Welcome back to Movie Recap. Today I'm gonna show you a 2016 American war disaster film called,
USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage. Spoilers ahead. Watch out and take care.
The movie begins with a commander named Captain Charles McVay of Portland-class heavy cruiser USS
Indianapolis ordering his men to fire an airstrike against the fighter aircraft in the atmosphere.
While attacking, captain Cavanaugh immediately shouts to brace themselves for impact as they
will get hit by a falling kamikaze plane in their direction. Afterward, McVay calls for a damage
report while two of his men instantly radios the other crew members to fire party to the bow.
Meanwhile, Captain Ryan grimly watches the video about blowing the Japanese' fighter aircraft
and establishments at Pearl Harbor. Ryan then explains about the failure to secure the place,
saying that they cowboyed it and turned the tables on them. He even talks about McVay's
courageousness to fight without quitting despite giving the best fighters from the enemy like Iwo
Jima and Okinawa to take him down. Confused, Jean-Pierre asks where the war will lead them.
So, Ryan answers, telling them that Mainland ground invasions will stretch the fight out
even longer. But since Truman is already in his three months of being a President,
America plans to end the war more quickly. Frightened, the man beside him asks if
Ryan's talking about the atomic bomb, and to his dismay, he confirms it after Ryan agrees with him.
Ryan plans to send off the atomic bomb to bomb Hiroshima at the end of World War II,
and unfortunately, his target is the military soldiers. However, the Judge disagrees with Ryan's
bet, saying that some men, women, and children might get killed from the explosion. Again,
the man interrupts, sharing his opinion that there's no guarantee that it will get to Japan.
So, Ryan says that they will motorboat in the Philippine Sea using the only one fast ship.
Despite thinking that it will be a suicide mission, Ryan finalizes his decision to
bring McVay and his crew members to the Philippine Sea, alone and unprotected.
Meanwhile, McVay shares his thoughts as he talks to the picture of his beloved partner, Louise,
saying that the difference between the American and Japanese soldiers is that the Americans are
eager to finish their duty to go home. While the Japanese, on the other hand, are willing
to sacrifice their lives for the country. McVay then examples the kamikaze plane that flew into
the bow of their ship and prayed to God afterward. In Napa Valley, Brian "Bama" Smithwick brings his
friend, Mike D’Antonio, to Judge Bazemore's office. But instead of entertaining the boys,
the Judge orders Alonso, his assistant, to escort D’Antonio to the parlor to meet the women who want
to see him. Afterward, Judge Bazemore asks for confirmation about Bama and his crew
finally invading Japan. However, Bama seems unsure about it since he hasn't received any report from
USS Indianapolis to tell what's really about the plan against the Japanese Imperial Navy.
The Judge then opens the door to let Bama meet his business partners,
who are also intrigued about the attack. Meanwhile, D’Antonio eventually falls in love with
Bama's childhood friend Clara after learning about the latest dance craze from New York with her.
Unfortunately, Bama solemnly witnesses how D’Antonio and Clara dance in the room
after meeting the Judge's business partners downstairs. Because of that, Bama suddenly
walks out while the other girls who also watch their dance give them a round of applause.
On the other hand, McVay talks with Admiral Parnell about taking their ship to the Tinian
Philippine Sea as President Truman chooses him to lead a highly classified mission.
In which McVay will carry two pieces of highly organized cargo to Tinian at best speed, stopping
only at Pearl Harbor to refuel. Unfortunately, McVay eventually receives another message from
the President that they will pick up no escort upon the mission because it's top-secret.
Technically, McVay is taking a suicide mission to save millions of Americans' lives. Leaving
him no choice, McVay ensures if his mission has something to do with the Manhattan Project, yet
the Admiral only gives him a letter that he will only open it for tomorrow after he weighs anchor.
Admiral then leaves a final message, in which the United State's President
will take control of the ship by tomorrow. Later at night, D’Antonio talks with Bama about
purchasing an engagement ring for his proposal to Clara. Yet, Bama seems unhappy about it, telling
D’Antonio that he has only known her for three months and then questioning his plan to propose
in front of Clara's father, Judge Bazemore. But, D’Antonio is eager to make it happen,
so Bama has left no choice but to leave him with advice, to address Clara's parents as
'Sir' and 'Ma'am.' However, Clara fails to tell the Judge about her relationship with D’Antonio.
Hence, they quarreled after D’Antonio embarrasses himself in front of her father.
Suddenly, Mike calls D’Antonio as he sees a brawl involving two of the crew members in the alley.
