Laafite

(2012-04-27 16:40:58)

Clunky drama but this will be remembered for its sense of history

The Way Back is a big film, as other reviewers have commented. TheGulag scenes at the start were immense, and the dramatic tension washeld for two hours. The escapees journey, the heart of the plot, wascredible - most of the time. Was it poor editing or simply a gap in thestoryline that caused the film to jump jerkily across large parts of acontinent, fast forward across the Trans Siberian Railway without evena frame of action, and to 'miss' the Hymalayas almost entirely? And fora journey of such magnitude without anything like adequate nourishmentthe guys that made it managed to maintain their weight and fleshthroughout.The controversy surrounding the veracity of the published story mayhave impacted negatively on the film but despite this Peter Weir hassucceeded in subtly weaving in much more historical background thanmany 'historical' films deem necessary. Film goers went to see anaction film but will have absorbed more understanding of thecatastrophic and deadly events in Poland and Russia of the period thanperhaps they realised on coming out of the movie.My interest was kindled after hearing accounts from two friends,separately, of their Polish fathers' journeys from prison camps inRussia in the middle of WW2. Both were released after being grantedamnesty - Hitler had just invaded Russia and Polish captives wereoffered the chance to fight for the allies. Both made their way toTehran in Persia, a journey of similar epic proportions but this time(two years later than the events in the film) with the approval, if notthe material support, of the Russians. Not Siberia, and no Gulagbreakout, but a historic episode all the same, one experienced bythousands of Poles who had been incarcerated after the invasion oftheir country in 1939.

twen63

(2012-04-27 14:49:52)

Long time coming

OK, I confess I haven't yet seen this film, but have no doubt about myjoy at knowing that this story will reach a wider audience. I firstread "The Long Walk" as a child of ten. How it was on the sparsebookshelves of a 1970's, 3 room, rural school I don't know. With itsgraphic depictions of the Gulags, deprivation and exodus The Long Walkwas the first truly adult story I had read. The experience of the bookled me to literature of political struggle and deeply influenced myapproach to the rest of the world. Congratulations to all who nursed itinto production, 50 odd years after it was written. Kudos to Peter Weirwho I trust with the story and let's get to the cinema!

(2012-04-24 23:42:49)

The Long Walk, book form

I haven't seen this as yet, I only learned of it yesterday. I know if it's half as good as the book the movie will be outstanding. Read the book. Sue N. Cinti. Oh.

bob the moo

(2012-04-24 03:17:45)

Solid story that looks great but is told with far too much reverence and respect – to the point of being hard to engage with emotionally

A group of men break free from the security and barbed wire fence of aSiberian gulag in search of freedom, however the guards are very smallbeer to the real prison – the ravages of nature itself and the greatdistance which must be crossed before they can be truly free.Given that the focus of the film appeared to be one of endurance in theface of great suffering, this film is a bit of a hard sell for thecasual viewer looking for something to watch of an evening; certainlyfor me this was part of the reason it took me a minute to decide towatch it. While it was an OK film, I'm not entirely sure if it wasworth the two hours plus that it took to watch because it gives theviewer very little to engage with in doing so. The story is impressivein terms of the toll and also the sacrifice involved and accordinglythe film wears it very seriously indeed. Hollywood excess is avoidedand any crass sentimentality is absent, both of which I appreciatedbeing omitted and restrained, and Weir documents the journey with asolemn air throughout. The first problem is that it feels like you'rein a church – bowed with reverence witnessing things of importance butnot really engaging with them because you're not really worthy. Thisfeeling of worthiness really kept me at arms' length from thecharacters and the challenge they faced, to the point where it felt alittle indifferent towards any specific one of them – not in a cruelway, but the feat appears to have been the focus rather than thepeople.This is still able to make an interesting film though, because the featis quite a thing and, as I said, the film is very careful to do itjustice and not sentimentalise or trivialise it. This is my secondproblem with it – it probably overdoes it in this regard consideringthat so much of the story is questionable. I try not to let "facts" getin the way of enjoying a good movie because as a Brit I am used toseeing Hollywood twist history to make it more sellable to the mid-Westetc. Thing is though, it is hard to accept that this is a good storywhen the film emphasises that it is true and also treats it with suchreverence and respect for fear of getting it "wrong". Quite how one canget it "wrong" when so much of it is in doubt is anyone's guess, butthe film takes this route and it hurts it in the process. It stillmakes for a very sturdy film but there without caring about thecharacters or really feeling in their trial, it didn't do a terriblelot else for me and I was surprised by how much of it I was just ableto watch with very little involvement other than my eyes and ears.One thing the film does do really well though is the delivery (visuallyspeaking of course). The locations are immense and are put on thescreen by director Peter Weir and cinematographer Russell Boyd in sucha way that captures not only their natural beauty but also the sheer,uncompromising size of the places. It looks great throughout and I wassurprised when I looked it up to find that Boyd didn't even merit anOscar nomination for his work here (although it is an award categorythat has yet to give one to Roger Deakins so no surprise). It perhapscontributions to the "look at this epic story" worthiness that the filmhas, but in the case of the looks, it is worth it.The cast also match the worthy tone and don't have a lot of time forcharacter in between portraying hardship and perseverance. Sturgessstruggles to really make an impression but he is OK in a central role.He is fortunate though to have Harris, Strong and Farrell with him,because they both bring presence and charisma in a way that looks easy.The rest of the group are good as well, but they also struggle to makean impression in all the worthiness.The Way Back is an interesting film that looks great, but it is alsooverly worthy and serious to a point that it is hard to really engagewith it because it is hard to reach the characters on the pedestal thatWeir puts them on.

