‘You can’t run from the wind. You trim your sails, face the music, and keep going...’
The ’80s and ’90s were the peak time for sympathetic films about posh white boys from private schools. This was the era of Taps, School Ties and Dead Poet’s Society. It’s striking how much tastes have changed since Ridley Scott’s White Squall was released. In the world of White Lotus and Saltburn, it’s impossible to imagine a film in which the audience is asked to empathise with a group of private school kids from middle America. At one point in this movie, one of the kids literally murders a dolphin for no reason. The ’90s really were a different time…
A group of privileged but troubled college boys sign up for several months of training aboard the Albatross, a sailship captained by Jeff Bridge’s harsh but fair leader ‘Skipper’ Sheldon. Also aboard is his wife and ship’s doctor Alice (Caroline Goodall). As is customary for all films in the coming-of-age genre, the boys go through several challenges but learn something about themselves along the way.
Based on a true story and filmed mainly on location in the Caribbean, White Squall mostly avoids unearnt sentiment and is anchored by an assured lead performance from Bridges. Anyone with any doubt about Bridges’ considerable range only need compare his performance here with his iconic turn as The Dude in The Big Lebowski less than two years later. It should also be noted that while the characters are slightly interchangeable, the young supporting cast are also excellent throughout, especially Jeremy Sisto as rebellious teenager Frank Beaumont and a young Ryan Phillippe as the more uncertain Gil Martin.
White Squall was a box office disappointment and earned lukewarm reviews but for me, it sits snugly alongside other coming-of-age classics like Stand by Me or Almost Famous. As with those films, there is a sense of adventure and nostalgia here that is difficult to resist. And why would you? Scott is a master director and while he has several misses on his resume, however, White Squall isn’t one of them. A forgotten ’90s gem.