Black Sea

Although it pits westerners against Russians in a decrepit submarine, there's nothing of the Cold War in this tense undersea thriller. Instead, there's an undertow of recession-era desperation, as Jude Law, sporting a broad Scottish brogue, stars as a recently laid-off submarine pilot who recruits a motley bunch of sailors to go searching for a missing trove of Nazi gold in the Black Sea. The way enmities quickly escalate is a little bit of a stretch, but otherwise this is a smartly handled, old-school adventure, as Law's beleaguered captain struggles to keep control both of his men and his wayward, leaking vessel. British director Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland) can always be relied on for character, but here he proves himself adept with tension, too, creating a palpable sense of chaos and fear, ably served by a great international cast that constantly keeps us guessing as to who will make it back to the surface.