"Everest" by Baltasar Kormákur - movie review

"Everest" tells of the unfortunate climb of a group of amateur mountaineers who, in 1996, trying to conquer the highest peak of the planet, learn the invaluable lesson that staying at home in front of the TV is far from bad. The truth is, I forgot about this case, as well as Krakauer's book "In the diluted air," where the same events are described. This, of course, is not a story that will leave a lasting impression on our memory, because every month, such dramatic fates are told on television (such as the case of Peru's miners, who will also be filmed). The point is that the highest point on the planet has always excited people and made them attach more importance to everything related to it. That's why we now have a star-filled movie that promises to bring life to the expedition to "Everest".

Beards, beards, beards. Beards with snow, beards tremble by the cold and talking on the phone. Here, I just told you half the film. There are also some characters under these beards, of course, but if I have to figure out who is the main character in this movie, then I'll get a glimpse of it, so let's pay attention to the more basic ones. Jason Clark has the longest screen presence. He is the expedition leader, Rob, who promises amateurs to take them to the top and return them safely. One of his most enthusiastic clients is Bek (Josh Brolin), a Texas-born, who has shaken his family life and jumps from mountain to mountain in search of new emotions. John Krakower (Michael Kelly) will be joining the team and will be able to see the whole experience in his newspaper (I have already mentioned that a book will eventually come out). Gyllenhaal plays a team leader. Although he is a friend of Rob, they are shifting sparks between them. There are others, but we'll need a whole page to list them and explain their episodic roles. Above all, the film is a passion for what the real mountaineers have experienced. It can be said that everything is true, but we do not care much about it. Professionals to quarrel as much as they want. The important thing is that the visual film is remarkable. With great sound and computer effects, without using alien vertical stunts, he sticks to realism as much as possible, and at the same time does not become boring or tedious at all. The other obvious goal, apart from the movie experience, was to pay tribute to the dead, which was achieved in a respectful way, without sentimentality or heroisation (yet they themselves got stuck there).

But all this is not enough to get a good movie. While most characters are crisp and alive (which is also an achievement, given the enormous cast of actors), the scenes at home where the wives are shown (Keira Knightley and Robin Wright) are exhilarating. It is clear that in this category of films one has to endure the tearful drama to get to the spectacular scenes, but inside he always wants to care. Someone suggested an interesting alternative not to see the wives, just to hear their voices, which would be a great choice, and would enhance the sense of distance and frustration that the climbers felt. The film does not really set high goals, so we can not talk about some disappointment, but there is definitely no in-depth study of the collision of man with nature or even the competition between Scott and Robb, which is quite hinted at (perhaps from respect for their living relatives ). The main goal was apparently adherence to true history, which seems to be more damaging to art, because in real life, everything is not in keeping with a good dramaturgical structure. There is a chaos that does not look good on the screen, at least not in such films that rely on simple circuits.

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