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.
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
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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 |
Photo courtesy of IMDb.com
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