During the brawl, the other crew members make their bets upon watching, while Antonio eventually
punches his crewmate after forcing him to move on the alley. Because of that, D’Antonio loses
the ring, and Alvin, one of the crew members, accidentally sees it on the ground then steals it.
Eventually, the brawl stops after one of the crew members calls them,
telling them that they need to get back to the ship. But before D’Antonio leaves for the trip,
Clara admits her love towards him as she is also expecting their first child.
Unfortunately, D’Antonio fails to propose to Clara before leaving because he lost the ring.
McVay meets the crew the following day, where Bama and D’Antonio are also part of the ship.
He then introduces himself as the captain and shares the purpose of their survival
through the mission, contingent upon their functioning as one cohesive unit.
Afterward, the ship begins to sail across the sea towards the Tinian.
Upon sailing, McVay narrates his thoughts, saying that even without an escort to detect and destroy
enemy subs with depth charges before getting to them, he could still make sure to fight against
it once they miraculously spot nearly enough the firing. Because once he completes it,
he will have a maximum of four minutes to engage before the torpedo arrives.
Their primary defense is to get the ship watertight point station zebra,
so any hull rupture doesn't spread and sink their ship. However,
most of the crew are minors, and it's on McVay to keep them alive while doing the mission.
McVay then begins delivering parts of the atomic bomb for Hiroshima with no escort as protection.
While patrolling the ship, Lieutenant Standish reports to McVay regarding the protocol that
may get zigzag upon firing. Yet, McVay shows dissatisfaction about his plan,
saying that it will not be effective against Kaitens. Confused, Commander Cavanaugh explains
to Standish about it, saying that it's a suicide torpedo created as the new Japanese weapon.
Technically, Kaitens is like an underwater kamikaze plane that protects the Japanese
Imperial Navy, and McVay ship can't destroy it because it's two times faster than theirs.
Later, McVay commands his crew to prepare their weapon while the Japanese Imperial Navy also
practices loading their fire. Afterward, McVay gives them a signal, and luckily,
Group W stands down after they successfully test their guns to the sea at their best speed.
Later at night, McVay and the crew successfully reach the Tinian in
record time with no casualties. Afterward, he commands his team to be ready for the
cargo for drop off without knowing that it could change the nature of war forever.
While waiting, the crew, including McVay, watches the shipment gets delivered to sail to Leyte.
However, after delivering the packages, McVay attempts to have an escort,
but the Lieutenant refuses to take his favor. Leaving him no choice, McVay goes without getting
a guard to protect their ship on their way back. On the other hand, Bama is getting interviewed
by Lindy about the sharks living under the sea, but Bama refuses to talk with them.
Meanwhile, McVay patrols the Philippine Sea with the other captains in the middle of the night.
However, the Japanese patrols finally see their ship from afar,
immediately signaling their captain. Afterward, Nakadai hastily commands Hashimoto to get ready
to fire the boat using the Kaitens. Because of that, McVay's unescorted ship gets torpedoed by
the Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-58, making their vessel sinks as the majority of the crew
members fail to save themselves from getting burned inside the ship and drowned in the sea.
Meanwhile, McVay supervises the radio operator team, establishing any contact to seek rescue.
Luckily, the US Navy based from Leyte gets the call. However, after receiving uncleared
information about the USS Indianapolis, the captain bursts out, saying they will not send
anyone out until they confirm their position because it might be an enemy sub trapping them.
Unfortunately, the radio operator team of USS Indianapolis is struggling to make contact due to
the sinking ship. Afterward, McVay orders Captain Cavanaugh to abandon the ship and save themselves.
Unfortunately, McVay has left no choice but to order the crew members,
including Captain Cavanaugh, to jump and swim away from the ship as soon as they get into the water
because the boat will break. McVay tries informing all the crew members to stay clear of the oil
while he lets himself remain on the deck to find more sailors when suddenly the ship explodes and
lets himself fall into the sea. Unfortunately, the USS Indianapolis cruise ship eventually sank.
Most crew members, including McVay, get stranded in the ocean without knowing that
sharks are beginning to surround them. Afterward, McVay finds a lifeboat and
helps himself get into it when suddenly he sees Paul floating into the water.
The following day, the 879 crew members gradually decrease as the sharks eat them while some are
still helping each other get into the raft. Then, on the other hand, Bama presumes that
the Japanese Navy is still out there, looking for them to finish them off. Yet, Captain Cavanaugh
changes the topic, saying that the US will know they're missing and soon rescue them.
