Photo: David Lee(NEW YORK) — Director Peter Berg’s new drama Deepwater Horizon tests the box office waters Friday. Critical reaction to the film that depicts the lives of those who lived and worked — and the 11 who died — aboard the doomed BP oil rig has been positive.
For the stars of the film, including Mark Wahlberg, who portrays Mike Williams, the last person to evacuate the rig, and Kate Hudson, who plays his wife Felicia, the best reviews they’ve gotten have been from those who were really there during the 2010 disaster, and their families who anxiously awaited news of the fate of their loved ones.
Hudson told Good Morning America that cast and crew felt the added pressure of telling a true story. “You have this sort of extra, added thing in the back of your head…There’s no carelessness going into making a film like that when you know that the families are watching.”
Hudson told GMA After Hours that, “seeing the families’ reaction to it has been a very, very special thing to be a part of.”
For his part, Wahlberg said of Mr. Williams to ABC’s Robin Roberts, “He’s somebody that I admire for many reasons, but he hates the term ‘hero.’ He says, ‘I was just doing my job, and I was doing what any of my other brothers would have done.’ But he’s a pretty remarkable guy,” adding, “I asked him to come and consult on the movie because we wanted to make it accurate and authentic, and we wanted to make sure he was there to make sure we were getting it right.”
Deepwater Horizon also stars John Malkovich, Gina Rodriguez, and Hudson’s real-life stepdad Kurt Russell.
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