‘Everest’ Movie Review 1 1637

everest-movie-review

Ever thought about taking on the epic task of climbing a mountain? Well Everest may very well put an end to that. It tells the harrowing true story of the infamous Everest mountain climbing expedition that took place in May 1996 when an eclectic group of climbers and adventurers (played here by the likes of Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin and Jake Gyllenhaal) embarked on a dangerous mission to the highest point on Earth. But an unexpectedly violent storm causes things to go very wrong, challenging the climbers to endure blistering winds and freezing temperatures to survive.

If you’re going into Everest expecting an all-out action movie then you’re going to be very disappointed indeed. What’s most surprising about it is just how little it resembles that sort of movie. Apart from one scene fairly early on in which Brolin’s spirited climber Beck Weathers tries to cross between two ice ridges on a shaky ladder, it’s more about the personal moments of human emotion and the determination to succeed and survive than it is about elaborate set-pieces.

This is both a help and a hindrance. On the one hand it gives us a much more intimate experience, something a little bit different to what we’re used to with this type of thing. On the other hand it can be kind of frustrating when the script doesn’t go into enough depth about these people and what makes them motivated to embark on such an arduous, almost impossible task that few humans will ever experience. Although the backstories of the key characters are lifted straight from the real life event – pregnant wives back home, being motivated to inspire school kids etc. – its content to rest on the surface and curiously unwilling to plunge its hands into the depths of the snow, so to speak, muster up real truth.

This issue is somewhat papered over by the fact that it has one hell of a cast to elevate the shortcomings in the script. Though people like Gyllenhaal and Robin Wright are underserved by limited roles that feel squashed under the weight of the sheer amount of other characters, the likes of Clarke, Brolin and particularly the always excellent John Hawkes bring their A-game and make us feel for them in spite of the lacking characterization. Others like Keira Knightley (as Clarke’s very worried and very pregnant wife back home), Sam Worthington, Emily Watson and Michael Kelly are all effective in their key supporting roles, even if the film feels somewhat like a distracting pick ‘n’ mix of Hollywood character actors.

Although action is not exactly at the top of its list of priorities, the concept of spectacle most definitely is. Director Baltasar Kormákur (of such eclectic fare as 101 Reykjavik, 2 Guns and Contraband) revels in the chance to show of the behemoth setting of the title, swirling and diving around it with aerial shots that should give anyone with even a touch of vertigo the heebie-jeebies. He also does a very good job of getting across the harsh conditions the climbers have to endure, whether it’s the freezing temperatures promising almost certain frostbite or the inescapable winds threatening to literally push them over the edge. If nothing else the film is a giant, three-dimensional warning that climbing Everest is not to be taken lightly.

Despite it never truly getting under the skin of its multitude of characters and ultimately falling short of the dizzying heights that it was aiming for, there’s something undeniably compelling about Everest. It builds its tension in a stagey way that makes sense for the story – the climbers literally tackling their mission in carefully calculated checkpoints – and you do really get the best sense possible of what it’s like to be on that mountain and facing such insurmountable odds.

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I'm a freelance film reviewer and blogger with over 10 years of experience writing for various different reputable online and print publications. In addition to my running, editing and writing for Thoughts On Film, I am also the film critic for The National, the newspaper that supports an independent Scotland, covering the weekly film releases, film festivals and film-related features. I have a passion for all types of cinema, and have a particular love for foreign language film, especially South Korean and Japanese cinema. Favourite films include The Big Lebowski, Pulp Fiction and 2001: A Space Odyssey.

1 Comment

  1. I applaud Working Title for breaking new ground and not sticking to the ‘Into Thin Air’ version of the 1996 Everest tragedy, which is maybe why this book is not in this film’s Credits, something that has not gone unnoticed by some professional reviewers.

    Working Title/the Director referred to Jon Krakauer as ‘a writer who just happened to be on the mountain at the time’. To learn more about what actually caused this seminal event you will need to read ‘A Day to Die For’ and ‘After the Wind’. Well done Working Title and Baltasar Kormakur for daring to break the mold!

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Tolkien Biopic to Be Released in May 0 5286

10th May, 2019 is when Tolkien will be released to the world, an autobiographical film that will revolve around the early days of legendary author J.R.R. Tolkien before he became the literary giant that he is today.

Here on Thoughts on Film we are big fans of his work and the recent films made by Peter Jackson. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings (LOTR), are responsible for originating a universe that has gone on to inspire movies, animation, fiction, and modern media interpretations.



