Movie Review/Interview: Academy Award-Winning Director Kevin Macdonald Dives Into the ‘BLACK SEA’

Preston Barta // Editor

BLACK SEA | 115 min. | Rated R
Director: Kevin Macdonald
Stars: Jude Law, Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn, Michael Smiley and Tobias Menzies

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Kevin MacDonald is perhaps best known for directing Forest Whitaker to an Oscar in 2006’s THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND. Since then, Macdonald has tackled documentaries (MARLEY) and political mysteries (STATE OF PLAY). Now, he takes his talents to the dark and thrilling waters of BLACK SEA.

In the film, Jude Law plays a submarine captain who takes a job with a shady backer to search the depths of the Black Sea for a sub rumored to be loaded with Nazi gold.

While this may seem like a familiar story, BLACK SEA delves deeper than one might think. Working with a script from playwright Dennis Kelly, Macdonald delivers a hold fast and gritty thriller. He keeps things dead-simple without throwing in the traditional Hollywood fluff. BLACK SEA gives a down and dirty look at greed, desperation and what one will do to survive.

Fresh Fiction had the chance to sit down and speak with Macdonald as he stopped in Dallas. We discussed the dark and light side of humanity, the crazy things people will do for money, and the tense way in which he shot the film.

BLACK SEA opens today.