In October 1991, a dying tropical hurricane from Bermuda collided with a cold front
from the Great Lakes, resulting in a "perfect storm" of previously unknown destructive
impact that resulted in 100-foot waves; tragically, the crew of a fishing
boat was lost in the midst of the fearsome storm. Based on the best-selling
book by Sebastian Junger, The Perfect Storm tells the story of the ship's brave
and hard-working crew. Billy Tyne (George Clooney), captain of the Andrea Gail,
hasn't had much luck finding catch on his most recent trips to sea, and with
money short, he and his crew -- Bob Shatford (Mark Wahlberg), Dale Murphy (John
C. Reilly), David Sullivan (William Fichtner), and co-captain Linda Greenlaw
(Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) -- set out again when they hear that the fish are
running. Billy's hunch proves correct, but when the ship's refrigeration system
goes haywire, they have to return to shore as quickly as possible before the
fish spoil, sending them into the middle of the worst storm in history. The supporting
cast includes Diane Lane, Bob Gunton, and Karen Allen; Wolfgang Petersen,
whose breakthrough film was the aquatic wartime drama Das Boot, directed.
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