sunraider

(2012-04-24 05:51:38)

Good but runs out of steam at the end

I had avoided seeing this movie for some time because the critics hadnot been too kind to it. But I finally gave it a chance and am glad Idid. It's a long journey, but what kept me interested were thespectacular visuals and the fact that I liked the little group ofdisparate characters that had banded together. It didn't matter thatindividual character development was slight; I liked the "group." I wasparticularly pleased that the film didn't resort to the clichГѓВ© ofhaving a traitor emerge who sells out the group. This group were decentpeople (even Coin Farrell's criminal has some honor) and they didn'tturn on each other. When members succumbed to the elements it wasbecause they simply couldn't withstand the physical punishment anymore,not because the other group members had cheated them out of their shareof food or left them behind. The most tender scene was when the lonefemale of the group is on her last legs and one of the men scoops herup in his arms and carries her while she pleads with them to simplyleave her behind.The film can be divided into three parts--Gulag, forest & desert trek,and crossing the Himalyas to freedom in India. Unfortunately, the lastpart of the film feels rushed. Crossing the Himalyas on foot whenyou're already half starved and recovering from frostbite and otherailments is quite a feat and deserved more attention than was givenhere. In addition, the actual conclusion or ending is emotionallyunsatisfying. We're told nothing about any of the survivors except themain character and even with him it's not much. He goes back to Polandonce communism collapses in Europe in 1989--but what did he do afterreaching India? Fight with the partisans; go to America? What did theothers do? If the "author" of the book on which this is based didn'tknow, then say so. At least give us something to take away with usafter following these characters on such a long and arduous journey.

(2012-04-23 19:48:57)

"We are not criminals. We are escaping from criminals."

THE WAY BACK (USA/United Arab Emirates-2010) is based on an actual event: the WWII escape of six men from a Siberian gulag. They cut through a barbed wire fence during a blizzard and head south toward a large lake and the Mongolian border, both some 300 miles away. Struggling through dense forest and 40 below temperatures with very little food on hand, they barely make it.At the lake, where they're able to catch fish and grow healthy again, the men meet up with a young teen girl who escaped from a collective workhouse. The seven set out for Mongolia, but once at the border they're confronted by a placard with a red star and Stalin's likeness on it, an indication this country won't be welcoming to escapees of Soviet captivity. Six of them press on for Tibet across the deadly Gobi desert; one remains in Siberia. Now they must endure a broiling sun, no shade or water and a massive sandstorm.Two more die. In Tibet, they have to traverse the Himilayas. Ultimately, three make it to India after walking 4,000 miles across some of the harshest places on Earth. It's an incredible story of tenacity against the longest of odds.Ed Harris (as an American arrested in Moscow at war's outbreak) and Colin Farrell (a Russian street thief) are part of the fine international cast. Farrell is exceptional. He brings subtlety to a character that could easily have been a caricature. This is easily his best film work. The scenery is impressive, dangers palpable and the story grueling in many places. We suffer along with these freedom-seekers every step of the way. A most impressive motion picture from director Peter Weir. Highest recommendation!

