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Movie Review
Touching the Void
By Lee Tistaert Published February 21, 2004
US Release: January 23, 2004
Directed by: Kevin Macdonald
Starring: Nicholas Aaron , Richard Hawking , Brendan Mackey , Simon Yates
R
Running Time: 106 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $4,581,000
Directed by: Kevin Macdonald
Starring: Nicholas Aaron , Richard Hawking , Brendan Mackey , Simon Yates
R
Running Time: 106 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $4,581,000
B
12 of 120
It is the horror of the moment and the imagining of what it would be like to be in such a situation that delivers such a haunting and truly gripping film.
Touching the Void is the intense rollercoaster ride that Vertical Limit should have been. However, keep in mind that this is not an action movie. The journey is a powerful one, but on an emotional level. It is the horror of the moment and the imagining of what it would be like to be in such a situation that delivers a gripping film.
What?s remarkable is that the end result is rather predictable and yet the film has us in tight grips, as we don?t know what will happen at every step of the way. For a movie that recaptures an adventure that had already taken place almost twenty years ago, the film depicts a terrifying sense of realism, as the performances, cinematography, and use of editing are captivating.
Touching the Void is based on a true story about two good friends, Simon and Joe, who are very ambitious mountain climbers. Confronted with the obstacle of climbing the Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes (in 1985), they were warned not to take the risk, as others had failed in the attempt. Relentless, Simon and Joe claimed that they could do it, and this is their story.
What?s impressive about Touching the Void is how realistic its depiction is, as if it is all taking place before our eyes; the two performances along with director Kevin Macdonald?s style is very effective. We follow along on the journey up the mountain, which includes periodic narration by both climbers, as they give their comments and reflections. This storytelling method could have easily felt forced or intrusive, but it is executed very well. The story involves the nightmarish conditions they confronted as they got separated on the mountain, and their struggle to survive.
Touching the Void is not a thrill ride in the sense of summer blockbusters, as there aren?t many action sequences. The film is mostly a human drama that expresses the danger of mountain climbing, but its scenarios are universal, making it terrifying to imagine being in such a predicament. I ended up gasping and holding my breath on many an occasion, as the experience is like being right there, feeling the heat of the moment; the two individuals are also very easy to associate with and sympathize with from the very beginning.
The film is not for everyone, as it is not the adrenaline rush that Vertical Limit had promised in its ads, but sometimes it is the human drama that is most terrifying. In a season when movies are known to suck, Touching the Void fills the gap, delivering the kind of film most genre attempts aren't.
What?s remarkable is that the end result is rather predictable and yet the film has us in tight grips, as we don?t know what will happen at every step of the way. For a movie that recaptures an adventure that had already taken place almost twenty years ago, the film depicts a terrifying sense of realism, as the performances, cinematography, and use of editing are captivating.
Touching the Void is based on a true story about two good friends, Simon and Joe, who are very ambitious mountain climbers. Confronted with the obstacle of climbing the Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes (in 1985), they were warned not to take the risk, as others had failed in the attempt. Relentless, Simon and Joe claimed that they could do it, and this is their story.
What?s impressive about Touching the Void is how realistic its depiction is, as if it is all taking place before our eyes; the two performances along with director Kevin Macdonald?s style is very effective. We follow along on the journey up the mountain, which includes periodic narration by both climbers, as they give their comments and reflections. This storytelling method could have easily felt forced or intrusive, but it is executed very well. The story involves the nightmarish conditions they confronted as they got separated on the mountain, and their struggle to survive.
Touching the Void is not a thrill ride in the sense of summer blockbusters, as there aren?t many action sequences. The film is mostly a human drama that expresses the danger of mountain climbing, but its scenarios are universal, making it terrifying to imagine being in such a predicament. I ended up gasping and holding my breath on many an occasion, as the experience is like being right there, feeling the heat of the moment; the two individuals are also very easy to associate with and sympathize with from the very beginning.
The film is not for everyone, as it is not the adrenaline rush that Vertical Limit had promised in its ads, but sometimes it is the human drama that is most terrifying. In a season when movies are known to suck, Touching the Void fills the gap, delivering the kind of film most genre attempts aren't.
Lee's Grade: B
Ranked #12 of 120 between Manchurian Candidate (#11) and Open Water (#13) for 2004 movies.
Ranked #12 of 120 between Manchurian Candidate (#11) and Open Water (#13) for 2004 movies.
Lee's Overall Grading: 3025 graded movies
| A | 0.4% | |
| B | 30.0% | |
| C | 61.7% | |
| D | 8.0% | |
| F | 0.0% |
