Everest

Everest is based on Jon Krakauer's best-selling novel "Into Thin Air". Let me preface this review with a statement. I don't understand mountain climbing. I mean, I understand the thrill and challenge of battling nature, the beauty of the majestic vista, and perhaps the physical demands of the endeavor. No, I don't understand putting your life at risk to do something that is cold, arduous, and where all you get at the end is the prospect of turning around and doing it again in reverse. The top of a mountain is cool and all, but it's not worth it to me.

Anyhow, back in 1996, climbing Everest seemed to hit its peak in popularity as the extreme sporting event, and as a result, there were dozens of thrill-seekers lining up at base camp to see if they were up to the challenge. Krakauer (played by Michael Kelly) joins a guided tour led by the savvy and compassionate mountaineer Rob Hall (Jason Clarke). The group includes arrogant Texan Beck Weathers (Josh Brolin), nice guy mailman Doug Hanson (John Hawkes), and a small assortment of unnamed others. They are a group of experienced climbers and they spend a full month preparing and training once they reach Nepal. We quickly realize that there are just too darn many people trying to climb this mountain, including guides Scott Fischer (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Guy Cotter (Sam Worthington). Now, there is a serious camaraderie among the climbers, even if they are competing for their livelihood (literally and figuratively). At one point, there is mention of a sixty-five thousand dollar payment for leading the climb, which illustrates quite a few things about the gravity of the ascent.

Ominous foreshadowing and a series of unfortunate events as well as bad decisions lead these climbers into the perfect storm, and all they have to rely on for survival is each other and their sheer determination.

The problem with this type of film, and when I say this type, I mean characters bundled up in a nearly unrecognizable mass of clothing (see also astronaut suits, military uniforms, scuba divers), is that once the action starts, it is difficult to keep track of the characters, which diminishes the tension and empathy. If it were me, I would have given each of the characters a bit of flair. Maybe not anything as obvious as a "Hello My Name is..." sticker, but some brightly colored object or something.

The cinematography and direction is beautiful, and the chill of the icy wind literally permeates through the theatre seat, leaving you feeling as chilly as the men with frost-covered beards wrapped in North Face jackets. Unfortunately, the character development is minimal and ultimately confusing as bundled men stagger through whiteout conditions, so their fate is less intense, and more "better you than me." I can't knock the acting or the direction, or the setting, or even the story. It's heroic and tragic. Man versus nature at its most gripping, but it is still self-inflicted punishment (see my opinion of mountain climbing). The reasoning given over and over for why they climb a death trap mountain isn't good enough for me. "Because it's there" is cute and macho, but not compelling.

In any event, I'm a bit conflicted on rating this film. It was beautiful, well-acted, and tragic. But the unsympathetic cynic in me thinks, "What do you expect when you climb a snow-covered rock 29,000 feet in the air with a summit temperature ranging between -20 and -35 degrees Celsius and 1/3 of your oxygen diminished by atmospheric pressure?" I mean, really. Throw in unnecessary roles by Kiera Knightley and Robin Wright, and you have a sadly over-ambitious artistic disaster film. It moves slowly, which provides ample mood, but also eliminates any opportunity for intense action sequences.

Overall, it was entertaining but a bit frustrating. The rating slip is based on my flaws, not the film's. 6/10.