"Tragic
yet unsentimental portrayal of the May 1996 Everest expedition.”
On May 10, 1996, an expedition to the world’s highest summit
goes wrong, killing eight climbers in the aftermath and leaving lasting
painful memories to the survivors. With vivid visuals and deft attention to
details, Baltasar Kormakur brings the incident to life in his latest grandiose docudrama
named after the mighty Himalayan peak itself, Everest.
After bidding farewell to his wife, Jan (Keira Knightley),
friendly New Zealander Rob Hall (Jason Clarke) leaves for Nepal to lead
Adventure Consultants, an expedition bound for the apex of Mt. Everest. Part of
his team are Beck Weather (Josh Brolin), a cocky Texan who has a huge bravado
but like Rob, is willing to spend for expensive satellite phone calls to his
wife, Peach (Robin Wright); Doug Hansen (John Hawkes), a humble Seattle-based
mailman whose attempt in 1995 was a few hundred feet short off the summit;
Yasuko (Naoko Mori), a determined aged Japanese woman who has already scaled
six of the Seven Summits; and Jon Krakauer (Michael Kelly), a high-profile
journalist writing for Outside
magazine whose presence causes friction between Rob and Scott Fischer (Jake Gyllenhaal). Like Rob, Scott is also a tour guide, running competing expedition
Mountain Madness with his tough Russian buddy Anatoli Boukreev (Ingvar Sigordsson).
After a forty-day preparatory period, the teams finally
ascend to higher elevations. At the base camp, manager Helen Wilton (Emily Watson) keeps close contact with them via walkie-talkies. Despite their earlier
tension, Rob and Scott decide to join forces. Eventually, most of the crews
reach the top of Everest on May 10. However, the weather worsens and soon traps
the climbers in darkness. Putting all their experiences and natural instincts
to the test, they must hold onto each other and survive the raging blizzards.
A cross between docudrama and disaster film, Everest is a visual charmer. Its images
are stunning, skilfully detailed, and realistically created. It beautifully
captures the height of the mountains, giving a sense of acrophobia, as well as the
tenderness of constantly falling snow and the bustling life in the city of
Katmandu.
Aside from giving much attention to visuals, the film also
provides clear understanding of how to scale the great peak. During the forty
days of preparation, it chronicles some basic disciplines particularly regarding
oxygen supply, pressure and temperature, or in general, the essential ways to
acclimatize to the altitude. Rapport develops between the men, as well as
anxieties, fears and anticipation.
While
the first hour of the movie is devoted to grounding and opening of various
motivations, the second documents the expeditions’ final ascent and its
outcome. Similarly, details of the climb are rich and clear-cut, and the scenes
become more gripping and intense. Physical challenges of mountaineering are precisely
depicted such as crossing shaky bridges over a seemingly endless crevice,
navigating through poor visibility, dealing with freezing conditions and
dwindling oxygen supply, enduring countless avalanches, and passing through
narrow paths. The Hillary Step, the final 40-foot wall bottleneck, proves to be
a major challenge. Such specifics are commendable; they pick interest and raise
suspense at some points, but they are mostly businesslike and unengaging.
Multiple characters are slightly sketched, yet
characterization may be sufficient enough to solicit empathy from the audience.
In essence, the movie is about the majestic Everest and it is just right to put
more emphasis on its strength, power and menace, pushing any human figures on
the sidelines. It’s like paying respect to nature, and like the daredevil
Bourkreev said in the film, “The mountain always has the last word.” Furthermore,
it would have been more interesting if the 11 real-life Sherpas starring in the
movie have more interesting roles other than being unnoticeable accessories.
For a feature that delineates man’s ineptitude against
nature, the movie is quite unsentimental. Yes, it is sad and tragic but it lacks
enough melodrama to be moving or uplifting. This is probably the effect of thin
characterization and blunt detailing of mountaineering.
The cast is undoubtedly impressive and powerful. Clarke totally
nails it as the likable all-around Rob Hall. Brolin and Hawkes are inspiring individuals
with their ambitions. While Yasuko is a sweet presence, Watson is heart-warming
as the teams’ logistics coordinator. Sam Worthington and Elizabeth Debicki also stand out as support staffs for the expedition. As wives filled
with anxiety for their husbands, Knightley and Wright deliver strongly.
Everest excels
with its first-rate cast and spellbinding visuals. Characterization might be
sketchy but the film in general succeeds in reminding us of our rightful
place in this highly-changing and unpredictable planet.
Production: Working Title, in association
with Walden Media and presented with Cross Creek Pictures
Cast: Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, John
Hawkes, Robin Wright, Emily Watson, Michel Kelly, Keira Knightley, Sam
Worthington, Martin Henderson, Elizabeth Debicki, Ingvar Sigurdsson, Jake
Gyllenhaal, Naoko Mori, Tom Goodman-Hill
Director: Baltasar Kormakur
Screenwriters: William Nicholson, Simon
Beaufoy
Producers: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner,
Baltasar Kormakur, Nicky Kentish Barnes, Brian Oliver, Tyler Thompson
Executive producers: Angela Morrison, Liza
Chasin, Evan Hayes, Peter Mallouk, Mark Mallouk, Lauren Selig, Randall Emmett,
Brandt Andersen
Director of photography: Salvatore Totino
Production designer: Gary Freeman
Costume designer: Guy Speranza
Editor: Mick Audsley
Music: Dario Marianelli
Visual effects supervisor: Dadi Einarsson
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