Everest (September 2015)

Official Australian release date: 17/9/15. Viewed: 20/9/15.

Director: Baltasar Kormakur

Actors: Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, Jake Gyllenhaal, Emily Watson, Keira Knightley

Genre: Action / Drama

Rating: M       

‘Everest’ is a true survival – man vs nature – film. It’s not necessarily fun, but it is engrossing. Since it’s based on a true story (I haven’t read the ‘Into Thin Air’ novel), it’s a simple plot – in 1996, a group of experienced climbers engage the services of Rob (Clarke) to assist them in their climb to the summit of Earth’s highest mountain – Mt Everest in Nepal. The film spends 40min (probably too long) introducing the characters and staying at Base Camp, but it does give you the chance to get to know them and their motivations – especially Beck (Brolin) & Doug (Hawkes).

That’s the main question throughout – “why”? I think it boils down to ego – man’s desire to conquer everything, even nature’s most extreme obstacles – highest mountain, driest desert, deepest ocean trench, outer space, etc. It is nice to see them fulfilling their dreams on making it to the summit, but once the inevitable storm blows in, it really does make you think “these people are insane for being up there”! I definitely won’t be climbing Everest!

It’s a well-made film, with good pacing once they’re climbing and some truly beautiful shots of the Himalayas – very glad they shot a lot of it on-site. The devastating storm is one of the loudest and most ominous things you can imagine when at the top of a mountain. Rob’s calls with Jan (Knightley – worst Kiwi accent ever) slow things down, but add to the drama.

Overall: A solid character-driven survival epic.

Gav's Rating: 3.5 stars.   

A Walk In The Woods (September 2015)

Official Australian release date: 3/9/15. Viewed: 4/9/15.

Director: Ken Kwapis

Actors: Robert Redford, Nick Nolte, Emma Thompson, Kristen Schaal

Genre: Comedy / Adventure

Rating: M       

‘A Walk in the Woods’ is basically a middle-aged “bromance” movie. It just happens to be based on Bill Bryson’s fantastic 1998 eponymous true-story book. Full disclosure – Bryson is one of my favourite authors, always having something interesting or funny to say. The film is not quite about Bryson (Redford)’s mid-life crisis (as he’s now in his 70s, not 40s like the book), but he and a formerly-estranged friend, Stephen Katz (Nolte) set off on the Appalachian Trail, which spans America’s east coast, from Georgia in the South to Maine in the North – 2,100 miles (~3,500km)!

From the director of ‘He’s Just Not That Into You’ and ‘The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants’ – not a promising pedigree! – Kwapis nonetheless does a good job of keeping the pace up, which can be hard when it’s mostly two guys just walking and talking! But therein lies the beauty of the film – it’s simple and sweet, with plenty of jokes and wit between the two old friends, some quick interactions with other hikers on the Trail (such as Schaal, gratingly funny!) and some breathtaking wilderness shots.

It did remind me of my time in the U.S., when I did visit the Pisgah Forest in North Carolina and the Great Smoky National Park in Tennessee, where they start their hike. The scenery is helped by Lord Huron’s soundtrack, which is folky, but upbeat. The final third is not as engaging as it could be, but there’s some sincere moments to be found amongst the humour and everything is propelled by Nolte & Redford’s enjoyable chemistry.

Overall: As good as the book? Of course not, but fun and light

Gav's Rating: 3.5 stars.