I was really looking forward to this, I love wilderness films. I was slightly looking forward to it less when I realized it was a re-hash of the classic Man in the Wilderness. Its a beautifully shot film with some good moments but it just seems that Hollywood bods get together, select a scenario and inject the same components over and over again. This could have been a war film set in the 1990s, or a 'defense against aliens' film set in 2200. Its the same growling macho performances, tinged with an honor and pride that only seems to exist in the dream world of Hollywood, finishing with a lesson that the human spirit, especially if you are American, seems to know no bounds. Why not tell the story like it is? People don't survive numerous powerful attacks by the same bear, or manage to endlessly dodge weapons, bullets and Indian ambushes. Build the story about what is realistic and inject some subtlety around it. People were simpler in the 19th century - this lot look like they have been spoon fed a cocktail of Tony Robbins and Bear Grylls. People are so impressed with big stars, huge performances, epic music and unworldly cinematography that they can't see that there is just so much padding to this simplistic narrative of growling and fighting. It's an OK film, it will win Oscars. Give me Richard Harris any day over this.
Reviews
3 Reviews
Southcliffe
(2013)
Very brave
6 January 2015
This is the first time I have seen anyone brave enough to point the finger at the community. 'Oddballs' are often as much the product of the community as they are self determination. There are always people in small towns who are picked on and abused, stripped of the self confidence to leave the situation, unable to withstand the status quo. That spree killings don't happen more often I find miraculous. Some people have nothing to lose, society has taken it all away. This is an excellent piece of drama, finely acted, brave enough to remove the focus away from the perpetrator for the majority of the 4 episodes. The really SHOULD have seen it coming.
Oslo, August 31st
(2011)
One way of looking at it
22 December 2014
Warning: Spoilers
This is a good film but personally it doesn't ring true.
Addiction can be devastating. It often is. I speak from personal experience. A relatively lengthy period of abstinence like 10 months can be totally reinvigorating but relapse is not uncommon. The effects of drugs/alcohol cause physical and emotional pain. Anders would at least be feeling positive effects from the relief of the physical pain. This is not apparent.
What is uncommon is that if your life has been totally devastated to the point where you are in enforced rehab, it is unlikely that you would slip back into life in the way the protagonist of the film has. The point of the film seems to be that the life and people you once had are no longer available to you and yet in this film they actually are to a strong degree. He is welcomed by friends, family are understanding, he gets to go to parties with well adjusted, well healed people. The reality, more often than not, is that most people would be giving you a wide berth because of the mess you have created. Norwegian society might be more sympathetic but addiction is still very much a personal 'crime'.
Paradoxically, we are led to believe that the editor would not consider him for the job because of his problems. I find that highly unlikely considering the way Anders presents himself. I would think that a journalist would consider that non judgmentally or at least be keen to appear non judgmental. Some might see such an experience as a useful insight. Anders is not a shambling mess after all.
This isn't a film about the devastating effects of drug addiction, this is a film about an individual who is unable to come to terms with life, his experience of drug addiction is a facet of that and his privileged circumstances are uncommon. His life is all around him, he fails to see it. That can be true of someone with or without addiction problems. Look around the streets in the poor areas of any city if you want to see what drugs do to people. A short stint in rehab seldom leads you to nice parties sipping moet chandon with attractive young upwardly mobiles.
Addiction can be devastating. It often is. I speak from personal experience. A relatively lengthy period of abstinence like 10 months can be totally reinvigorating but relapse is not uncommon. The effects of drugs/alcohol cause physical and emotional pain. Anders would at least be feeling positive effects from the relief of the physical pain. This is not apparent.
What is uncommon is that if your life has been totally devastated to the point where you are in enforced rehab, it is unlikely that you would slip back into life in the way the protagonist of the film has. The point of the film seems to be that the life and people you once had are no longer available to you and yet in this film they actually are to a strong degree. He is welcomed by friends, family are understanding, he gets to go to parties with well adjusted, well healed people. The reality, more often than not, is that most people would be giving you a wide berth because of the mess you have created. Norwegian society might be more sympathetic but addiction is still very much a personal 'crime'.
Paradoxically, we are led to believe that the editor would not consider him for the job because of his problems. I find that highly unlikely considering the way Anders presents himself. I would think that a journalist would consider that non judgmentally or at least be keen to appear non judgmental. Some might see such an experience as a useful insight. Anders is not a shambling mess after all.
This isn't a film about the devastating effects of drug addiction, this is a film about an individual who is unable to come to terms with life, his experience of drug addiction is a facet of that and his privileged circumstances are uncommon. His life is all around him, he fails to see it. That can be true of someone with or without addiction problems. Look around the streets in the poor areas of any city if you want to see what drugs do to people. A short stint in rehab seldom leads you to nice parties sipping moet chandon with attractive young upwardly mobiles.
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