(2012-04-19 06:03:53)

Another intimate epic from Weir

Peter Weir is great at capturing epic stories that somehow maintain a sense of intimacy. This is another example, with a group of prisoners escaping the Siberian Gulag and trekking thousands of miles to freedom in India in 1940. The cast is superb, the locations are stunning, and you can't help feeling sympathy for them as they suffer hunger, thirst, swollen legs, some deaths, constant danger from all around, etc. I still wonder if it was just one small group or if there were more, or if any other escaped. We do not know. We are also not told the fate of all those who survived the escape attempt.All in all, though, this is a must-see.

paudie

(2012-04-19 04:07:35)

Decent rather than outstanding drama

It's a mark of the quality of Peter Weir's work to date that you expectsomething special when you are going to see one of his movies. Perhapsthis is the reason I felt slightly disappointed with "The Way Back".It is a good movie that tells a inspiring story based on actual events.During World War II a group of men escape from a Siberian camp forpolitical prisoners and trek on foot for thousands of miles to freedom.This story is told perfectly well by Weir. There is greatcinematography in a varied series of landscapes and some harrowingscenes both before and after the escape. However the movie didn't staywith me for any time after seeing it.There is a high quality cast, featuring Ed Harris, Colin Farrell andSaoirse Ronan.I'd describe "The Way Back" as a well-made drama that is worth seeingon DVD rather than arranging babysitters etc for a trip to the cinema.

sgbhtri

(2012-04-17 20:12:36)

Good movie with shady practical issues.

The way back is a good movie albeit with a lot of things that you wishwere different with it. The ending for example and the fact that theycrossed the entire of Mongolia and entire of China to reach Tibetwithout eating much and then they cross the Himalayas ??? Hello? What?tired and sick from walking that much they finally reach Lhasa and theyhave everything there shelter, food, water and they don't even wait torecuperate. And then crossing the freaking Himalayas? Without oxygencylinders or anything? Its the most funniest thing ever on the historyof film. And from Tibet to Sikkim? Why would you go all the way aroundto Sikkim when there are kingdoms of Mustang which is the nearest fromthere and there is Nepal which was also in favor of the British. Sohistorical inaccuracies was very frustrating for me. The only redeemingfact was that when they reached Sikkim, (inside Indian territory butthey are Nepalese who speak Nepalese language) the film showed thisfact that Nepalese was spoken there. Somehow I felt the whole crossingof the Himalayas was so funny i mean they could have stayed in Tibetlong enough until they were fit and gone through to India (if that iswhat they wanted) through to the western side which I know is theeasier and nearer than going to Sikkim. Just felt the lack the enoughresearch when you're spending such huge amounts on the making of themovie.

nyshrink

(2012-04-17 09:25:21)

Epic Survival Tale

This is a film for people who appreciate epic landscapes and survivorstories. It has some engaging characters but not brilliant dialogue orcomplicated characters. Mostly, it is a visual film, displaying thevulnerability of a few people in a harsh, vast, beautiful landscape.They must depend on each other, and they develop an intimacy based ontheir shared struggle rather than on deep conversations and emotionalrevelations, or at least, not until a young girl joins them. Weir seemsto be commenting on the yin yang of masculinity/femininity at times inthis film. I also liked the subtle underlying commentary on the brutaloppression of the Soviet regime under Stalin.All of the actors were good; Farrell adds a touch of humor, Sturgessportrays anguish well, and Harris is a good tough old guy--his usualpersona. By the way, I tried to review this film on The New York Timeswebsite but apparently I've been banned there, for criticizing ManohlaDargis once too often I suppose. In her bizarre review, she complainsthat Farrell is too good-looking to be a Russian gangster. What thisassessment is based on I can't imagine, doubt Dargis hangs with Russiangangsters.

(2012-04-17 02:00:04)

Good

This review is from: The Way Back (Amazon Instant Video) Do you really read those 5 paragraph reviews? It was a Friday night, I chose this movie and I enjoyed it.

Saad Khan

(2012-04-17 01:31:04)

The cinematography made this movie worth a treat from snowy locations to deserted deserts.

THE WAY BACK - CATCH IT ( B- ) The Way Back is interesting look intothe journey of polish prisoners escape from Siberia to India. The wholemovie is interesting as a documentary, the whole time I was hoping tosee some dramatic twists and turns, which didn't come. Its indeed areally good movie but sometimes you want the movie to be a movie ratherthan a documentary. The direction and performances by all stars isreally good. Ed Harris, Soairse Ronan and Colin Farrell were by far thebest. The whole movie is shot beautifully on exotic locations. Thecinematography made this movie worth a treat from snowy locations todeserted deserts.

