Movie Review: All is Lost

Movie Review: All is Lost

Rated PG-13

106 minutes

Directed by J.C. Chandor

You walk into a movie theater, and have no idea what you're going to see. You see that All Is Lost is playing, and contemplate checking it out. The question is, is it good, mediocre, or terrible? I'm here to answer that question, as well as provide some analysis. By the end, your life will be exactly the same, only with the knowledge of whether or not to see All is Lost. Jump in, won't you?

Ahh, such a peaceful day for Robert Redford...

All is Lost is exquisite. It has such incredible direction from J.C. Chandor, who is very much in control of the environment. Chandor also provides such a great script, one with such depth and nuance, and is able to make the audience connect on such a deep level with Our Man, even though we know nothing about him. Our Man could be a jerk in real life, but the level of skill that the script never brings that thought to our minds, and we root for Robert Redford to survive. Speaking of Redford, he is fantastic in the movie, being able to bring his character to life with such depth, and making us truly care about whether or not he lives or dies. It also has some good symbolism in it, such as the industrial box of sneakers (a big company) severely harming the boat of Our Man (the little guy).

Not so peaceful for Redford anymore...

As for the technical aspects, they are superb as well. The cinematography has some beautiful shots of fish, as well as putting us in the same situation as Our Man. We have no idea what the environment is like around him, all we know is what he knows. The sound design is amazing, as it makes us feel like we are out at sea with Our Man, braving these battles together. The production design is also quite good, as we, the audience, become very comfortable with the surroundings of the boat, making us feel like we have owned the boat for many years. The score is sweeping, yet simple, as it seems to compliment the feelings of Our Man quite well. 

Redford is concerned about the qualms I have with the film.

However, the film isn't flawless, of course. The first minute seems unnecessary, unfortunately. It has great dialogue and a beautiful shot, but it seems out of place with the rest of the movie, as we get nothing else like it. Additionally, it is revealed to be a flash-forward, so the dialogue could've easily been placed over the point in time that it happens, and have a more dramatic impact. Another problem that I have with it is the pacing. Sometimes, but not often, it seems to focus too much on mundane tasks Our Man has to do. I get that it's meant to show his desire to survive, but if it had toned it down maybe 20%, the movie would've been that much better.

Redford is pleased with this review

In conclusion, if you want a riveting, well-acted piece of film, go see it. If you see the film playing in one of your local movie theaters, and you're contemplating whether or not to go see it, please see it. You will not be disappointed. One of the best movies of 2013.

4/5

A-

(all photos are from All is Lost, and are their copyright)