I reviewed Against the Sun for Rogerebert.com. I have a fascination with survivalist stories, human beings making it out of horrendous encounters with Mother Nature, or whatever. Against the Sun is the true story of three downed airmen in WWII who had to take to a life raft in the middle of the Pacific, with no food, no water, no supplies of any kind.
There are only three actors in the movie (the biggest name is Tom Felton). I am placing this under the Supernatural tag because one of the three men in the life raft is played by Jake Abel, aka Adam Winchester/Milligan. He’s excellent. They all are.
Yay! Adam isn’t burning in hell any more – he’s in a life raft!! With Draco Malfoy!!! Double yay!!!!
WW2-airmen-in-life-raft stories seem to be a Thing at the moment.
Yeah, the timing may be a bit of a bummer for the Against the Sun people – since it’s come out right after Unbroken, which I wrote about in the piece.
But I love these types of stories – when done well – and this one is done really well!
Three guys in a raft, having to figure it out. It’s terrifying. It makes me think: “How would I deal with it? Could I … you know … stab a shark with my knife if I had to?” I like to think I would rise to the occasion – but these films are so gripping (for me anyway) because of that worry/concern that I wouldn’t make it.
Touching the Void (for me) is one of the best survivalist stories ever written. It scared the shit out of me. And the MOVIE. I read that book and literally could not get it out of my head for DAYS. That man’s various feats are beyond inspiring. They are on another plane of Will, the Will to survive – the mental toughness, the sheer chutzpah required … UnbeLIEVable story.
Anyway, go, Jake Abel! He’s wonderful.
I hope people check out the movie, Supernatural fan or no.
//Touching the Void (for me) is one of the best survivalist stories ever written. And the MOVIE.//
The movie was so gripping. An amazing story which lost none of its nailbitingness (will he survive or not) by having its protagonist sitting right there telling you the whole story. If anything, it added to it immeasurably, as my jaw dropped progressively wider with each part of the story. So next, he did what? Hauled himself out of a deep crevasse with a broken leg? Crawled down the mountain on his elbows? Finally reaches the just a stone’s throw from his friend and hallucinates Bony M? Just amazing.
I’m so glad you saw it!
Yes, it really helped to have him telling the story.
The thing that haunted me – and seemed to haunt him in his book – was the moment in that crevasse when he realized that in order to get out, he would have to go DOWN into it. Down into that gaping maw of nothing-ness. Not even knowing if there would be an opening at the other end. But he could not climb up – he had to go down. Into the void.
Unbelievable.
And yes, each step of the way – complete obstacle in his path. My God.
and I know – Draco!! Ha!
He’s having a really interesting career – and I kind of love where it’s going. He was a total racist sleaze-ball in Belle from last year – soooo good – have you seen it yet? And here he plays a kind of simple happy guy, who is the “follower” of the group of three in the raft – the other two are the clear leaders, and there are power shifts and struggles between the two of them. But Draco Malfoy is a sort of “Yessir, Sarge” kind of guy.
He’s great!
//He was a total racist sleaze-ball in Belle from last year – soooo good – have you seen it yet//
I did see Belle, after reading your review. I’m glad Felton’s getting interesting roles, not just Draco-types.
I liked a lot about Belle, primarily the performances, and especially Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who brought such freshness and intelligence to the role. I did have a problem with rather clunky dialogue which had every character stating very clearly how wrong such and such a thing was, or signposting how retrograde their personal politics were. Not much subtext there. However, there was a great feeling of intellectual awakening, rising energy and commitment mainly coming from Mbatha-Raw. She really carried the film, for me.
I also noticed one of the scenes (between Tom Wilkinson and Alex Jennings – the dads, basically) was filmed in my old college library. (I’ve mentioned this place before in library conversations). I spotted the statue of Queen Philippa of Hainault in the background and for a moment was undonewith excitement.
Mbatha-Raw is really a marvel. Watching Belle practically back to back with Beyond the Lights made me do a double-take. Her talent feels extremely MAJOR.
The sexualized quality of institutional racism was one of the things that I really liked in the script – something that Django Unchained and 12 Years a Slave also made explicit. How Belle was sexualized – for no reason other than her skin color. That’s an element that hasn’t gotten enough discussion – but I do see what you are saying about some of the dialogue. I was amazed that the film worked as well as it did, considering the sheer scope of its story (mixed-race girl raised as white girl, brave family, inter-racial marriage proposals, ground-breaking court case, etc. etc. It was a lot.)
Love that about the library!! – now I’m trying to picture the scene. Was it supposed to be at Tom Wilkinson’s estate or elsewhere?
//How Belle was sexualized – for no reason other than her skin color.//
No, that’s a great point. It’s the unspoken story of her mother too …