The Way Back (2010)

[dave jenkins]

The Way Back (2010) - 8/10. Peter Weir's most recent effort, about gulag prisoners who trek 4,000 miles from Siberia to India to gain their freedom. Based on a true account that (apparently) never actually happened, the film has the simplest of narrative hooks: walk or die. The group, which includes Ed Harris and the ever-annoying Colin Farrell, has to live off the land as they go (which gets really, really hard when they get to the Gobi Desert) and as the geography changes so do the survival challenges. We're told up front that only 3 of the group make it, so a certain amount of suspense comes from wondering which of the characters will be lost along the way (not always due to death, as it happens). Lots of crane shots in this one, but as the scenery is constantly changing that doesn't get old. And what great photography!--the film is out under a National Geographic banner--I saw it digitally projected in 4K, and so should everyone (I'm looking at you, CJ).

EDIT: I corrected the title (see below).

[moviesceleton]

The Way Home (2010) - 8/10. Peter Weir's most recent effort, about gulag prisoners who trek 4,000 miles from Siberia to India to gain their freedom. Based on a true account that (apparently) never actually happened, the film has the simplest of narrative hooks: walk or die. The group, which includes Ed Harris and the ever-annoying Colin Farrell, has to live off the land as they go (which gets really, really hard when they get to the Gobi Desert) and as the geography changes so do the survival challenges. We're told up front that only 3 of the group make it, so a certain amount of suspense comes from wondering which of the characters will be lost along the way (not always due to death, as it happens). Lots of crane shots in this one, but as the scenery is constantly changing that doesn't get old. And what great photography!--the film is out under a National Geographic banner--I saw it digitally projected in 4K, and so should everyone (I'm looking at you, CJ).

Sounds like right up my alley.  But it's "The Way Back" (or, at least that's what IMDb says).

[dave jenkins]

Yeah, you're right. The title is so generic I can't keep it straight.

[dave jenkins]

the blu-ray is only 15.99 at amazon.

Here's the beaver's review: http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film3/blu-ray_reviews53/the_way_back_blu-ray.htm

[titoli]

"Peter Weir at his hypnotic best".

An elegant way of saying "I slept through it".