Rated: PG-13
The Impossible is a beautifully made melodrama about a family surviving one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the modern world. What it belies, however, is the tens of thousands of people killed in the tsunami and the hundreds of thousands of natives who survived. While it’s a good story and a well-made film, The Impossible seems to be the kind of egocentric revisionist history (or myopic history) that are the center of complaints about how Hollywood operates.
Great performances are logged from Ewan McGreggor and Naomi Watts but the biggest revelation comes from newcomer Tom Holland who holds his own in this survival story when isolated with Watts. It is a solid debut that gives us hope for what his future holds.
This is not a disaster movie, despite the scene being used to market the film. There are no staggering moments of heroism in the face of tragedy. This is the story of the basic instinct to fight for survival. While it’s a good drama and well-made, I had issues with the way the indigenous people were marginalized in favor of rich white people. An ancillary concern, certainly, but worth noting.
Another movie that’s coming out on end-of-year top 10 lists that nobody has yet seen, The Impossible is deserving of the accolades and while not one of my favorite movies of the year, it’s a solid film.
Grade: B+
Recommended If You Like:
- The Help
- Perks of Being a Wallflower
- Life of Pi
