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The Loneliest Planet

September 23, 2015

Like most trailers, the one posted above makes this film, The Loneliest Planet, seem like a remarkable film that will be considered among the top ten in film history.

Unfortunately, that is not the case with this film.  In fact, like most movies, the trailer is the best part.

The film, released in 2011, was directed by Julia Loktev and co-written by Tom Bissell and Mikhail Lermontov.  Starring Gael Garcia Bernal and Hani Furstenberg, The Loneliest Planet tells the story of an engaged couple's backpacking trip through the Caucasus Mountains.  Following their tour guide through the beautiful mountains and run down towns, a group of criminals corners the couple and in one split-second, changes the relationship between the two lovers forever.

Alex (Bernal) and Nica (Fursternberg) are good characters.  They are both intelligent, funny, genuine; the perfect couple really.  They work well with one another, yet share differing views on certain topics.  Again, like a good relationship should.  Throughout the film, Nica begins to stand out and become the main protagonist.  This takes nothing away from Alex, but as mentioned before, the one incident that happens in the film begins to change blur his integrity and reveal more levels to his character.

This is very much a character driven film.  The intent is to get attached to Alex and Nica and hang on to their every word, every action.  There is very little to the plot, very little to any actual excitement or suspense in the film.  Clocking in at just under two hours, a majority of the time is spent watching the couple navigate, silently, for painstakingly long long takes.  There are times in the film where you could walk away for thirty-to-forty seconds and still be on the same shot and not miss one bit of dialogue.

With that said, the pacing in this film is awful.  It drags and drags and drags and forces you to beg for anything to happen.  Honestly, anything.  When "The Moment" happens, it is underwhelming at best, however, nicely done.  I believe the intent was to be subtle and it was, but if you are not invested in the story up to that point and don't necessarily care about the characters or even paying full attention; the subtlety will be lost on you.

Final Thoughts/Rating

The Loneliest Planet is a beautifully shot film and when you boil it down, is a well acted film.  The scenery is astonishing and some of the shots are breathtaking.  Aside from that, there is very little to be desired from this film that I had high hopes on due to its synopsis.

The story is slow and tedious, the climax delivers with a whimper, and the lack of dialogue hurts this film when combined with the horrid pacing of the film.  Bernal and Furstenberg deliver fine performances, however, it is hard to fully immerse yourself in their connection, especially their physical attractiveness towards one another.  

Loktev is a great director.  Her shot selection and cinematography is fantastic, but the story's lack of action makes the film suffer.  Dare I say, it is boring to watch for long stretches of time.

A good effort that fails to create an entertaining world.  A lonely planet, indeed.

