In life there are peak experiences and valleys. Their are also plateaus. The men and women that journeyed to Everest in 1996 were looking for peaks. The joy of getting to the summit must be an irresistible urge. As Josh Brolin explains "the reason I am climbing Everest is because when I am not climbing I am extremely depressed." John Hawkes explains "I want my kids when I share at their school to be proud of me." Thinking about Hawkes point made me realize that for modern men and women's lives there comes a point where there is a struggle to find purpose and meaning. Climbing Mt.Everest is definitely an extreme choice. In a way it is totally crazy that the only way some people can feel truly alive is to be at the summit of the highest peak on Earth. For others actors like Jason Clarke and Jake Gyllenhaal they are tour guides and climbing Everest is a job. The visuals of Everest are spectacular. Baltasar Kormakur is an Icelandic director I have never heard of. However, being a native of Iceland he seems to have a gut instinct for shooting cold weather.
The performances by all the actors are well done. The movie will no academy awards because many critics feel that parts of the film are too syrupy. I vehemently disagree. I think the phone conversations between wives and climbers are the glue that holds the film together. I also believe it the best acting by Sam Worthington I have ever seen. Being allowed to use his native Australian accent. "We are going to get you some O and some hot tea, you just got to keep moving" was a powerful scene. Many deep scenes occur by radio and telephone.
The film touches on the theme on survival and mankind's willing to go to extremes to keep that happening. Being able to risk it all in order to do what you love.
That theme was exemplified in the year's Best Documentary Meru. Where Jimmy Chin, Conrad Anker , and Renan Ozturk climb Meru which is arguably the most difficult mountain to climb in the world.
Shout out to ITALIA, Iceland, and Sweden.
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