(2012-04-07 23:38:57)

didn't want the book to end

Incredible book. So well written, from the heart, and truly inspirational. What a great great book. Kids should be forced to read these type books...world would be a better place.

(2012-04-07 11:39:27)

Grim, But Beautiful

Having read several books about escapes from Siberia, I was interested in seeing one of them put on screen. I say this because the film is a bit slow in a number of parts so it helps to have a great interest in the subject matter. The film isn't boring - at least, to me - but I can see some people seeing it that way, especially if you're used to today's action movies.The scenery is magnificent and some of the shots by director Peter Weir are jaw-dropping on this Blu-Ray DVD. This is Weir's first film since the 2003 "Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World." The man does quality work.Ed Harris one of the few, if not only, actors in here whose English you can clearly understand, so it's a good idea to play this DVD with subtitles. You get a fair of amount of subtitles with the Russian characters, anyway, but none are distracting from the scenery or story. The characters and acting in here are good, too.If this subject matter interests you, find the book, "As Far As My Feet Will Carry Me," about a one-man escape from a Siberian Labor Camp following WWII.

priyantha-bandara

(2012-04-04 03:07:27)

Maybe the best movie I watched this year

'Freedom' sounds a regular, effortless word when you think you haveample of it. But when it's taken away from you, or it becomes scarcewhat would you do to gain it back? You might risk anything or sacrificeanything to die free, as a free soul. 'The Way Back' is the epic truestory of such few individuals, who risked their life's in order tobecome free men, amongst the thousands who never tried under thecircumstances and many who died trying. This wonderful story of human ambition and its remarkablerepresentation as a movie is one of a kind. Lasting 15 mts longer thantwo hours it will grab your attention so deeply that you might feelglad of the freedom what you have and will determine to cherish it aslong as possible. The movie is about a set of escapees from a Siberian prison (known as aGulag) in 1940s. Having a solid plan to reach Mongolia passing theBaikal Lake they set foot on unknown territory, beaten up by weatherand hunger and challenges unforeseen. Miraculously surviving a horrificand tedious walk across 4000 miles over jungles, mountains, deserts andwastelands they reach India. Challenged by snow, sand, water and whatnot, this larger-than-life journey is purely an impossible task evenfor the modern man but they conquer their fears, exhaustion and painsjust to taste the sweetness of freedom. Main leads played by Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris & Collin Farrell thismovie is not a walk in the park to perform in. Filmed in challengingenvironments in Bulgaria, Morocco and India it sure does bring out thebest in each role. Very well played by others too which is notmentioned above, 'The Way Back' is a well acted movie. And it will be agrave mistake if I forgot to mention how striking the makeup departmentwas. They make you feel thirsty in the deserts and cold in the wintersby making the actors suite to fit the scenes by their looks. Wonderfuljob on that I must mention and it got a nomination for Oscars as well. Cinematography is very impressive as well. Scene after scene the storyunfolds in landscapes which is a bliss to see in national geographystyle, but in the same time give the viewer the sense of hardshipembedded in each territory. It is quite arduous of me even to explainthis journey let alone to do it in real. But maybe the score does a godjob at it. Skillful direction by Peter Weir has indeed made this movie amasterpiece. Having a taste of bringing reality in to movies whichhappens way back in time he has done it again after the Oscar nominateddirecting of Master and Commander. 'The Way Back' is not a movie whichyou must miss even by mistake as such movie crafting is seldom. Read my reviews at flickshout.blogspot.com

markgorman

(2012-04-03 14:40:52)

A sadly missed opportunity from an old master. Not his best

The premise of this "based on a true story" movie is quite staggering.A group of seven men break free from a Russian forced labour camp inthe Northern Gulags of Siberia. They then cross a wintry Siberia, theGobi Desert, the Himalayas and finally the Indian subcontinent. All byfoot, all in farcically difficult conditions and running the risk ofbeing handed in for a bounty on their heads.Add to that the fact that it is directed by the once awesome Peter Weir(The Truman Show, Witness, Picnic at Hanging Rock) and mix in a prettystar studded cast (Colin Farrell and Ed Harris) all shot on locationand what one would expect is a moving, jaw dropping boy's own adventurethat takes the breath away.Instead we get a very disappointing anticlimax with some hammy, naycod, Polish acting (Farrell triumphs in this department), poorly litand rather uninspiring cinematography, a forgettable soundtrack and nomore character development than you'd expect from the average newsreport. The script is weak and the whole movie rather laboured.Despite this I'm not saying it's actually a bad film. It's not, it'sjust not a particularly good one. Overall, disappointing. But not a complete disaster. After all EdHarris plays a bit of a blinder.

