Hammerman Ikon

Hammerman Ikon Film Guide

Everest
2015
***½
Director: Baltasar Kormákur
Cast: Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Emily Watson, Keira Knightley, Sam Worthington, Jake Gyllenhaal

In May 1996, various groups are preparing to climb the summit of Mount Everest. Climbing the world's tallest mountain is an extremely dangerous feat on any day, but when an excessive number of climbers are hit by a sudden storm, it becomes a nightmare. This horrific true story has been documented in various books, most famously in Jon Krakauer's riveting Into Thin Air. The film version cannot do justice to all the details or all the individuals involved in this disastrous day, but it probably benefits from focusing on a handful of people and their struggle against the elements. The end result is a gripping, well-acted, and beautifully staged drama.