Summary
5 tech score
Robert Redford in “All Is Lost”; photo courtesy of Roadside Attractions
“All Is Lost” (Roadside Attractions)
Robert Redford is the star of the new film “All Is Lost.” In truth he is the only person seen in this film. It is a tour de force for the actor and he rises to the challenge, but even a very talented actor such as Mr. Redford has a hard time keeping the audience engaged for a long period of time without anyone else to play off. He also has very little dialogue and the acting is all in his actions and expressions.
The movie opens with a voiceover by Redford stating he has been adrift at sea for several days and that “all is lost.” He seems to be reading something he has written to someone – family, friend, God? Then the movie goes back to eight days prior and we see Redford, who is unnamed in this movie, sleeping below deck in his boat while water seeps in.
Upon waking this man learns his boat has hit a shipping container and a hole has been punched in the side of his boat. The hole is mostly above the water line but as the boat moves back and forth water is forced into the hole. This man is sailing on the Indian Ocean and his communication equipment has gotten wet from the water coming inside the boat. He is alone at sea and on his own.
The rest of the movie is about this man’s efforts to repair his boat and survive. The emotional toll it takes on the man is where Redford excels. You feel for this man’s desperation and his exhaustion. As each day passes the weariness in his eyes grows.
The script for the movie would have been better served if there had been a goal for the film. Since the man loses all of his communication equipment he has no idea where he is or where he is headed. He makes a stab at plotting a course but it is shown to be futile, or maybe not. If the audience had some insight into his mind the purpose of the story might have been different.
The movie is rated PG-13 for profanity and violent circumstances.
Redford does a great job of creating the character and showing his anguish but the movie sinks under the weight of its own isolation. All isn’t lost in the storyline but a lot of the entertainment value is.
I scored “All Is Lost” a saved 5 out of 10.
