MovieChat Forums > Free Solo (2018) Discussion > Awesome but empty

Awesome but empty

posted 5 years ago by Heisenberg (6323)
9 replies | jump to latest

The movie is good, it's a nice little documentary with an extraordinary feat captured on film.
It's quite empty, as it tries to make a few interesting points (like his personal issues and the mental state these climbers have to be in) but barely scratches the surface.

The filmmakers knew what's the hook of this doc, and bet everything on it.
In better hands it could have been a way deeper and more interesting film, but for what it is it's good nonetheless, just in light of the last half hour of awesomeness.

[–] Otter (24464) 5 years ago

I completely disagree, I thought it was more suspenseful than any "suspense" genre film, even though I knew how it ended while I was watching it. The danger was REAL, man, every second of the climb, every move made on that cliff face would have resulted in an ugly spattering death if it went wrong, and the fact that it didn't was the result of superhuman skill.

So I found the movie tremendously affecting, it offered real danger and suspense, real death-defying stunts instead of the usual fake ones, human interest, and of course a visual feast of staggering natural beauty. I loved every minute of it.

[–] Heisenberg (6323) 5 years ago

Otter, what are you talking about?
Of course it was suspenseful, more than any suspense film, because it is real action.
Nobody denies that, anybody can see that. The climbing action is great in its own merits, it's awesome, but I was commenting on this movie, which is a doc about this suspenseful event: any idiot can take a camera and point it to some awesome feat like this one, that's not enough for me to call it a great doc.
This movie only managed to get SOME great high def images of that action, never goes much deeper than that.

In a great movie about this event, I would add:
1-know this guy and his backstory, his motivations and what pushes him
2-understand what's at stake here: is he risking losing something other than his life?
3-explain how great is this feat: I'm not a climbing expert, give us more history/infos
4-get better images of the action: too many diagrams drawing his path, I wanna see him doing it, maybe to some montage, some faster editing or fast forward the action but show him, not a drawing
5- above all, give this material to somebody like Werner Herzog (or me) and you'll have a scrutiny of the human spirit, life and death, nature's impenetrability, man vs nature, death wishes, beauty, the quest for immortality, the emptiness of anything we do.
Give it to these bozos, and you have a Red Bull commercial with a shitty girlfriend.

[–] Otter (24464) 5 years ago

Dude, if you sit there imagining better documentaries being made instead of enjoying the really good ones, then you ought to take up documentary filmmaking!

[–] Heisenberg (6323) 5 years ago

Ok, I guess your critique of my attitude is valid, I agree with you. But you know what they say, those who can't do it, become a critic:-) I'm just saying that the ones doing it, who "can do it", could have done a better job.

[–] DaveBowman2001 (472) 4 years ago

Ditto for me. I knew how it ended, having seen other documentaries on him, but it's still nerve wracking and sweaty palm watching action. I appreciated the brain science included, the struggle with the relationship, the reaction to other deaths, the family history, etc.

He didn't want tons of people watching and I don't blame him. And no, it's not a simple task to film on the side of El Capitan. There's a lot of planning (they showed this). Waiting, nervousness, climbing and moving that gear, worrying about weather, lighting, crowds, other climbers, Alex's mindset, staying out of the way. These dudes had to climb ahead of him to get some of the shots without interfering or distracting him, flying drones too (would require a special permission in a NP). I don't envy them. Esp if the worst happened.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

I thought it was a good balance of covering the climber, the climb and the obstacle. Meru was also well done.

[–] TheArgentinian (6445) 5 years ago

How much of the actual climbing is there? The last 20 minutes or so? I found that disappointing. Not that I disliked knowing about his personal life.

[–] liscarkat (16543) 3 years ago

Even though I knew he wasn't going to die, I jumped a little every time he slipped. I have next-to-zero interest in climbing, yet I was entertained. This is the definition of a successful film.

[–] Heisenberg (6323) 3 years ago

Being entertained?
That's a pretty modest expectation.
I guess we have a different view of cinema and arts.