Film Review: Everest (Baltasar Kormákur, 2015) ★★★

(Image Source- Universal Studios)
Based on the true events of the 1996 Disaster, Everest follows a team of adventurers led by experienced climber, Rob Hall (Jason Clarke) on their quest to summit Mount Everest. Hit by a snow storm, the expedition soon turns to tragedy as the climbers battle the odds to get down the mountain and survive the unforgiving conditions. 

(Image Source - Universal Studios)
Our disaster movie opens to the team as they set course for Nepal, all with the same dream in mind to conquer the highest peak on Earth. Before they make their way to the first camp, their leader (Clarke), talks them through the deadly expedition. What plays out over the next two hours and thirty minutes illustrates his lecture further. First up, we meet our adventurers; Rob - a husband with a baby on the way back home with wife Jan (Keira Knightly), alpha-dog texan Beck Weathers (Josh Brolin), mailman with a dream, Doug Hansen (John Hawkes) and attempting her seventh and final peak, Yasuko Namba (Naoko Mori). Assisted by journalist Jon Krakauer (Michael Kelly), the team prepare for their trek but there's a problem once they reach Base Camp. With other amateur climbing companies looking to summit the same day as them, the window to reach the top is limited and the building rivalry causes team members to be unfit and unprepared. 

(Image Source - Universal Studios)
In many ways, the film is much like it's premise. Over crowded with famous faces and so many characters, the plot becomes a little too widely spread and lacks in the vitals. Whilst it finds room for Doug, Beck's family, both Rob and Scott Fisher (Jake Gyllenhaal) as rival guides, and for Rob's pregnant wife - all stories are dramatic but all are obstructed. This makes the film's finale, somewhat of an anti-climax then when the films major plot points appear to be washed over. Despite a devastating finish and some moving scenes, as spectators we are not given enough development to truly know our protagonists. This makes for a disaster tale with only half a heart. 

(Image Source - Universal Studios)
Everest sees some excellent performances and some spectacular special effects and visuals. Though there are a few dodgy CGI moments, overall Everest is stunning and utterly believable, paying great respect to the real-life victims. Whilst I don't believe this will be scooping up much come Oscar season, Everest gets a Sophie star rating of 3 out of 5 stars - a noble quest that never quite reaches its summit. 

That's it for another film review. I'm getting pretty excited for the coming month's and Oscar season heating up. There's some amazing titles due out over the coming weeks and I cannot wait to see each and every one. Have you seen Everest yet? What do you think of it? As always, I love reading your comments so you know where to leave them. 

Have a great week film lovers,









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2 comments

  1. personally i was not a fan of this film and thought the cast weren't given much to work with

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    1. Yeah I agree, it had an amazing cast but sadly had a little too much going on. Some of the deaths themselves are somewhat brushed over which is a shame. Great cast though, worked with what they had :)

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