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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There couldn’t be a better director for such a story than Baltasar Kormákur. In my opinion, there is no other European nation than the Icelandic nation more connected with nature, and therefore they could tell totally everything with such a story. But since Baltasar is an Icelander and what’s more a capable director, he took up the storywhere the actors play second fiddle and Everest itself really plays the main role. I gained a lot of respect for it right from the first minutes and as Baltasar had no less capable cameraman, I experienced not only respect, but I also enjoyed the endless sceneries that were absolutely flawless. And the best part was that digital technology is used so little that you won’t even notice it. This movie is a huge film experience that I won’t easily forget. In many scenes, it says more than any viewer can catch, and at the same time, it tries to tell that story from 1996 as it actually could have happened, in a raw and realistic manner.
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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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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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A precise survival drama with a fantastic cast that in some cases is too good given the few lines they have. The experiential capacity of the film is substantial. In some scenes it manages to grip and amaze, not only through the mountain setting, but also with the convincingly performed suffering of the leading characters. Things get unfortunately a little chaotic after some time with them covered in jackets and hoods and with the snow falling, they all look very similar and there were moments that I wasn’t really sure who was who. But overall, a recommending thumbs up.
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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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