Vertical Limit
3/4
Starring: Chris O'Donnell, Robin Tunney, Bill Paxton, Scott Glenn, Nicolas Lea, Izabella Scorupco, Steve Le Marquand, Ben Mendelsohn
Rated PG-13 for Intense Life/Death Situations and Brief Strong Language
"Vertical Limit" succeeds because of the excellent staging by director Martin Campbell. The film is Screenplay 101 (okay, it's well written for an action movie, but still), but because of the top-notch performances and especially the energetic direction, this movie is a real winner.
Peter Garrett (O'Donnell) and his sister Annie (Tunney) have been climbers all their lives. They were taught how by their father, renowned climber Royce Garrett (Stuart Wilson). After a tragedy on a climb, Peter hasn't been on a mountain since. Annie, however, has become internationally famous, which brings her into contact with business mogul Elliot Vaughn (Paxton). Vaughn wants to climb to the top of K2 and wave on the inaugural flight of his new airline, and he's hired Annie and expert guide Tom McLaren (Lea) to help him do it. The team is on schedule until a storm they thought was going to pass by hits them head on, and they get trapped in a cave. Now, it's up to a new team, led by Peter and a hermit named Montgomery Wick (Glenn) to make a speed ascent to rescue them.
The acting is solid across the board, including two performances that are very good. Chris O'Donnell, a fine young actor whose career turned to TV and independent film after this movie (for reasons I can't understand). He's the ideal lead character: tough, but sympathetic and vulnerable. We can feel his emotions and believe that he cares about Annie enough to launch this expedition, which many (of course) say is pointless, or worse, suicidal. Robin Tunney is adorable as his sister Annie. We're always praying that she makes it out okay. Scott Glenn is suitably mysterious. and Izabella Scorupco (in her second movie for Martin Campbell, after the classic Bond movie "GoldenEye") is in fine form as a nurse who tags along (although her scream has not improved. Steve Le Marquand and Ben Mendelsohn would provide effective comic relief if I could understand what the hell they were saying.
The two standouts among the cast are Bill Paxton (no surprises there) and Nicolas Lea. Bill Paxton is in top form as Vaughn. The Texas mogul is likable, charismatic, and a good showman. But he's also egotistic, selfish and, worse, untrustworthy. He claims to have everyone's interest at heart, but when push comes to shove, the only one he really cares about is himself. Nicolas Lea is also very good as Tom McLaren. It would be easy to go overboard to drain the audience's tearducts, but McLaren successfully avoids that trap. As the gravely injured member of the party, it's rarely easy to watch him onscreen and not feel like you got hit in the gut.
Martin Campbell is one of the most underrated action directors out there. He gets work, but people don't know his name. "GoldenEye" saved the Bond franchise from death, and turned out to be one of the in the franchise. He also was behind the second reboot, with "Casino Royale." He also directed "Green Lantern," one of the best superhero movies in recent years (which had an undeserving reception). Campbell knows exactly how to stage an action scene while wringing out as much adrenaline as possible. "Vertical Limit" earns its tagline. Hold your breath, indeed.
Starring: Chris O'Donnell, Robin Tunney, Bill Paxton, Scott Glenn, Nicolas Lea, Izabella Scorupco, Steve Le Marquand, Ben Mendelsohn
Rated PG-13 for Intense Life/Death Situations and Brief Strong Language
"Vertical Limit" succeeds because of the excellent staging by director Martin Campbell. The film is Screenplay 101 (okay, it's well written for an action movie, but still), but because of the top-notch performances and especially the energetic direction, this movie is a real winner.
Peter Garrett (O'Donnell) and his sister Annie (Tunney) have been climbers all their lives. They were taught how by their father, renowned climber Royce Garrett (Stuart Wilson). After a tragedy on a climb, Peter hasn't been on a mountain since. Annie, however, has become internationally famous, which brings her into contact with business mogul Elliot Vaughn (Paxton). Vaughn wants to climb to the top of K2 and wave on the inaugural flight of his new airline, and he's hired Annie and expert guide Tom McLaren (Lea) to help him do it. The team is on schedule until a storm they thought was going to pass by hits them head on, and they get trapped in a cave. Now, it's up to a new team, led by Peter and a hermit named Montgomery Wick (Glenn) to make a speed ascent to rescue them.
The acting is solid across the board, including two performances that are very good. Chris O'Donnell, a fine young actor whose career turned to TV and independent film after this movie (for reasons I can't understand). He's the ideal lead character: tough, but sympathetic and vulnerable. We can feel his emotions and believe that he cares about Annie enough to launch this expedition, which many (of course) say is pointless, or worse, suicidal. Robin Tunney is adorable as his sister Annie. We're always praying that she makes it out okay. Scott Glenn is suitably mysterious. and Izabella Scorupco (in her second movie for Martin Campbell, after the classic Bond movie "GoldenEye") is in fine form as a nurse who tags along (although her scream has not improved. Steve Le Marquand and Ben Mendelsohn would provide effective comic relief if I could understand what the hell they were saying.
The two standouts among the cast are Bill Paxton (no surprises there) and Nicolas Lea. Bill Paxton is in top form as Vaughn. The Texas mogul is likable, charismatic, and a good showman. But he's also egotistic, selfish and, worse, untrustworthy. He claims to have everyone's interest at heart, but when push comes to shove, the only one he really cares about is himself. Nicolas Lea is also very good as Tom McLaren. It would be easy to go overboard to drain the audience's tearducts, but McLaren successfully avoids that trap. As the gravely injured member of the party, it's rarely easy to watch him onscreen and not feel like you got hit in the gut.
Martin Campbell is one of the most underrated action directors out there. He gets work, but people don't know his name. "GoldenEye" saved the Bond franchise from death, and turned out to be one of the in the franchise. He also was behind the second reboot, with "Casino Royale." He also directed "Green Lantern," one of the best superhero movies in recent years (which had an undeserving reception). Campbell knows exactly how to stage an action scene while wringing out as much adrenaline as possible. "Vertical Limit" earns its tagline. Hold your breath, indeed.
Comments
Post a Comment