Rating: 4.5/10
Picture
Photo courtesy of IMDb.com

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  • Home
  • My Books
    • Rest Easy, My Pounding Heart
  • About
    • Book Update
    • Taking a Powder
  • Sports
    • NHL >
      • The Pensimist Podcast
      • Pittsburgh Penguins >
        • 2018 Pittsburgh Penguins Trade Deadline Projections
        • Pittsburgh Penguins 2016 Off-Season Blog
        • 2016 Penguins Trade Deadline
        • 2015 Pittsburgh Penguins Offseason
        • Pens Interested in Kessel?
        • The Magnificent Malkin Drama
        • Reaction to Pens Trade Deadline Acquisitions
        • Penguins Lose Dupuis For Six Months
        • Pens, Fleury Agree to Four Year Extension
        • Penguins Training Camp Thoughts
        • A Look At Potential Penguins Lines
        • New Penguins, New Numbers
        • Penguins Sign Steve Downie
        • Penguins Head Coach, Free Agency, Trade Updates
        • Penguins Head Coaching Prospects
        • Penguins Free Agent Wishlist
        • Penguins New Look...So Far
        • Pens New GM, Neal Wants Out?, WBS to Game 6
        • Shero out as Pens GM; More Change to Come
        • Pittsburgh Penguins: What's Wrong?
      • Game Reviews/Recaps >
        • 2014-15 Game Reviews >
          • PENGUINS, JOHNSTON WIN FIRST GAME OF SEASON
          • PENGUINS SURGE PAST MAPLE LEAFS
          • STARS OUT IN FORCE, DEFEAT PENGUINS
          • PENGUINS DOWN UNDEFEATED ISLANDERS
          • FLYERS FLY PAST PENGUINS
          • LATE SURGE PUSHES WINGS PAST PENGUINS
          • FLOWER BLOOMS AGAINST PREDATORS
          • COLD START LEADS TO HOT FINISH: PENS ROMP 8-3
          • PENGUINS BLANK DEFENDING CHAMPS
          • PENGUINS SWEEP HOMESTAND
          • PENS RUN WILD OVER MINNESOTA
          • SHOOTOUT IN WINNIPEG FAVORS PENGUINS
          • CROSBY, PENS CRUISE TO SEVEN STRAIGHT
          • RANGERS END MULTIPLE STREAKS IN 5-0 DRUBBING OF PENGUINS
          • PENS CLOSE OUT ROAD TRIP WITH TOUGH FOUGHT WIN
          • UNUSUAL FINISH GIVES PENGUINS THE REDEMPTION WIN
          • BENNETT, FLEURY LEAD PENS OVER CANADIENS
          • OKPOSO, ISLANDERS WIN SHOOTOUT OVER PENGUINS
          • ISLANDERS SWEEP HOME AND HOME SERIES
          • FLOWER PICKS UP FIFTH SHUTOUT WIN VERSUS RIVAL DEVILS
          • ORPIK, NISKANEN HAUNT PENGUINS IN RETURN
          • PENGUINS END 2014 WITH NEEDED VICTORY
          • CROSBY'S OT WINNER PUSHES PENGUINS PAST HABS
        • 2014-15 Game Recaps >
          • Game 1: Anaheim Ducks vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
          • Game 2: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
          • Game 3: Dallas Stars vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
          • Game 4: New York Islanders vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
          • Game 5: Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
          • Game 6: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Detroit Red Wings
          • Game 7: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Nashville Predators
          • Game 8: New Jersey Devils vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
          • Game 9- Los Angeles Kings vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
          • Game 10: Buffalo Sabres vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
          • Game 11: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Minnesota Wild
          • Game 12: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Winnipeg Jets
          • Game 13: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Buffalo Sabres
          • Game 14: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers
          • Game 15: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
          • Game 16: New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
          • Game 17: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Montreal Canadiens
          • Game 18: New York Islanders vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
          • Game 19: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Islanders
          • Game 24: New Jersey Devils vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
          • Game 35- Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
          • Game 37- Carolina Hurricanes vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
          • Game 41: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Montreal Canadiens
      • Fantasy Hockey Team #1- The Last of Us
      • Fantasy Hockey Team #2- Canadensis Malsby
      • 2014-15 NHL Bold Predictions
      • 2014 NHL Free Agent Frenzy
      • NHL Free Agency Predictions
      • 2014 NHL Draft Winners and Losers
    • Wrestling >
      • 2016 WWE PPV Reactions >
        • WWE Royal Rumble
        • WWE Fastlane
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        • WWE Royal Rumble
        • WWE Fastlane
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        • WWE Royal Rumble
      • 2015 PPV Predictions >
        • WWE Royal Rumble
        • WWE Fast Lane
        • WWE Wrestlemania 31
      • 2014 PPV Predictions >
