Robert Redford has been an actor I've loved and hated. I've
loved him when he was acting in roles that were memorable. I've hated him when
he chose to force his political views into his roles. When I saw that ALL IS
LOST was coming out I was afraid it would be just another film where his
environmental views were the sole function of the film. I was pleasantly
surprised to find I was wrong.
ALL IS LOST is a different kind of movie. There is perhaps
one page of dialogue in the whole film, most of that spoken off camera as the
film opens. Within minutes we are taken back 8 days to when all that follows is
set in motion.
Redford plays the man, a nameless character in his mid
seventies who wakes to find water flowing into his sailboat. He notes a hole in
the side of the cabin and goes topside to find out what happened. A shipping
container lost from a cargo ship is floating in the vast ocean, releasing tons
of low costs tennis shoes and it's corner is inserted into side of his boat.
First he must get his boat unattached from the container and then repair it.
He does this never breaking a sweat. Redford's character is
cool under stress and uses his mind to great advantage. Making minor repairs he
sets out to see what damage was done. Of course his radio was right under where
the puncture took place leaving him with no way to call for help. Knowing he
must take care of himself he does just that. But if that's all that happened
this movie would have been about 80 minutes shorter.
If anything can go wrong it does. Obstacles like fresh
water, food rationing, eventually a storm that re-damages his boat and more all
become obstacles he must surmount. And while his cool attitude contends with
each obstacle it's clear to see on his face that each one is taking its toll.
His character isn't as simple as you believe when the film starts. Instead you
see how each item changes him and forces him to evaluate everything going on
around him. At his age should he invest so much time and effort into trying to
remain alive? Will help reach him in time should he carry on? Has he done all
that he could to survive?
All of these questions come not from the words Redford
speaks because with the exception of one loudly yelled expletive there are no
words. All of these thoughts and questions are written on his face, acted out
for the viewer to surmise while watching. That's a difficult task for any actor
and Redford steps up to the plate with his performance. As the film moves
forward you root for him to make it and fear that there is no hope of his doing
so. It tugs at you, wanting something good to happen to him and then feeling
crushed with each new obstacle tossed his way.
As for environmental concerns none are voiced here but at
the same time the majesty of nature surrounds Redford and his character from
start to finish. The thought that here we have a singular person in the middle
of an ocean filled with life and possibly about to lose his ties into the
concept that no matter what happens in this planet, nature will rule in the
end. That isn't a political statement, just a fact of life.
The good in this film is twofold. First there is the
performance I've talked about. Secondly is the crew and the amazing work
they've done here. To capture the vast ocean at its best and its worst would
not be an easy task. But they've done just that, offering vistas of tremendous
calm and beauty alongside the dangerous, dark storms that wreak havoc. When you
discover, if you watch the extras, just how this was accomplished it makes you
appreciate all the efforts that went into the production of this film.
The bad about this movie is that if you don't know what to
expect when you see it, and a tad even if you do, then it could be seen as
incredibly boring. Like I said, no dialogue, little in the way of action as
seen in most films and lots of just watching an actor attempt to convey what is
going on inside his character's head doesn't make for a movie that makes you
jump up now and then. Instead the slow pace means some will hate it while
others will understand just what they are watching. Go in expecting it to move
slow at first and not speed up much later. Don't watch it if you are in need of
a nap.
In the end I did enjoy the movie. Twenty minutes in I wasn't
sure. By the time it finished I found that it was much better than I expected
and much better than I thought early on. Stick with it and you'll find that
this movie does what Hollywood does best; it entertains and makes you think at
the same time.
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