Directed by the acclaimed Kathryn Bigelow, “K-19: The Widowmaker” immerses viewers in a nail-biting Cold War crisis set in the early 1960s. The film, inspired by true events, features Ford as Captain Alexei Vostrikov and Neeson as his first officer, Mikhail Polenin. They command K-19, Russia’s pioneering nuclear-powered submarine armed with intercontinental ballistic missiles. The plot thickens when a mechanical failure threatens a nuclear disaster during the vessel’s maiden voyage, forcing Vostrikov and Polenin to choose between obeying orders and safeguarding their crew, all while averting a potential World War III.

Despite its gripping storyline, “K-19: The Widowmaker” remains somewhat overlooked in Ford’s filmography, yet it stands as a testament to Hollywood’s storytelling prowess. The film sought authenticity by consulting actual Russian submarine veterans, as reported by The Guardian. However, the veterans, including retired K-19 captain Yury Mukhin, criticized the film for its portrayal of the crew, citing inaccuracies and unfavorable depictions.

The film drew ire for what some considered some of the worst on-screen accents in cinematic history. Mukhin expressed his discontent, noting that the film showed crew members as perpetually intoxicated and prone to brawling, contrasting sharply with the real-life discipline and honor of those who served on the actual K-19, a cutting-edge submarine staffed by the Soviet Union’s finest.

Based on the true story of Russia’s real nuclear-powered submarine of the same name, “K-19: The Widowmaker” strove to be as accurate as possible. To do it, they had the script reviewed by real Russian submarine veterans, as chronicled by The Guardian. Unfortunately, those who survived the incident weren’t happy with the changes made and how they were depicted in the film.

On top of harboring some of the worst on-screen accents of all time, many, such as retired K-19 captain Yury Mukhin, found that the film shined a poor light on the crew. “Everyone is drinking, the officers and the sailors … They drink heavily, and they drink constantly. The only activity which distracts them from this is fighting.” In contrast to the movie’s depiction, the real world sea-faring soldiers were far more honorable according to Mukhin, who continued, “It portrays us as ill-educated, ill-disciplined, and impolite, when in reality K-19 was the most advanced submarine in the Soviet Union, and the navy recruited its best men to serve on board.”

Despite demands for script changes and even total rewrites, “K-19: The Widowmaker” was produced with only minor alterations. Despite the controversy, many retired sailors attended the premiere in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and the film even received a standing ovation.