Free Solo (2018) National Geographic/Documentary RT: 100 minutes Rated PG-13 (brief strong language) Director: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin Music: Marco Beltrami Cinematography: Jimmy Chin, Matt Clegg, Clair Popkin and Mikey Schaefer Release date: October 12, 2018 (Philadelphia, PA) Cast: Alex Honnold, Tommy Caldwell, Jimmy Chin, Sanni McCandless.
Rating: ***
I put off seeing the documentary Free Solo for as long as I could. Blame it on my fear of heights. Movies about mountain climbing and other high-up activities give me vertigo. You should have seen me during the climax of The Walk a few years back. Seeing it in 3D is probably the bravest thing I’ve done in years. I still get dizzy thinking about it.
This is why I made Free Solo a low-priority film over the months it’s played at the Ritz Bourse here in Philadelphia. This past weekend, I finally gave in and saw it. I had room on my schedule and it was the only other movie I hadn’t seen yet (I’ll wait to watch Roma on Netflix next week). I have to admit, it’s pretty good. Not only that, it didn’t freak me out as badly as I thought it would. At least not until the final 15 minutes when all I could think was “Get down from there before you fall!”
Free Solo is a mostly gripping piece about Alex Honnold, an aficionado of “free soloing” which entails climbing a mountain with no equipment and no assistance from other people. All he has is his hands, feet and skill. The movie follows Alex in his quest to conquer El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. It’s his white whale. Nobody has ever successfully ascended “El Cap” this way. It’s an extremely difficult climb even with all the equipment. It’s going to take a lot of training and nerve to accomplish this feat, but Alex is determined not to let anything stop him. Sure, he has a few setbacks. He sustains a foot fracture while practicing. A close friend dies during a climb. He temporarily loses his nerve. In the end, Alex sets out for the top while a crew films him. It’s a tense four hours compressed into an intense 15 minutes.
One of the most interesting things about Free Solo is how it shows the philosophical challenge faced by Alex. He claims not to be doing it for the glory yet he’s allowing a crew to film the whole thing which, believe me, isn’t easy. They put their lives at risk too. It isn’t easy aiming a camera while hanging from the face of a rock. But I digress. Alex is all about the existential thrill of climbing so the idea of filming it puts him in a philosophical quandary.
We get to know Alex quite well. The movie delves into his background. We learn of a childhood marked by parents who didn’t show their children affection. Alex had to learn how to hug in his 20s. It’s also implied that Alex might be on the autism spectrum, something he probably inherited from his father. We watch as Alex navigates his way through his first serious relationship with girlfriend Sanni McCandless who frequently expresses concern over his safety. She struggles with the possibility that this climb could be his last.
The cinematography is an absolute highlight. Directors Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi provide vistas that are truly breathtaking. Not only that, they perfectly capture the danger and thrill of free soloing. Free Solo is awesome to look at. I’d like to say it’s an experience, but it doesn’t quite reach that level. I wasn’t gripping my seat nearly as tightly as I did at The Walk. I also didn’t blurt out the f-word a few times like I did at The Walk. It’s still pretty intense though as I did get dizzy more than once.
I don’t really have a whole lot to say about Free Solo. I know nothing about climbing except that I would never do it. I kept thinking “You’ll never get me up there! No way!” I did want to know how the climber gets back down the mountain after he reaches the top of the mountain. The movie does not show this. Thankfully, the guy sitting across the aisle answered my question. For the most part, Free Solo is a good movie. It’s interesting and thrilling. Alex is a likable guy. He’s not cocky or arrogant. He seems to genuinely enjoy what he does. You can’t fault a guy for that. Like its subject, Free Solo is a likable documentary. I think even non-fans will find something to enjoy.