        • WWE Survivor Series Predictions
        • WWE Hell In A Cell Predictions
        • WWE Night of Champions Predictions
        • WWE SummerSlam Predictions
        • WWE Battleground Predictions
        • WWE Money In The Bank Predictions
        • WWE Payback Predictions
      • The Shield >
        • Dean Ambrose- Best in the World?
        • R.I.P. The Shield
        • Dean Ambrose
        • Believe In The Shield
      • Wrestling Articles >
        • Macho Madness: Randy Savage's Long Overdue Induction
        • NXT R Evolution Predictions
        • Fantasy Booking Kevin Owens Debut
        • Sting Strikes at Survivor Series
        • Let the Madness Begin: Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt
        • Knockouts Outshine Divas
        • The Wyatt Family and What's Next...
        • Main Event and Smackdown Spoilers- September 9, 2014
        • Brock Lesnar: How Will He Be Booked?
        • "Ladies and Gentlemen, My Name is Paul Heyman" DVD Review
        • Brian Pillman: Loose Cannon
        • What's Wrong with WWE Countdown
  • TV
    • TV on Netflix >
      • Your Lie in April
      • Low Winter Sun- Netflix Binge
      • Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp- Netflix Binge
      • The Killing- Netflix Binge
      • The Red Road- Netflix Binge
      • Flashpoint- Netflix Binge
      • Archer- Netflix Binge
      • The 100- Netflix Binge Watch
      • Mixology- Netflix Binge Watch
      • The Spoils of Babylon Review
      • Boss on Netflix
      • Baby Daddy- Netflix Binge Watch
      • Sons of Anarchy- Netflix Binge Watch
    • We're on in 3, 2, 1...Welcome to Sports Night
    • Hidden Gem- Hidden Palms
    • The Day I Met Austin St. John
    • Mountain Monsters
  • Film
    • Netflix Pix >
      • They Look Like People
      • Queen of Earth
      • Toad Road
      • Compliance
      • Motivation 2: The Chris Cole Story
      • If I Stay
      • They Came Together
      • Wet Hot American Summer
      • Three Night Stand
      • Rich Hill
      • Save The Date
      • Live at The Foxes Den
      • Wish You Were Here
      • Goon
      • Liberal Arts
      • Dragonfyre
      • Jugface
      • Adore
      • Forgetting the Girl
      • Awful Nice
      • Grand Piano
      • The Dirties
      • We Are What We Are
      • A Teacher
      • The Lifeguard
    • Reviews >
      • The Dust Storm
      • Bokeh
      • Something Real and Good
      • Nightcrawler
      • The Lonliest Planet
      • The Skeleton Twins
      • Girl Most Likely
      • Bad Turn Worse
      • Starry Eyes
      • Mean Creek
      • White Bird in a Blizzard
      • Come Back To Me
      • The Don Cherry Story
      • Breathe In
      • Bridgend
      • Silent House
      • Not Waving, But Drowning
      • The Sacrament
      • After The Dark
      • Blue Ruin
      • BENT
      • Sharknado 2
      • Carrie
      • Brick
    • Back To Action? New Power Rangers Film
    • "Where Does He Go At Night?" Donnie Darko
  • Music
    • Top 10 >
      • Top 10- Ligeia Songs
      • Top 10- The Saddest Landscape Songs
      • Top 10- Emmure Songs
    • Reviews >
      • Classic CD's >
        • Classic CD- Chevelle "Wonder What's Next"
        • Classic CD- The Modern Day Saint ...And Tomorrow We Will Have Nothing
        • Classic CD- Emmure "Goodbye to the Gallows"
        • Classic CD- The Fray "How to Save a Life"
        • Classic CD- The Saddest Landscape "All is Apologized For. All is Forgiven"
        • Classic CD- Ligeia "Your Ghost Is A Gift"
      • Slaves- Routine Breathing
      • Angus and Julia Stone- Angus and Julia Stone
      • We Came As Romans- We Came As Romans
      • Pianos Become The Teeth- Keep You
      • Keyes- Wandermere
      • Heart In Hand- A Beautiful White
      • Slaves- Through Art We Are All Equals
      • Volumes- No Sleep
      • La Dispute- Wildlife
      • Pianos Become The Teeth- The Lack Long After
      • Heart in Hand- Only Memories
      • Emmure- Eternal Enemies
  • Personal
    • Lyrics >
      • To Madison (Kirsti)
      • On That Wintry Night
      • The Slumbering Tongue
      • Room 147
      • Illusion of Night
      • "I Never Thought I'd Catch A Writer With No Words"
      • Delay
      • The Ballad of Brendan Wayne and Mikela Austen
      • Roam
    • Stories >
      • ...And It's like We Never Existed >
        • 1. Introduction
        • 2. Rest Easy My Pounding Heart, Pt. 1
        • 3. Rest Easy My Pounding Heart, Pt. 2
        • 4. Waiting For Answers
        • 5. Midnight Murmurs and Pinky Promises
        • 6. Rest Easy My Pounding Heart, Pt. 3
        • 7. To Madison (Kirsti)
        • 8. Quiver
        • 9. Rest Easy My Pounding Heart, Pt. 4
        • 10. Running in Circles from the Squares
        • 11. Foundations
        • 12. Carlisle Nights
        • 13. Rest Easy My Pounding Heart, Pt. 5
        • 14. The Storm in Between Separate Sets of Sheets
        • 15. Ruminating on Repeat
        • 16. Starlit Skies Filled with Solemn Sighs
        • 17. What We Knew Is Not What We Know Now
        • 18. These February Nights
        • 19. Conclusion
  • Contact