The Mountain Between Us
11/10/17 Filed in: Cinema
The professional critics' reviews of this film are far from positive, most crediting Idris Elba and Kate Winslet with rescuing what would otherwise be a complete flop. I sometimes think these critics lose sight of the fact that most people go to the cinema to be entertained, and I think that this film meets that criterion. Yes, the plot is pushing probability; yes, the romance is a bit contrived; but we all need a bit of escapism and if we want really hard reality, there are other films that meet this need.
Elba and Winslet, playing neurosurgeon Ben Bass and photo journalist Alex Martin respectively, are thrown together, so to speak, when all flights from Idaho are cancelled because of an impending storm. Both have an urgent need to get places. He is to operate to save a 10-year-old child, while she is to be married the next day in New York. With all hopes of a scheduled flight gone, Alex negotiates a charter flight in a light aircraft. The pilot Walter (Beau Bridges) is a bit of a character, the plane doesn't inspire confidence, and things go desperately wrong when Walter has a stroke over the Uintas Mountains. The plane comes down on high ground, leaving Alex, Ben and the pilot's Labrador dog stranded. Walter doesn't make it. The scenery is breathtaking but that's of little comfort to our two travellers. Ben is bruised but conscious, while Alex is alive but unconscious, and with a bad leg injury.
No flight plan was placed and their hope is that the emergency beacon will summon help, albeit it was in the tail section of the plane, which was broken off as they skipped over the mountains before actually crashing. After three days Alex decides that they should make their way to lower ground, sending Ben to scout from the nearby peak, a walk that itself nearly ends in disaster. Not that Alex fairs much better, with an inquisitive cougar eyeing her up for a meal, but quick thinking and a flare gun results in a supply of meat!
Despite Ben's objections they ultimately set off for lower ground and as you can imagine a number of things happen along the way, culminating in Alex falling through thin ice while Ben is checking out an abandoned cabin. A rather suspect saline drip contrivance is all that saves Alex, although they now have shelter, a fire and two tins of soup! And they also have each other, initial mutual animosity having been replaced by a bond that grows into much more; much, much more.
But they realise that without food they can't survive and again set off together, after a false start when Alex insisted on staying while Ben went for help. Exhausted, frost-bitten and having entered what seems to be the sleep of the dead, the dog comes to the rescue (don't they always). Using their last reserves of strength they try to make their way to a logging station that they can see in the near distance. But they're not out of the woods yet!
So, does Alex get married? Will Ben be able to forget her? Many critics reserved their most harsh criticism for the ending. See what you think.
For me it was well acted and the scenery was absolutely stunning.
Despite Ben's objections they ultimately set off for lower ground and as you can imagine a number of things happen along the way, culminating in Alex falling through thin ice while Ben is checking out an abandoned cabin. A rather suspect saline drip contrivance is all that saves Alex, although they now have shelter, a fire and two tins of soup! And they also have each other, initial mutual animosity having been replaced by a bond that grows into much more; much, much more.
But they realise that without food they can't survive and again set off together, after a false start when Alex insisted on staying while Ben went for help. Exhausted, frost-bitten and having entered what seems to be the sleep of the dead, the dog comes to the rescue (don't they always). Using their last reserves of strength they try to make their way to a logging station that they can see in the near distance. But they're not out of the woods yet!
So, does Alex get married? Will Ben be able to forget her? Many critics reserved their most harsh criticism for the ending. See what you think.
For me it was well acted and the scenery was absolutely stunning.