The Impossible

Actors:  Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, Tom Holland, Sonke Mohring
Rating:  8 out of 10, I’m not a huge Watts fan but she really surprised me in this, as did the whole movie.  The first twenty minutes are as visceral an experience one can imagine as the 2004 tsunami devastates Thailand.  The film doesn’t go for cheap, Hollywood tricks but reduces the view to that of the victims which is heartbreaking.  Tom Holland as the eldest son holds his own with the veteran actors and McGregor is his typical awesome as the desperate father searching for his family. I also liked the depiction of the quiet courage of the Thais faced with unimaginable horror and doing their simple, human best to help.   
MVP:  McGregor as the focused father