As somebody that considers going to the cinema or watching a football game as a form of thrill-seeking, I’ll never be able to understand the psyche of those that want to climb Mount Everest.
Those ordinary people bidding to achieve the most extraordinary of feats are the focus of Baltasar Kormákur’s take on the 1996 Everest disaster, which saw eight people lose their lives.
Even though this disaster epic is based on a true story and the answers are out there, I’ll try not to spoil what happens in this review. I went into the showing very much in the dark – and that led to me being gripped for the majority of the near two-hour run time.
Back in 1996, expeditions had very much become commercialised on Everest.
That meant that, if you have enough money, you could pay a company to help you reach the summit of the highest peak on the planet.
New Zealand native Rob Hall (Jason Clarke – Terminator Genysis) and his company Adventure Consultants were one of many willing to take you the top – and it’s his group that are the focal point of the film.
Among them are journalist John Krakauer (Michael Kelly – Man of Steel), Texan pathologist Beck Weathers (Josh Brolin – Gangster Squad), mail man Doug Hansen (John Hawkes – Lincoln), experienced climber Yasuko Namba (Naoko Mori – Spice World) and Hall’s trusted guide Guy Cotter (Sam Worthington – Avatar).
Faced with conditions that aren’t conducive for human life, Hall puts them all through their paces before they reach Everest’s “base camp”, an area full of a host of groups like them.
Running one of those rivals to Adventure Consultants is Scott Fischer (Jake Gyllenhaal – Southpaw). If Hall is the wise and safe face of climbing, Fischer is more of a reckless cowboy – but the pair do share a mutual respect.
The build-up to the fateful climb does take a long time, but I found myself gripped – and even nervous – by the time the group began their end game. Faced not only with conditions that are quite literally killing their bodies, the group also come face-to-face with the worst-case scenario – a monstrous storm while they’re still out in the open.
It’s pretty harrowing stuff to watch, knowing full well that this actually happened.
The mountain itself is truly spectacular. It’s genuine edge of your seat stuff to watch and almost felt like a cross between The Day After Tomorrow and Gravity.
Indeed, Hall’s wife Jan (played by Keira Knightley) says at one stage that they “may as well be on the moon” such is their perilous plight.
The star power in Everest is also one of it’s greatest strengths, too. As well as those already mentioned, there are also roles for Robin Wright (Forrest Gump) and Emily Watson (War Horse).
Clarke, Brolin and Gyllenhaal command the most screentime and all deliver top performances, while Worthington comes into his own in the latter stages.
Not all of the characters are fleshed out as much as they could be, but with there being so many that all demand equal attention, you can understand why.
As touched upon earlier, Everest is compelling, but uncomfortable, viewing.
I watched it in 3D and the experience was incredibly immersive. It’s the kind of film that demands to be seen on the big screen – much like 2013’s Gravity – and is a story that deserves to be told.
Whether you know what happens or not, Everest is a top notch disaster movie.
Voice Verdict: 8.5/10
+ Top notch cast
+ Incredibly immersive
+ Harrowing true story
+ Spectacular setting
SHOWTIMES
Boston’s West End Cinema (Fri, Sept 25 to Thurs, Oct 1)
**THE MARTIAN (12A)
2.45pm 3D (Wed), 5.30pm 2D (Wed/Thurs), 8.20pm 3D (Wed/Thurs)
**MISS YOU ALREADY (12A)
10am (Sat/Sun), 12.30pm (Sat/Sun/Wed), 3pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Wed), 5.30pm (daily), 8pm (daily)
EVEREST 3D (12A)
12.40pm (Sat/Sun/Wed), 3.20pm (Fri/Sat/Sun), 6pm (daily), 8.40pm (daily)
BILL (PG)
10am (Sat/Sun), 2.15pm (Fri/Wed), 3.45pm (Thurs), 4.30pm (not Wed/Thurs)
THE MAZE RUNNER: SCORCH TRIALS 3D (12A)
Noon (Sat/Sun/Wed), 5.30pm (daily)
THE MAZE RUNNER: SCORCH TRIALS 2D (12A)
2.45pm (Fri/Sat/Sun), 8.20pm (daily)
LEGEND (18)
Noon (Wed), 2.45pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Wed), 5.40pm (daily), 8.30pm (daily)
ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING (12A)
10am (Sat/Sun)
THE VISIT (15)
4pm (Wed/Thurs), 6.35pm (not Wed/Thurs), 8.45pm (not Tues/Wed/Thurs)
INSIDE OUT 2D (U)
2.15pm (Sat/Sun)
PIXELS 2D (12A)
Noon (Sat/Sun)
MINIONS 2D (U)
10am (Sat/Sun)
KIDS’ CLUB
Sat/Sun 10.30am – SHAUN THE SHEEP (U)
SILVER SCREEN
Wed 11.30am – LEGEND (18)
** FREE LIST SUSPENDED
South Holland Centre (Fri, Sept 25 to Thurs, Oct 1)
AMY (15)
7.30pm (Mon)
EVENT CINEMA: ROGER WATERS THE WALL
8pm (Tues)
45 YEARS (15)
2pm (Tues/Wed), 6.30pm (Thurs), 7.30pm (Wed)
