Filmworld
'Everest': A frighteningly immersive film (Movie Review)
By
By Troy Ribeiro Film: "Everest"; Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jason Clarke, John Hawkes, Josh
Brolin, Robin Wright, Keira Knightley, Vanessa Kirby, Clive Standen;
Director: Baltasar Kormakur; Rating: ***1/2
"Everest" is a man
versus nature conflict, based on a true story that occurred on May 10th
1996, on Everest, the world's highest peak.
The film is a
magnificently mounted drama of survival that needs to be experienced in
an IMAX theatre. It is a tale about dreams, ambition and
accomplishments.
The narration begins from March 30, 1996, when
Rob Hall (Jason Clarke) an entrepreneur whose company, Adventure
Consultants, helped popularise mountaineering, bids farewell to his wife
Caroline at a US airport.
And soon a motely group of climbers
assemble in Nepal 40 days before the final act to train and acclimatise
themselves before their final ascent.
The group includes; Guy
Cotter (Sam Wothington), a guide and friend of Hall's, John Krakauer
(Michael Kelly) a travel and outdoors feature writer, Beck Weathers
(Josh Brolin), an enthusiast Texan pathologist, Yasuko Namba (Naoko
Mori), an experienced Japanese mountaineer who had already scaled six of
the world's seven highest peaks and Doug Hansen (John Hawkes), a mail
man who narrowly failed in his previous attempts.
"It is the
competition between every person (who is attempting to scale the peak)
and the mountain and the last word always belongs to the mountain,"
states one of the guides. This gives us a sneak preview into what to
expect.
The journey that starts on an upbeat note, soon becomes
unnecessarily challenging thanks to the large numbers causing delays,
lack of cumulative experience, not adhering to enough precautions and
the questionable quality of some of the ropes and ladders in use. The
film delivers on pre-built expectations with little room for surprise.
Since
the film is narrated from Rob Hall's perspective, we see him much
longer on screen. And Jason Clarke as Hall convincingly captures the
anxiety of a businessman balancing excellent customer service and
rigorous safety measures. Being responsible, conscientious and something
of a control freak, he is the kind of person you'd put your trust in
when heading to one of the most dangerous places on earth.
But it
is when Scott Fisher (Jake Gyllenhaal) the other expert guide and
Hall's competitor very bashfully says, "It is not the altitude, but it's
the attitude that matters," that you realise would bring him in direct
conflict with Hall. You expect some fireworks or clash of interests, but
the duo soon sign a peace treaty. Yet, the underlying tension still
prevails.
Among the adventurers' it is Josh Brolin and John
Hawkes who get prominence over the rest. And at the base camp it is
Emily Watson who plays Helen, the coordinator and "mother at the camp."
In
a smaller but significant roles, we have Keira Knightley as Rob's
pregnant wife and Robin Wright who plays Beck's wife. They add the
emotional baggage to the already heavily laden film.
What keeps
you hooked is cinematographer Salvatore Totino's brilliant camera work.
With unique camera angles he magnificently captures the various locales
like; The Lukla Airport, Namche Bazar, The Tengboche Monastery, The
Climbers Memorial at Thok La, The Base camp and the entire route.
And
what elevates the viewing experience is the haunting background score,
the 3D effects and the sound design which captures the sound of nature
at its best.
Overall, "Everest" is a frighteningly immersive film
that transports you to the peak and leaves you stranded there, hours
after you have left the auditorium.