Free Solo

By

⭐ 5.0/10

(Originally written by Joseph)

Reviewing is documentary is kinda weird because what am I reviewing? How well the information is presented? The ability of the creators to craft a narrative from true events? The degree to which I agree with the people in the documentary? I think reviewing this documentary is unique because it is basically a sports movie with a main character who wants something and sets out to accomplish it.

For those unaware, it is about Alex Honnold, a climber, who sets out to "free solo" El Capitan, essentially climbing a massive cliff face with no equipment. Obviously the whole thrust of this documentary is that if he falls, he will die, and this is incredibly dangerous because he is not Spiderman.

Anyways, I didn't enjoy this documentary because Alex is a massive asshole. He doesn't care about anyone in his life, and just wants to climb the rock. He is really mean to his girlfriend, and when she asks if he considers her feelings when doing this dangerous stuff, he's just like... umm no?

I really don't understand the simpletons on this website who enjoy this documentary (yes I've been trying to really work "simpleton" in more sentences). I admit it's an incredible athletic feat - maybe the most incredible. And...? I just don't care if this guy accomplishes it. In fact I wished he didn't. There is no value in this for anyone but him, and I hate him. In other sports, there's always this (somewhat silly) idea that the players are doing it for their teammates or for the fans, or maybe even LeBron's impoverished mom who he can support through his career. This guy is 100% self-centered, and it honestly made me mad when he finished and his girlfriend pretends to be happy for him. In similar instances, the guy can be the best, or he can get the girl. Not both. Banshees or Whiplash teach us that you give up everything to be great, but you don't get to be happy. Now this asshole is married to the girl.

The girl also just frustrated me. Leave this douche! I really didn't get it. Either she wants to be with a celebrity, or she doesn't know what a healthy relationship is like. This guy clearly doesn't value her, and just wants a pretty girl in his van when he gets home from a long day of being the best. Sanni, if you are reading this, you deserve someone who loves you!

Alright, that's enough of that. Again, it's hard to criticize a documentary for giving us the facts and not holding back. There is also lots of excellent camera work and beautiful vistas. I guess I'm more just mad that so many people (again - and I cannot emphasize this enough - people on this very app) glorify this selfish and psychotic behavior. I will not be one of them. A happy ending would have been him figuring out that climbing the rock without ropes is stupid and it's the people around him that matter. And second place would have been him falling to his death and freeing his girlfriend from this toxic relationship.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

By
⭐ 6.5/10 (Originally written by Tim) Watched this for the first time because we wanted a comedy, and it was fine. I laughed a couple times, mostly at Paul Rudd, whose character was amazing. Otherwise its just a 2000s raunchy comedy. These Apatow movies are way too long for comedies, and the feel-good endings take too long to get to. I liked the idea of a fake NBC show that Kristen Bell stars in, and those clips made me laugh. Jason Segel is fine, and he fits the depressed guy thing they are going for here. I will never understand why the two women in this movie are so beautiful and the two guys are pudgy idiots. I guess I do understand, given the target audience for these movies. Another thing, they clearly were in Hawaii for filming a bunch of this, but then there are a couple scenes that are clearly using a green screen for the background. Pretty weird, since I assume they were in Hawaii, so maybe reshoots? Felt kinda cheap. Anyways, good for a couple laughs, don't ever nee...
Read more

July Reading Favourites

By
Image
Look at that cover! This is a YA horror book written by a trans Canadian author that knocked my socks off. A small town has secrets it's trying to hide, and after the death of a boy and a newcomer arriving, things start slipping out of control. It's a book about being trans or queer and living in a small town, and how a community creating a facade of a perfect town can backfire. Also maybe closing your eyes to anything that's "not your business" is not good actually! It's violent and full of rage, and I loved the way it played with time and perspective. Check the triggers, but if you're interested in reading it, I'd recommend going in blind without looking at reviews or a longer description! This is a short book of essays about ableism and disability justice, specifically relating to technological advances for disabled people. Most of the essays focus on a different type of technology for different disabilities (prosthetics, hearing aids, cures for aut...
Read more

Magdalene's Favourite Books of 2024

By
Image
In 2024 I read another ABSURD amount of books, and I will not be commenting on what that says about me, my decisions, or the state of my mental health. So I'm just going to go straight into my favourite books of the year! I've posted about a lot of these in my monthly faves, but now you get to see which ones made it to my favourites of the year list! They're in no particular order. A Pacific Islander-inspired fantasy with unique, refreshing vibes. Hanalei returns to her home island, Her childhood best friend is looking for a dragonfruit to heal his mother, and Hanalei will use her connection with the seadragons to help. Lucier has a pretty simple way of writing, but the story was fun and beautiful, and it really took me on an adventure. Sid is a Korean adoptee living in a very white town that is over a crack where magic can get through. One day a Guardian falls, releasing magic and zombies, and it becomes a fight to survive. This is such an interesting blend of fantasy and ...
Read more