THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US review by Mark Walters – Idris Elba & Kate Winslet fight to survive

THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US review by Mark Walters – Idris Elba & Kate Winslet fight to survive

Based on the Book by Charles Martin, the new movie THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US explores the idea of what might happen if two complete strangers found themselves stranded in the snowy mountains without hope of rescue. Directed by Academy Award nominee Hany Abu-Assad, it stars Kate Winslet and Idris Elba, along with Beau Bridges and Dermot Mulroney. The screenplay is written by Chris Weitz and J. Mills Goodloe. After seeing the trailers, it immediately reminded me a lot of David Mamet’s THE EDGE, which happens to be one of my favorite survival movies. I actually love these types of films, showing humans fighting to survive the elements of the wild, only this take is much more about the connection these two find with each other.

Ben Bass (Elba) is a neurosurgeon desperate to get back to his hospital to work on a 10-year-old boy in need of his expertise. Alex Martin (Winslet) is on her way to her own wedding. When the airport cancels their flights and it looks as if neither of them will make it back in time, Alex (after overhearing Ben) proposes they charter a private plane by pitching in together, and they agree this is probably the only way they’ll make it. They find Walter (Beau Bridges), an older pilot with a trusty dog who is willing to make the journey. So they begin their flight and get to know each other a bit. Without warning, Walter has a heart attack and loses control of the plane, and they end up crashing in the snowy mountains, far from civilization. There was no flight plan logged since this was off the record, and Alex never told her husband-to-be what she was up to before they left, so now it appears no one may find them without a some sort of miracle. Adding to the problems, Alex’s leg was badly injured in the crash, so only Ben has full mobility. As the weather gets increasingly worse and rations start running short, these two begin to wonder if they’ll survive much longer.

The idea of being lost in the wild is one that Hollywood has certainly explored extensively, but not often by utilizing two strangers from different walks of life. The concept of THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US may seem simple, but there’s plenty beyond the surface to keep things interesting. Putting two powerhouse actors like Elba and Winslet together is a surefire plan for cinematic success, so long as the material they’re using is solid. The film walks a fine line with that pairing, as many scenes actually separate them for lengthy stretches while Ben is looking for help. I was most impressed with how epic the scope of the movie felt considering the modest hour and 43-minutes run time. This feels like a bigger story than it really is, and that’s a credit to all involved. Elba is (of course) spectacular as the doctor who seems confident and capable, but is harboring a dark secret that is destroying him inside. His performance here should (hopefully) finally make him a household name, and a strong contender for more leading roles. Winslet is also great as Alex, the doubtful bride to be who feels guilt and responsibility for getting them into this mess to begin with. Their unlikely bond is fascinating to watch and quite organic, very believable and natural in its execution.

The sweeping vistas used as a backdrop to the story are really incredible. Filmed in Vancouver and other parts of Canada, these mountains effectively create a sense of isolated and haunting beauty. I remember thinking to myself, if I died somewhere like this, while tragic, it would be such a grand final resting place. While director Hany Abu-Assad knows how to keep things interesting within the story, the overall presentation doesn’t hold too many surprises, which is perhaps the biggest fault of the production. This is a movie that plays out almost exactly the way you think it will, very by the numbers and safe. That’s not to say it doesn’t work as a piece of entertainment, it’s quite satisfying and very well done, but there’s no wow factor beyond the basic narrative. One of the reasons I loved David Mamet’s THE EDGE so much was because it had constant twists and turns, and shocking moments you truly didn’t see coming. Not so much with THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US, but I will say this – I took my mother to see it, and she loved every second of it. For its intended audience, this is a film that will most likely be held in very high regard.

THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US opens October 6, 2017

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About the Author

Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff.