The Impossible [2012]
Directed by: Juan Antonio Bayona
Written by: Sergio G. Sánchez
Starring: Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, Tom Holland, Samuel Joslin, Oaklee Pendergast, Marta Etura, Sönke Möhring, Geraldine Chaplin
The most intense cinematic experience I’ve had so far. I had never cried for two straight hours, much less with a movie, but there’s always a first time, and it happened with The Impossible.
Contrived? Manipulative? Some will argue that this film is those things; it’s also effective. The devastating, true story about a family caught in the middle of one of the biggest natural disasters of our time, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, is a heartbreaking account of family love and fate triumphing over loss, despair, fear and the immeasurable power of nature.
Juan Antonio Bayona, in only his second feature film, shows a skilled hand at directing The Impossible, adapted by Sergio G. Sánchez from the incredible true story of María Belón and her family. Bayona made a great decision by “recycling” most of the behind-the-camera talent of his previous film, El Orfanato. The score by Fernando Velázquez and the cinematography by Óscar Faura are some of the year’s best.
By now, bravura performances from Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor are something to be expected; they deliver. What helps the film a lot is a fantastic young cast. In small roles, Samuel Joslin and Oaklee Pendergast are notable but it’s 16 year-old Tom Holland who shows incredible talent and maturity and steals every scene.
The only impossible thing here is to not be moved.
This is one of my must sees for the holiday/awards season. Thanks, Fernando.
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Thank you, Michael. Hope you get to see it soon. Would love to hear what you think.
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I remember feeling the trailer for this one and laughing myself mindless. It seemed like such a dumb movie, especially for one that was chosen at le Festival de Cannes. It goes without saying that I’m kind of surprised how much you enjoyed it, so I may as well check it out.
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It reminded me of Eastwood’s messy HEREAFTER in terms of the tsunami, but I may catch this because of the actors…write on!
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Yeah, Hereafter comes to mind but this one is so much better 🙂 Thanks for following, reading and commenting 🙂
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Interesting. This was never on my radar, as it did strike me as contrived and manipulative as you said, but I’ll try and get to see it. I’m not the biggest Ewan McGregor fan either but it does sound pretty promising. Good review mate, way to sell it! 🙂
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Thanks, man! Hope you see it soon. I’d love to hear other opinions on it. I found it so heartwrenching. Yes, it was manipulative but hey, if they wanted to make people cry, they nailed it.
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Wonder if they can crack my heart of stone. Sounds like a challenge! 🙂
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Haha, hope they can!
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Nice one Fernando. I was actually in Thailand exactly one year before that disaster. I made a lot of friends there that undoubtedly perished. I can’t wait to see this.
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I hear you, man. I was actually in Thailand 2 years before the tsunami. Can’t say I made friends but what happened is completely devastating and that pain is very well represented in the film. Hope you see it soon.
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I agree with you about this young actor. There’s a scene where Tom Holland looks down and notices the injury on his mother’s leg. Later, when her blouse becomes torn and she is exposed, he looks away out of respectful embarrassment. Neither moment involves words but his reaction is so human, it‘s powerful.
Thanks for the comment on my review!
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You’re welcome! And yeah, those moments indicated a skilled actor, even at such a young age. Hoping to see him in other projects.
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Excellent review, Fernando. The closing line is perfect.
I think we’re seeing this tomorrow, so I’ll be sure to take plenty of tissues! I’m pretty sure seeing Ewan McGregor upset will pretty much break my heart, never mind the emotional storyline everyone’s talking about in this film.
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Thanks a lot, Amy. That’s very nice of you.
Hope you like the movie and yes, be ready to cry your eyes out. Be it for Ewan or everything else.
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