Film Review: TITANIC (1997): James Cameron’s Masterpiece Returns For Its 25th Anniversary

Titanic Review

Titanic (1997) Film Review, a movie written and directed by James Cameron and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, Frances Fisher, Gloria Stuart, Bill Paxton, Bernard Hill, David Warner, Victor Garber, Jonathan Hyde, Suzy Amis, Danny Nucci, Jason Barry and Ewan Stewart.

Director James Cameron’s emotionally moving and powerful film, Titanic is returning to the silver screen just in time for Valentine’s Day. Seeing Titanic on the big screen is still a film experience unlike any other. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet are remarkable in the lead roles of the picture and create a cinematic romance that is among the very best love stories of all-time. Set aboard the doomed ship of the film’s title, Cameron’s movie is a work with great technical precision and the major action scenes are among the most intense and tightly edited ones in the history of motion pictures.

Bill Paxton’s role as a researcher named Brock Lovett is prominent in the story that frames the movie. Brock is seeking a necklace that is worth a fortune. When his crew finds the safe that supposedly contains the necklace, the piece of jewelry is not there. Brock, instead, discovers a hand-drawn picture of a beautiful naked woman wearing the necklace. When an elderly woman named Rose (the incomparable Gloria Stuart) sees the news of Brock’s quest to delve further into the history of the Titanic, she comes to interview with Brock and his peers. Rose begins to tell a story about her past in the year 1912–the year the ill-fated boat set sail.

In flashbacks, we meet Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio), a young artist who wins tickets at a card game to board the Titanic with his friend, Fabrizio (Danny Nucci). As the two men run to make the sailing off of the ship, the excitement is building around them as the local crowd is watching and waiting in anticipation for the ship’s departure. Meanwhile, a young Rose (Kate Winslet) is engaged to be married to Cal Hockley (an appropriately wicked Billy Zane), a wealthy man who Rose doesn’t truly feel comfortable with. Rose’s mother, Ruth (the terrific Frances Fisher) needs her daughter to marry Cal to keep the integrity of their family name after the death of Rose’s dad. Rose feels trapped and, one night, goes to the edge of the ship contemplating suicide.

Jack steps in and helps save Rose’s life. In return, Jack is invited to dine with Cal and Rose and the more distinguished rich folks on the Titanic. Kathy Bates plays “The Unsinkable Molly Brown,” a charismatic woman on the boat who lends Jack her son’s nice suit which enhances Jack’s appearance. Jack and Rose have formed an instant connection ever since he helped her and, soon, they’re doing the Irish Jig together and Rose is standing on her tippy toes and having a great time with the rebellious and sincere Jack on the other end of the Titanic.

Rose begins to really admire Jack despite their differences in class status. Their romance is appropriately portrayed with some awkwardness as well as a great deal of unparalleled romantic chemistry. Jack teaches Rose how to spit off the ship and Rose teaches Jack to see beyond her “rich girl” appearance and see the girl who yearns for happiness that she really is.

Just as everything is going well in terms of Jack and Rose’s romance, the ship hits an iceberg and there are but a couple of hours before the Titanic will completely sink and many of its passengers will die untimely deaths. There were only enough lifeboats to save about half of those aboard the ship and the creators of the Titanic were more concerned with the aesthetic appearance of the boat than what would happen in case of an emergency like the one which actually happened.

The action scenes are all phenomenal. As Jack is framed for stealing the necklace, Rose must save him from a waterlogged compartment of the ship in which he has been handcuffed. As Rose runs down the corridors to try to locate Jack, there is genuine tension and these scenes are among the best in the picture.

Right as the ship begins to sink, the vivid details of the cinematic experience never cease to amaze. There are three men who played the violin all along to keep the passengers from becoming overly anxious. All the chaos of trying to save the women and children first and all the despair that was aboard the ship is expertly captured by Cameron in some of the movie’s most heart-wrenching scenes.

DiCaprio is great as Jack. He has tremendous on-screen appeal and is particularly good at dinner with the rich folks as he discusses how despite his lowly status, he awaits every day with great excitement. Jack is very likable and his relationship with Rose is among the most beautifully conveyed love stories ever. As Rose, Winslet’s Oscar-nominated performance allows the audience to feel all her pain and passion. She creates the most fully developed character in the picture and is nothing short of excellent.

In the supporting cast, Bates adds much needed comic relief while Zane is the perfect villain as he tries to stop Jack and Rose from embracing their love for one another. It’s truly a fine acting ensemble and Frances Fisher adds her signature elegance to her sophisticated role in the film. It is Stuart, however, who amazes adding humanity to the older Rose which makes her character absolutely unforgettable. Bill Paxton is also quite memorable in his juicy but brief role in the picture.

Titanic has so many wonderful scenes which stand out. As Rose is lifted onto the edge of the ship by Jack with her eyes closed, she begins to experience the wonder and beauty of life which she finally sees when she opens her eyes and sees the world before her. The most moving scene in the movie comes when Rose is lifted onto a lifeboat which is going down into the water and Rose decides to jump back on to the boat to be with Jack, for better or worse. You arguably won’t find a more romantic scene in the history of motion pictures.

The tragedy of the Titanic and the lives which were lost through the ship’s sinking is told through some scenes which are quite disturbing to watch. Cameron doesn’t spare the details of how many people froze to death waiting for help to come which sadly arrived too late.

Jack saves Rose’s life in so many ways during the course of Titanic. This is one of the most remarkable pictures ever made and is best experienced on the big screen. The 3-D effects in the version which has just been released enable the audience to experience the film in the most visually effective way possible.

Titanic is a story of love, hope and tragedy that is masterfully told by Cameron who both wrote and directed the film. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet’s Jack and Rose are the gold standard of romantic couples and their moving love story will keep audiences engaged no matter how many times they see this film. It’s an absolutely unforgettable experience.

Rating: 10/10

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