This is why Tolkien is regarded by many as the greatest fantasy author of all time. His creative stamp can be seen nearly everywhere in modern media. There’s the direct reinterpretation of his work in the recently released action roleplaying game Middle Earth: Shadow of War, where players are thrust into a major role in Tolkien’s literary canon. George R.R. Martin, who originated the now globally-popular Game of Thrones series on HBO, openly reveres LOTR as the inspiration for his work, citing the early death of Gandalf in Fellowship of the Ring as having a profound effect on his “own willingness to kill characters at the drop of a hat.” On the web, more Tolkien-inspired work can be found on leading slot portal Slingo and its many online titles dedicated to the fantasy genre, including Amazon Queen, Fae Legend Warrior, and Magic Castle, all of which feature elements that can be traced back to the author’s massive body of work. Technically speaking, the same can be said of nearly every major fantasy brand out there today, from Dungeons & Dragons to Magic: the Gathering. In short, almost every type of entertainment that features western fantasy can be traced back to the works of Tolkien.

In the upcoming Tolkien movie, the man will be played by Nicholas Hoult, whom is best known for Mad Max: Fury Road and Hank McCoy in the most recent X-Men movies. And now, the actor’s versatility will be tested as he steps into the shoes of the most iconic fantasy writer of all time. Starring alongside Hoult will be the actress Lily Collins as Edith Bratt – the woman whom Tolkien loved above all and is reportedly the inspiration for all “elven princess characters” in the LOTR series.

Helming the film is director Dome Karukoski whose CV includes 2017’s Tom of Finland, a critically acclaimed chronicle of the life and works of the controversial artist of the same name. And while media outlets haven’t yet heard from either the cast, director, or crew of the film, an official synopsis of the movie has been released via Collider. “Tolkien explores the formative years of the orphaned author as he finds friendship, love and artistic inspiration among a group of fellow outcasts at school. This takes him into the outbreak of World War I, which threatens to tear the “Fellowship” apart. All of these experiences would inspire Tolkien to write his famous Middle-earth novels.” It sounds like a real treat for film, literature, and Middle Earth fans.

Feature: 2019 Oscar Predictions 0 4030

I think it’s fair to say that the run up to this year’s Oscars has been a little messier than usual, from unexpected and bizarre wins at other awards shows (Vice winning Best Editing at the BAFTAs, anyone?) to ridiculous decisions by the Academy to change the show around.

The latter has proved a particular point of contention with both those in the industry to onlookers on social media, with choices such as not letting all the songs be performed to introducing a Best Popular Film category (whatever that means) to not airing four categories live; Editing and Cinematography proved a particular issue, sending the folks of Film Twitter into a Hulk-like rage.

Thankfully all of these decisions except for the one to not have a main host have taken the walk-back of shame; I look forward to Clint Eastwood talking to an empty chair again. Of course there’s still the issue of plenty of thoroughly deserving films, filmmakers and performances not being up for any Oscars at all (*cough* Toni Collette! *cough*) but of course that’s not an issue unique to this year.

The show must go on, as they say, and I thought a week out from this year’s ceremony I’d throw my hat into the ring as far as predictions goes. Below I’ve listed what I think will win in each category, as well as what I personally would like to see pick up that little gold man come next Sunday evening.

Best Picture

Want to win: A Star is Born
Will win: Green Book

Lead Actor

Want to win: Bradley Cooper (A Star is Born)
Will win: Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody)

Lead Actress

Want to win: Olivia Colman (The Favourite)
Will win: Olivia Colman (The Favourite)

Supporting Actor

Want to win: Richard E. Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?)
Will win: Mahershala Ali (Green Book)

Supporting Actress

Want to win: Emma Stone (The Favourite)
Will win: Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk)

Director

Want to win: Alfonso Cuarón (Roma)
Will win: Alfonso Cuarón (Roma)

Animated Feature

Want to win: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Will win: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Adapted Screenplay

Want to win: BlacKkKlansman
Will win: BlacKkKlansman

Original Screenplay

Want to win: First Reformed
Will win: The Favourite

Cinematography

Want to win: Roma
Will win: Roma

Documentary Feature

Want to win: Free Solo
Will win: Minding the Gap

Foreign Language Film

Want to win: Roma
Will win: Roma

Film Editing

Want to win: BlacKkKlansman
Will win: Bohemian Rhapsody

Sound Editing

Want to win: A Quiet Place
Will win: Bohemian Rhapsody

Sound Mixing

Want to win: A Star is Born
Will win: Bohemian Rhapsody

Production Design

Want to win: Roma
Will win: The Favourite

Original Score

Want to win: If Beale Street Could Talk
Will win: Black Panther

Original Song

Want to win: Shallow (A Star is Born)
Will win: Shallow (A Star is Born)

Makeup and Hair

Want to win: Mary Queen of Scots
Will win: Vice

Costume Design

Want to win: Black Panther
Will win: The Favourite

Visual Effects

Want to win: Avengers: Infinity War
Will win: Ready Player One

Animated Short

Want to win: Bao
Will win: Bao

Live Action Short

Want to win: Marguerite
Will win: Marguerite

Documentary Short Subject

Want to win: Black Sheep
Will win: Lifeboat

Do you agree? Disagree? Feel free to leave your predictions/wishes for the winners below or tweet @TOF_UK or @rosstmiller.

Roll on Sunday!