All Is Lost
Dir: J.C. Chandor
2013
****
All Is Lost is a great example of how to turn a simple idea into an electric experience. The premise is simple, the dialogue is minimal and for all intents and purposes nothing really happens, at least when you look at it as a whole. The reality is that without words, action, formula etc you are left with the bare bones of a great idea and a fantastic performance. You can fill in the gaps yourself, J.C. Chandor realises that the audience doesn't need to be spoon fed and so refuses to. Isolation and pure loneliness is a hard concept to film but to make a vast ocean seem claustrophobic is a triumph from both the cinematographer and Robert Redford. The sequence of events isn't as contrived as it is in many films of this ilk which was a relief but the final addition of Sharks did make me sigh somewhat but this is only a minor complaint. It's the perfect Lost at Sea film. The ending is brilliantly open to interpretation too but either way I think it was a fine conclusion.