The effort to rescue 12 boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave in Thailand that captured the world’s attention in 2018 is rivetingly depicted in one of the best directorial efforts by prolific filmmaker Ron Howard.
“Thirteen Lives” — which is set for a theatrical release this week before landing on Prime Video Aug. 5 — is an engrossing dramatization of that operation, which involved Thai officials, experts and Navy SEALs, as well as thousands of volunteers from around the world, including a handful of experienced cave divers.
“Thirteen Lives” benefits from strong performances by its two leads, Viggo Mortensen and Colin Farrell, as two of those divers. However, their work takes a backseat to the deft storytelling hand of Howard, elevated by the work of myriad collaborators.