Afterward, Standish calls the attention of everyone and tells them that the rafts are
only for injured men and officers, and if they are non-disabled and, in a raft, they must get out.
However, no one dares to listen, so Standish shoots their raft to move them out.
Meanwhile, McVay finds Campbell trying to survive from the raft after getting a
severe wound on his leg. McVay immediately moves out to his raft to put morphine on
his leg when suddenly he sees an airplane pilot driven by Lieutenant Adrian Marks.
Hoping to get noticed, McVay fires through the sky while the crew members shout after seeing it.
However, a sudden argument between Standish and a crew member occurs after Standish gets him pissed.
So, Waxman tries to calm him down to avoid any fight in the sea. Unfortunately,
Lieutenant Adrian fails to see them from below. Left stranded at sea for days, some crew members
are still waiting for the rescue when the sharks suddenly infest the waters
and start eating them. Panicking, Theodore luckily swims off towards the raft where McVay is staying,
then informs him of the direction towards the big group. Afterward, McVay leaves Campbell
and Theodore to see the other crew members at the raft. Unfortunately, some crew members are
gradually eaten by sharks or die from seasickness and infectious wounds from the exploding ship.
With no hope for three days, McVay and his crew spend their time at sea with no
food while witnessing the others dying due to weakness to survive. Then, on the other hand,
Standish starts hallucinating the non-existent island, encouraging his crew to go with him to
save themselves. Afterward, Standish leaves Waxman to get in charge of the wounded.
Unfortunately, Standish and the three staff who go with him have never seen them again.
Meanwhile, D’Antonio gets a massive leg injury after being attacked by the shark in the night.
Afterward, he starts overthinking again about Clara when suddenly he favors Bama to take care
of her as if he's about to die before someone finds and rescues them. Bama then tries to stop
him from talking nonsense, but when D’Antonio finally closes his eyes, Bama eventually cries.
Unfortunately, D’Antonio died and failed to survive at sea.
On the fifth day of their survival, the airplane pilot finally spots the surviving crew at sea by
chance and the oil that leaked through the waters created by the Japanese Imperial Navy. Afterward,
they radio the US military about them, flying over a hundred boys in the water. Lieutenant Chuck then
takes the radio and orders his men to find all the water, food, and medical supplies they have to
rescue the surviving crew. Luckily, the airplane pilot, Lieutenant Adrian, decides by himself
to save the boys despite running out of gas. Afterward, McVay thanks Lieutenant Adrian for
landing onto the sea and orders to save his men first before him. Lieutenant Aaron then radios
the US base from Leyte to get him a ship for the boys before the sharks feed on them again.
Unluckily, only 317 out of 879 crew members survived the disaster. Because of that,
the US Navy officer Lieutenant Caroll looks for a scapegoat for their gross negligence,
attempting to lie on the news dump by saying that the Japanese Navy surrenders
and skips revealing the sinking ship of USS Indianapolis. Caroll then adds the message to
bury the incident below with positive news because there's probably an investigation.
Meanwhile, Alvin eventually gives the engagement ring to Bama at the hospital, saying that he
found it on the gutter two weeks ago. Alvin then admits that he planned to pawn to pay some debt
and apologizes for doing it. Then, later on, the survived crew members safely get to their home
while Bama eventually admits his true feelings to Clara and even proposes using D’Antonio's
engagement ring. Afterward, he promises to raise her child even if Clara won't reciprocate his
feelings. Luckily, Clara accepts his proposal. However, the captain of the US Navy visits McVay
to inform him that the US Navy is planning to court-martial and convict him, so he
can't leave the room. The captain also reveals that before the USS Indianapolis gets sunk,
the USS Underhill experienced it first. Yet, the US Navy refused to tell the truth to the media.
Because of that, McVay will face trials in Washington for the following days.
The movie ends with Captain McVay pleading not guilty because of the former IJN's
I-58 submarine's captain Hashimoto who appears in the court trial to testify.
Hashimoto plans to kill McVay in the first place, but he fails. So, instead of continuing the plan,
Hashimoto appears at the court and helps McVay by giving overwhelming evidence to support his case.
Hashimoto then explains that he realized they have to forgive each other as former adversaries
and forgive themselves as men one day. However, McVay chooses to end his life by
committing suicide years after getting harassed and tormented with phone calls and emails from
the deceased crew members' grief-stricken relatives. Then, in the movie's post-script,
it shows that President Bill Clinton exonerates Captain McVay of all charges in the year 2000.