Director: James Gray
Release Date: 2016
Running Time: 2hrs 21 minutes
Genre: Adventure/Drama
Rating: 15
Format: Amazon Prime UK
Synopsis:
A true story about British explorer Col Percival Fawcett who dissapeared while searching for a mysterious city in the Amazon in the 1920's.
This is the incredible true story about British explorer Percival Fawcett (Hunman) who embarked into the Amazon at the beginning of the 20th century and discovered what he believed to be evidence of a previously unknown civilization that may have once inhabited there. Forced to leave his family, Fawcett enters the trenchtrious jungles of the Amazon Rainforest with fellow adventurer Henry Costin. Much to the belief of some audiences, the story primarily focuses on the characters not the adventure itself. Director James Gray has taken a very unique approach to shooting the film. Not only did Gray write the screenplay but he also took challenges and risks in ensuring that the film looked authentic and genuine.
The story goes into extensive detail about character relationship and development, spanning over a period of nearly twenty-years. The beauty of the storyline is that it shows the Amazon in its purest form, explaining the dangers of the forest and unknown territories. The Amazon is home to natives who are naturally very protective of their land. The time period has been captured beautifully with period costumes and interior. Charlie Hunnam delivers a very precise performance with strong characterisation as Major Percival Fawcett. Hunman not only looks the part, but sounds it too, with a very well spoken tone. Unfortunately Robert Pattinson's character Henry Costin was a little bit disappointing, although Pattinson took on the role of someone much older then himself exceptionally well, his character really didn't contribute to the storyline very much, Pattinson sadly didn't offer a great deal of characterisation.
The story explains the troubles between characters, they experience a "Cabin Fever" atmosphere whilst in search of the lost city, food is stollen and ruined, characters become very sick from the environment and humidity. Director James Gray made sure not to glamorise it in any shape or form for the sake of film. Despite the story spanning over a period of almost twenty-years, we don't see much of a difference in Percival Fawcett. Everyone ages gradually, but there would be some significant changes, Charlie Hunnam looks miraculously young for someone who has aged twenty odd years. His children have grown up? Why hasn't he? Did he enter the fountain of youth in the Amazon?
The film is beautifully shot, James Gray deciding against digital formats have saved the film to some extent. Shooting in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta jungle in Columbia was a risky move for many a reason, however it really allowed the actors to act authentically in the environment. Their reactions to the environment around them are genuine and real, which adds a tremendous amount of realism to the story. There is a fantastic amount of mystery that surrounds the story, it's really quite thought provoking. The decision to not show the audience too much too soon is what really allows the audience to remain gripped. The excitement is in their journey, not what they come to find. A real adventure.
3.5/5 stars
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