The crow's nest scene where Clooney tells the crew they are going back out introduces Diane Lane and many characters. — Bill Simmons
The crow's nest bar is called the happiest bar ever on the North Shore; a real North Shore bar would be quiet, with Red Sox games on, smoking and drinking, a sign the director was not from there. — Bill Simmons
Clooney's speech to Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio's Linda is another pick; he delivers it with no Boston accent, and the dialect coach is called one of the big losers of the movie. — Bill Simmons
The walkthrough also picks Wahlberg and Clooney together as the boat sets sail, Fickner saving Riley after he goes overboard, Clooney driving through the storm and blowtorching the anchor off, and Wahlberg saving John Hawks. — Bill Simmons
The boat flipping through a wave and the sun coming out, with Clooney saying they made it, is praised as heartbreaking because it is a false reprieve. — Chris Ryan
The most rewatchable scene is when the wave actually crushes them. — Bill Simmons
It is called the best scene in the movie, with a question whether "rewatchable" fits something so dark. — Chris Ryan
A first viewing without knowing the real story made the sun going back behind the clouds devastating; in 2000 the ending could still be kept secret. — Bill Simmons
The last hour is called really strong, though much of the Coast Guard material is not liked. — Chris Ryan
