FILM REVIEWS
ous power it can wield over men’s minds and tells the story of George Mallory who embarked on the fi rst British expedition to Mount Everest, never to return. In 1999, present-day mountaineer Conrad Anker (weirdly, a dead ringer for Aaron Eckhart) found Mallory’s frozen body, and his obsession with the British climber began. As a result, the fi lm interweaves extraordinary archive fi lm shot on Mal- lory’s fateful ascent with equally audacious modern-day footage of Anker’s attempt, with young British climber Leo Holding, to free-climb Everest’s infamous Second Step, just as Mallory tried to in 1924. WILDEST DREAM: The Himalayas are naturally cinematic THE CONQUEST OF EVEREST and the stunning aerial cinematography DIRECToR AnTHOnY gEFFEn gives the fi lm a majestic sweep, aided RELEASED SEPTEMBER 10TH by Liam Neeson’s powerful narration. CERT TBC However, The Wildest Dream draws its true NATIONAL GEOGRAPHICAL ENTERTAINMENT emotional power from the correspondence THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES As the highest point on Earth, Mount Ever- between Mallory and his wife Ruth, read DIRECToR JUAn JOSE CAMPAnELLA est has a dangerous allure, especially for by Ralph Fiennes and the late Natasha RELEASED AUgUST 13TH those people brave, or foolish, enough to Richardson, which demonstrates the depth CERT 18 climb it. of their love, but also the fatal power of his METRODOME The Wildest Dream is a fascinating obsession. Richly deserving of this year’s best foreign documentary that explores the danger- 7/10 BEN STEvENS language Oscar, this impeccably crafted Argentinean trawl through the human condi- tion draws its audience in and never lets go until the closing frame. Like a classic novel, it encompasses THE ILLUSIONIST many disparate subjects - love and evil, DIRECToR SYLVAIn CHOMET the passing of time, loneliness and desire; RELEASED AUgUST 23RD and yet has the resonance of truth that all CERT TBC great works share and has the fi nesse to PATHÉ bring everything together in one literate and Based upon a lost script by French compelling whole. fi lmmaker Jacques Tati, the story behind The story stretches across twenty-fi ve The Illusionist’s production is fascinat- years as newly retired criminal court em- ing in its own right. But ignorance of that ployee Benjamin Espósito (Ricardo Darin) narrative isn’t an obstacle to the appre- decides to write a novel based around a ciation of this rewarding animation. tragic case of rape and murder that he was The illusionist is disillusioned as his once assigned to. Switching between the antiquated art is slowly killed by the older Esposito’s growing obsession with emerging thrills of rock ‘n’ roll. Dispirit- the inconclusive investigation as well as his ing gigs take him to Edinburgh where unrequited love for his younger, beautiful the adoration of the youthful Sophie and socially elevated ex-boss (Soledad Vil- reinvigorates his mojo. lamil) and the case itself, the movie’s sophis- The fi lm’s wonderfully detailed visu- ticated script artfully goes from noir-style als give the unhurried plot a magical creepiness to love story to out-and-out element in spite of its saddening conclu- horror within its packed running time. But sion. Unfl inchingly honest, The Illusion- there are no easy answers and it would be ist is a gently charming wonder. a disservice to the mastery of the writing, 8/10 BEN HoPKiNS acting and production on display to try and pigeonhole a single scene or character. A truly wonderful cinematic experience. 9/10 RoB MoNk
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