The Way Back
Slavomir Rawicz’s novel, “The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom” is the inspiration for “The Way Back,” a gritty, harrowing depiction of a 1940 Siberian prison break during Josef Stalin’s regime. The pre-WWII true adventure of a handful of diverse, ethnic internees is played by actors including Ed Harris, Jim Sturgess, Colin Farrell and Mark Strong. The story opens in 1939 Poland with Sturgess’ Janusz’s character, an accused Polish spy, and Harris’ Mr. Smith, a nondescript American as the principal players, with Farrell as Valka, a tattooed, Russian thug in a secondary role. Plotting a breakout, they escape under the cover of darkness and begin an arduous journey over the Himalayas and across the vast Gobi desert.
In heart-rending scenes within the prison camp and outside battling nature’s harsh elements, we’re alongside the group. The film is co-written and directed by Peter Weir/”Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.” Performances are vivid and true-to-life, with Sturgess and Harris the mainstays. Saoirse Ronan offers a sensitive portrayal of a lone female sharing her companions’ hardships on the way back.
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Biutiful
The intentionally misspelled “Biutiful” may be depressing but is in fact, a “beautiful” film. Set in Barcelona, Spain, the presentation has stunning cinematography “overshadowed” by the wondrous performance of Javier Bardem. His character is a man with the knack to communicate with the dead, and he himself, is dying of an incurable disease with a few months to live. Uxbal (Bardem) is a divorced, loving parent of two children trying to prepare them (without saying outright) for the day he will not be there for them. He’s a good man providing for his brood as best he can–by working outside the law earning money in the black market in crime-laden elements of the city. His work environment consists of drug dealers, undocumented, illegal immigrant factory employees, and dishonest, law enforcement officers. Events are heartbreakingly depicted with an overall emotionally stirring portrayal by Bardem who holds it all together.
Co-written and directed by filmmaker Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu (“Amores Perros,” “21 Grams,” “Babel”), “Biutiful” has a morose atmosphere, yet is uplifting in the way the lead character strives to provide for his kin after he’s gone. (Spoken in Spanish with English subtitles)
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Blue Valentine
A disintegrating marriage is the subject of “Blue Valentine.” Familiar, but absorbing, and also fascinating, “Valentine” details the evolution of a relationship with courting, the ups and downs of the coupling, their marriage, and the culminating break-up. Throughout, Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams deliver realistic portrayals in a character-driven drama. In the present to flashbacks, Gosling’s Dean is musically inclined but settles for a manual labor job, while Williams’ Cindy’s aspiration to be a doctor isn’t realized and she becomes a nurse. The marriage produces a daughter, Frankie (Faith Wladyka). Flashbacks include issues with Cindy’s brutal ex-boyfriend (Mike Vogel), steamy sex, drunkenness, heated arguments, and conflicts over life and the marriage.
Co-writer/director Derek Cianfrance creates his own “Revolutionary Road” movie highlighting two terrific performances by lead actors Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams. Both give their all in this heartbreaking, domestic drama.
Photo editing: Paul Castillo
