Film: 'Free Solo'

I wanted to see this ever since the trailer came out a couple of months ago. As bad luck would have it when the film itself arrived I was confined indoors for some days suffering under a Winter malaise, so I'd assumed the chance had been missed. Now, as good luck had it, it returned for an isolated single screening, probably in the wake of its Oscar nomination for best documentary. From the trailer it was clear that it demanded to be seen on the big screen, and it's hard to exaggerate the loss of effect there'd be when watched in a domestic setting. 

The film follows Alex Honnold's (32 at time of filming) attempt to climb the practically vertical (with several overhangs) 3,000 ft rock cliff, 'El Capitan' in Yosemite, Ca. in 2017 - without ropes! 

I'm one of those with a degree of acrophobia or vertigo, though nowhere near as acute as some suffer. However, when at or near the top of a very tall structure or building where there's an open air balcony viewing area (say the Eiffel Tower or Empire State Building)  I experience this tickling feeling in the soles of my feet (and elsewhere!) which translates into an urge to hurl myself off. I thought for a long time that I was, if not unique, then extremely unusual, but some time ago I found that one of my nieces (now approaching fifty years) experiences precisely the same emotion in the same situation, so maybe it's not so unusual at all. 

Anyway, I was expecting to feel much like that for a major part of this film and I'd be gripping both armrests. However, for the most part, this documentary shows Honnold practicing in stages on this very precipice but with ropes (unsurprisingly), planning his precise climbing moves on each section looking for grips and deciding where to put his each hand and foot. So in this film's first part I wasn't quite as unnerved as I counted on being. Also there's talking to camera by his mother, she being his sole surviving parent - as well as his girl friend, his camera team and climbing experts. Talk too of the many friends he'd known who'd tragically died in falls attempting similar ropeless climbs in various locations. 

It's not until the final 20 minutes of this 100 minute film when he starts his genuine attempt that the real thrills kick in - and goodness me, it really is tingling stuff! What is also extraordinary is how the camera team (roped, of course), climbing with him taking very close up shots of Hannold's hands and feet manage to keep out of view, no doubt with some judicious editing, but even so, they deserve congratulations for their achievement. In the rehearsals for the climb proper we do see them climbing with him. 
The photography throughout is every bit as accomplished as one might hope - incredible, in fact.

Of course we know in advance that he succeeds in getting to the top. But he's planned it so well that there are no major scares, no major slips. However looking down on him from above with what would greet him if he fell is terrifyingly dizzying. In 3D it would have been practically unwatchable, at least for me. 

When it really gets going, which is, unfortunately only after 80 mins, the film's great, but it's one hell of a long wait.
I'd been hoping to award this with a '7' at least but with all that preparatory 'padding' and in contrary to most other reviews, I can't really give this more than a qualified.........6.5.

(IMDb.....................8.3 / Rott. Toms..........4.5/5 )