Directed by:
Baltasar KormákurCinematography:
Salvatore TotinoComposer:
Dario MarianelliCast:
Jason Clarke, Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Sam Worthington, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Keira Knightley, Emily Watson, Thomas M. Wright (more)VOD (5)
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Expert mountaineers Rob Hall (Jason Clarke) and Scott Fischer (Jake Gyllenhaal) lead rival expeditions to scale the highest peak on Earth, Mount Everest. Their quest becomes dangerous when the fearless climbers collide head-on with one of the fercest blizzards in the mountain’s history. Faced against impossible conditions, the limits of human spirit and physical endurance are put to the ultimate test in an epic struggle for survival in this chilling, edge-of-your-seat thriller based on actual events. (Universal Pictures UK)
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Reviews (19)
It is not an adaptation of Krakauer's well-known original "about the event", which will surprise many in a bad way. And it is even more surprising that it lacks any significant ambitions with regard to the creator and the cast. From the whole expedition we only get to know a trio "Hall - Texas guy - postman" properly. What is a biggest disappointment is that given that the disproportionately more interesting trio "Krakauer - Yasuko - Fischer" is clearly only a makeweight here (not to mention the other participants who are present only out of duty "because they were also there at the time" rather than playing a more significant role in the movie. The same goes for Sherpas. Likewise, what is completely ignored are the controversial topics surrounding Hall's and his company's involvement in this disaster “we get the people to the top even though they cannot make it". They failed to make proper preparation, and even at the top they made a bunch of incomprehensible decisions. The movie completely avoids any dark undertones what a person is capable of when things go wrong. And the fate of the three Indians who were caught by surprise by the same storm is not even mentioned. So, these are the weak points what this movie is not and what it is not about. What is more important is, however, what the movie is at the end of the day. And it's a damn successful manly adventure movie with Hollywood-style human warming emotions about the invincibility of the human spirit and with heartbreaking phone calls to the pregnant wife. Once you get it and understand that the main role is not played by the actors, but by the truly impressive camera (by the way, it was made in 3D after years again, which is not just a way to increase the ticket price, but an integral part of the experience; especially when watched in IMAX), showing the beauty of the Himalayas that will intoxicate you, you will really enjoy it. That is for sure. Yes, it's surprisingly cold not only in terms of atmosphere but also in terms for emotions and the first half is better than the second half that describes tragedy, but it doesn't matter that much, because it's still quite impressive and very intense, which is undoubtedly the best non-documentary climbing film of the last few years along with German Nordwand.
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Every time I watched the trailer for Everest my room shook and I got goosebumps all the way up my ass. The movie, however, gave me that feeling only three times at most and that's a damn shame. There are a lot and issues that I would have liked to see differently. The film is a big mess in places mainly because of the many characters (there are so many names that you can't manage to remember everyone in one screening), the deaths weren’t impressive at all, I understand that the film is based on true events, but with so many characters it’s a damn shame that the film doesn't go for a gritty survival thriller; I would definitely have welcomed some villain here as well as a comedy-relief character to lighten the atmosphere, and unfortunately for me the emotions don’t work either. Jake Gyllenhaal ????... and 25 more question marks. But not to merely criticise, the film has stunning visuals, a likeable Jason Clarke, nicely paced sequences, an unexpected ending and a decent atmosphere, but I personally would have liked a more intense style and execution. A reluctant four stars. 70%
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The journey to a place where the human body dies, in the story of people who knew very well how much they were risking, but still went for it. Nothing more, but certainly nothing less. And even though I don't understand the self-destructive behavior of the main heroes, thanks to the brilliant cast, I feel like I have at least glimpsed beyond the first summit. The intensity with which the highest mountain in the world siccs its pitfalls on climbers nails you to your seat, and the moment a storm appears, the cinema is already shaken to the core and the viewer knows they are in for a rough ride. And every gasp for breath almost hurts in your own lungs.
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Everyone you develop a fondness for gets in big trouble. That is Everest’s only dramaturgical ambition. An IMAX
marketing product that uses only half of the IMAX screen with its widescreen format. The script is purely average
without any memorable dialogue, moments or characters. The excellent international cast has practically nothing to do,
and Jake Gyllenhaal’s character, which we looked forward to most, gets only about three times more space than in the
trailer. However, the visuals are nice and the Everest environment authentic, and the footage of the famous passage
below the Hillary step is impressive. The key weapon in the film’s arsenal is the intensity of the whirlwind, which shoves
you back in your seat in a cinema with a high-quality sound system (such as Dolby Atmos). Commendably, the film does
not embellish reality, avoids pathos and is not dragged down by its own stupidity (Vertical Limit). But all of this is also
true of Nordwand, which is not a rushed studio hit but, with narrative enthusiasm and interest in the characters,
describes a historically more significant and dramatic climb on the Swiss Eiger (which is a completely different level of climbing than the “walk” up Everest).
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After a second screening (and having learned about the making of this film), I'm pretty clear: the production values of Kormákur’s film are breathtaking. Whether it's the visuals, the actual locations where it was filmed, the plethora of great special effects that are naturally incorporated into the picture so that you don't even recognize them, and behind all of that there is a subtle tribute to the guys for whom mountains are everything. We can make a comparison here with, for example, the rather dumb Vertical Limit, where the mountains are just a vehicle for stupid stunts that are a laughing stock for real climbers. Everest, in contrast, has a real believable dimension and yet it is deep and human. The fact that you may think mountaineers are weirdos with obsessive compulsive behavior who gamble with their lives is actually pretty irrelevant, petty, and just your problem. Everest can proudly stand alongside some famous French mountaineering-themed films, which are pretty good on their own, and it’s certainly the best mountaineering film Hollywood has ever produced.
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