STARRING: Cuba Gooding Jr, Robert De Niro, Charlize Theron, Aunjanue Ellis, Hal Halbrook, Powers Boothe, Joshua Leonard

LINE ON THE POSTER: History is made by those who break the rules

WHAT HAPPENS: Based on the true-life story of Carl Brashear (Gooding Jr.), 'Men of Honour' follow his pursuit of becoming the American Navy's first African-American Diver. After a poor upbringing, Carl is determined to make something of himself and joins the Navy only to find racism, bigotry and segregation due to his colour. Defiant of this he manages to gain a place at the illustrious Bayonne divers' training camp. Here is trained by the rebellious but legendary Master Chief Billy Sunday (De Niro), who like those around him don't take to fondly to Carl's ability and his colour. Can Carl overcome the mountain of problems up ahead and become a Master Chief diver and more importantly a Man of Honour?

ANY GOOD?: It' based on a very moving and courageous true story and at times was very enjoyable but overall 'Men of Honour' lacked that killer punch, which could have made it a really good film. Both Gooding Jr, and De Niro are undoubted acting greats and their performances help give the film something extra making more than a mere made for TV biopic. However a clunky script can't really help matters and some of the lines delivered in key scenes will defy anyone's beliefs in whether this is a real story. The directing is also uninspiring and the supporting cast doesn't really get a look in, to aid the film. With such a good story and fantastic lead actors at their disposal the filmmakers have run this one firmly a ground and it'll probably sink to the bottom without a trace, which is a shame as Carl Brashear's story is one that everyone should know.

BEST BIT: When Carl gets the diving assignment of his career, finding a nuclear bomb on the bottom of the sea, he has a run in with a Russian submarine. Scary stuff.

INTERESTING FACT: Robert De Niro's character Master Chief Billy Sunday was actually not a real person, even though this is a real story, he's actually a compilation of characters that Carl Brashear knew when he was learning to dive.

LIKED IT, TRY: Jerry Maguire, Top Gun, A Few Good Men or Das Boot