Jeffrey

(2012-03-31 03:02:22)

Good movie that could have been better

I'm a huge Peter Weir fan so there's no chance I was going to miss this film. Once again Weir delivers. Although not his best film, The Way Back is definitely worth seeing. The story is captivating and the scenery is simply stunning. I liked it much more than other seriously overrated films such as Black Swan, True Grit, and The King's Speech (all of which failed greatly to measure up to their hype). There's just something missing in this movie and I can't quite put my finger on it, but it should have had a little more emotion. Usually these types of human endeavor stories are more gut wrenching emotional, but this one just kind of plods along. Nevertheless it is well worth the money as you don't get bored, you care about the characters, and the scenery is simply beautiful

jedwmsn

(2012-03-30 13:08:43)

The book on which the film is based is not credible.

In 1958, Dr. Hugh Richardson, a civil servant and scholar who was oneof the world's leading authorities on Tibet, wrote a review of "TheLong Walk" for The Alpine Journal (UK). Based on his knowledge of thegeography of the region, including India, Tibet, Sikkim, Bhutan, andthe Gobi, and of the cultures and habits of the peoples there, heconcludes that the journey did not happen. Aside from the claim ofgoing for 12 days without water, the descriptions of places and ofpeople do not jibe with the reality on the ground during the time ofthe walk.Some examples from his review: "Apart from Lhasa - which was 'bypassed'- there are no place names; there is also rather scanty detail ofscenery, local customs, etc, and what there is is quiteuncharacteristic of Tibet." "The abundant wildlife on the greater partof the route through Tibet is unnoticed." "Mr. Rawicz tells of a'succession of villages' in the deserts of North Tibet and of greatstretches of uninhabited country in South Tibet and in the IndianHimalayas which are known to be populated. That must create gravedoubts."The full review could be obtained from The Alpine Club in London.

rogerdarlington

(2012-03-25 15:22:53)

A road movie without the road

In 1955, a Polish army officer who was captured by the Russians in 1939and sent to a prison camp in Siberia wrote "The Long Walk", an accountof how he (Slavomir Rawicz) escaped the gulag with six others andmanaged to travel by foot across Siberia, Mongolia, the Gobi Desert,Tibet and the Himalayas before the surviving members reached India in1941 - a staggering journey of some 4,000 miles. Did he personally doit? Almost certainly, no. Did anyone do it? Probably not. Does itmatter? For the purposes of this film which tells that story, no. It isa cracking tale and Australian director Peter Weir has chosen to referto Rawicz's book as a novel.Weir is a terrific movie-maker who has not directed a film for sevenyears ("Master And Commander") and here he allies a great adventurewith striking visuals and accomplished acting. The photography is byRussell Boyd and the shooting was done in Bulgaria, Morocco and India.The international ensemble of actors includes British Jim Sturgess asthe Polish officer Janusz, Romanian Dragos Bucur as Yugoslav accountantBucur, American Ed Harris as the enigmatic Mr Smith, Irish Colin Farrelas psychopathic Russian convict Valka, and Irish Saoirse Ronan as thePolish teenager Irena.This may not be Weir's best work (that might be "Witness"), but thisroad movie without the road is well worth you joining for the stroll.

emushka-babushka

(2012-03-25 06:15:20)

very very good.

just to contra the previous review: "21" wasn't a "flop" at all! it wasa brilliant movie and Jim Sturgess himself was brilliant in it. sothere is no need for him to "redeem" himself.. Jim Sturgess is a greatactor, which is evident AGAIN in "The Way Back".From an ordinary spectator's POV (which are the majority of cinemagoers), The Way Back was a thoroughly enjoyable film. All actorsportrait their character truthfully and realistically. Colin Farrellnever disappoints. I've noticed that some scenes appeared a bit shortened, probably due tothe total length of the film. However, it wasn't as severe that theplot suffered. Some characters seemed to be more developed than others;I personally would have liked "the funny one" of the group to be morefunny e.g. Over all a very intelligent and sophisticated production andemotionally satisfying.