Colin Hanks rises from the shadows and into critical acclaim. Working off a perfect template, reminiscent of Jeremy Davies Private Upham in Saving Private Ryan, Hanks' Donald Blum relates to more people than any other character in film history as his fate is the most cared for. On the opposite of that spectrum we find ourselves in the presence of Benjamin McKenzie's Machinist Mate Willard Barnes. A brute soldier, wanting the inevitable to test his strength. But where his strength lies in his mind, his heart is the most vulnerable, and his turn from bullying Ensign Blum to his sacrifice, touches our hearts with a tear from our eye. After McKenzie's well touted performances in Junebug, it's safe to say his future is marked with a gold stamp. And none is more deserving of Oscar gold than Ed Harris. While we know the regret and the fate of his character, Captain Charles McVay, portrayed in such believable contrast, we feel sorrow, but also relief. A leader in war, honored many times over, hits his lowest point as he witnesses not just his men dying in war, but dying so horribly and painfully that it wrecks him through the rest of his days. The final words that read in a faded blood-red over the black screen is not "The End", but from that of a survivor, "The worst part was giving up my life, accepting that I was going to die -- it wasn't the sharks, and it wasn't seeing your buddies die. And we were young men, healthy men. All of a sudden, there's no chance, we can't make it. They've forgotten us. We can't last out here forever -- we're gonna die." When a shark feeds, his eyes roll over white and knowing nothing but to devour what is in and around their world. Rogue film writer John Milius writes the darkest Spielberg picture to date, with a sense of meaning and realism. For us, it's just a movie about our history, for the survivors, it's a constant memory, and that where the fearless John Milius shines. A nightmare that cannot go away because it needs to be remembered.

Best Picture
Best Director - Steven Spielberg
Best Actor - Ed Harris
Best Supporting Actor - Benjamin McKenzie
Best Supporting Actor - Colin Hanks
Best Original Screenplay - John Milius
Best Cinematography - Bill Butler
Best Editing - Michael Kahn
Best Score - John Williams
Best Art Direction -Luke Freeborn
Best Special Effects - John Knoll