The True Story of the Mary Celeste is a 2007 historical drama directed by Alexandre Aja. The movie tells the story of a mysterious event that occurred in 1872, when the Mary Celeste, a ship en route to Genoa from New York, was discovered navigating the Atlantic Ocean without its crew. The vessel was found adrift roughly a month after it had set sail and remained intact, with all its belongings on board, but without any trace of the ten passengers that had been aboard initially.
The film begins by providing some context for the Mary Celeste's fateful voyage. We meet her captain, Benjamin Briggs (David Warner), as he is planning his trip, hoping to make a quick fortune while enjoying time with his wife (Vanessa Redgrave) and daughter (Perla Haney-Jardine). Despite some initial misgivings, the Briggs eventually set sail on the Mary Celeste, with a crew of nine men.
Their journey proceeds uneventfully, with days spent navigating the grey seas and evenings spent playing cards and recounting future plans. However, after a stormy patch, during which the ship is buffeted by high winds and torrential rain, things begin to go wrong. The crew members start to act strangely; one falls ill, another wants to turn around and head back towards America. Captain Briggs is resolute to stay the course, but the tension soon becomes unbearable, and a mysterious event occurs, leading to the disappearance of the entire crew.
The remainder of the movie follows the investigation into the Mary Celeste's disappearance, which was one of the most puzzling maritime mysteries of the era. We see how a salvage team led by Oliver Hardy (Dominic Cooper) and Ned Land (Adrien Brody) sets out to investigate the deserted ship, examining the vessel's logs, the remaining belongings, and the ship's equipment in an endeavor to uncover the truth.
The True Story of the Mary Celeste is a thoughtful and engaging film, which does an excellent job in telling an exciting tale. Aja's direction is compelling and atmospheric, and the performances deliver enjoyably robust portrayals of the ship's crew, who are turning in excellent work, especially Adrien Brody's portrayal of Ned Land brings a good amount of charisma and charm to proceedings, while Cooper's physical work is well-realized. Redgrave's role is limited, but moving, and there is a touching final act which explores the emotional toll of staying strong in a world that can be so cruel.
The movie also takes a stab at addressing the various theories which surround the Mary Celeste's disappearance. In particular, the film's climax presents a plausible explanation for the events that transpired, a theory that is widely held and supports the concept of sea-faring superstition. It seems that the Mary Celeste's crew, after experiencing a series of freak accidents, began to fear that their ship was displeasing the gods. This fear was manifested in various ways, with some crew members refusing to set foot on deck, and others taking to the water, convinced that it was the only way to avoid the ship's impending doom.
Although The True Story of the Mary Celeste is undoubtedly enjoyable, it is not without its flaws. The movie's pacing at times could be a touch slow, and some of the more spectacular set pieces feel a little underwhelming because of its lack of use. However, these issues are minor criticisms in the grand scheme of things.
Overall, The True Story of the Mary Celeste is a fine movie, one that captures the spirit of the time and tells an engaging tale of mystery and intrigue. Although it does not bring any significant new insights to the mystery, it captivates with its atmospheric recreation of the events surrounding the disappearance of the incident. It is a polished and well-made work of cinema, which will appeal to audiences who enjoy historical dramas, nautical tales, and tales of the supernatural.
