Tempestade Infinita

Granted, I hadn't even heard about the 2022 drama thriller "Infinite Storm" from writer Joshua Rollins prior to sitting down to watch it. However, with it being a movie that I hadn't already seen and it having a fairly interesting enough synopsis, of course I opted to watch what director Malgorzata Szumowska had to offer.

I will say that the movie started out quite alright and was interesting enough for the majority of the playing time. However, while the story upon which the movie is based definitely is impressive and outstanding, then this 2022 movie just didn't cut it. Sure, it was watchable, but that was about it, because it was ultimately a fairly bland movie.

The storyline started out okay and had some interesting things along the way, however, I have to say that I never felt that neither Pam (played by Naomi Watts) or John (played by Billy Howle) were ever truly in any real danger, and the entire rescue trek down the mountain just felt rushed and superficial.

The acting performances in the movie were adequate, but I never was left with a wow sensation from the acting performances on the screen. Don't get me wrong here, because the actresses and actors performed adequately enough, but I just wasn't bedazzled or impressed by what I saw.

Visually then "Infinite Storm" was good, but visual effects and such just didn't really have much of any real important impact on the movie. Sure, it added the element of the blizzard and the fury of nature, but that was about it.

For me, then Malgorzata Szumowska's 2022 movie "Infinite Storm" came and went without much of a lasting impression. And once the blizzard settles and the snow is on the ground, this was essentially just a somewhat bland movie experience.

My rating of "Infinite Storm" lands on a four out of ten stars.

The title is misleading, we automatically think it is a reference to the storm that caused the drama in the movie, but in fact it is a quote from near the end, when asked if you ever get over the loss of a loved one.

Mount Washington at almost 6300 feet the tallest peak in the NE USA. It is known for its erratic weather and in 1934 a wind velocity of 231 mph was recorded. It is the location of the hike and rescue featured in this movie, based on actual events.

Pam is a member of the area search and rescue squad, on this November day she is hiking the 5 miles to the Mt Washington summit on the anniversary of a personal tragedy. We learn her two young children perished in an unfortunate accident. There is only one other car at the trail-head parking lot and she eventually finds him, half frozen and unable to function. Her task is to get him down to safety.

For me this is not a particularly enjoyable movie because the vast middle has the two of them coming down the mountain, overcoming a few unexpected surprised. It is very well made but it is scant material for a feature length movie. But the last 10 or so minutes are pretty good.

At home on DVD from our public library, my wife skipped.

For those of us returning to cinemas post-pandemic, this was a visual joy: wide-screen snowy mountains, a looming and belting storm, an engaging out-doors woman. Be prepared to suspend disbelief, as this search-and-rescue person shows poor judgement and sets off seemingly ill-equipped into a storm, technically un-proficient in doing a self-rescue from a snow well.

Rather over-done rescue sequence of seemingly suicidal man who at times didn't seem worth saving.

Also a notable gaffe as the action was supposed to take place in November, but the times projected on the screen show sunup at 6AM and still light in the sky at 7:30PM, too long a day for that time of year.

Some pardonable melodrama, but still oddly satisfying in the end.

"Infinite Storm" is a good dramatic thriller with a simple story, a mysterious plot and a very visual development. The pacing is consistent, the narrative is fluid, and the narration uses several flashbacks. The photography is sumptuous, the soundtrack is pleasant and the editing is pleasant. The cast offers honorable performances, but it is essentially the performance delivered by Naomi Watts that gets all the attention. The set is attractive, turns out to be a very beautiful sight for the eyes, and above all, deserves much better than the poor reviews about it. To discover !

I see the narrow minded, poorly read, zero imagination, thinking only inside the box, ego centric half wits have come out in droves to flaunt their ignorance. If you posted a review because you've done this climb and the Movie is not accurate, than a) take a hike and b) no one cares. You're better off watching a MasterClass video by that crazy free climbing Alex guy. Or log on to Udemy and sate your appetite for non growth on some pack organization tutorials.

This is a story about perseverance you imbeciles. It's not a how-to on ascending Mt Washington. There's a concept called poetic license that has clearly gone over a lot of heads.

There's a lot going on in this film if you care to look. I like to think that the characters of Pam and John, though real in person, are thematically one person each representing a different side of ourselves. The one that has real fears and feels the pain of life, the other that strives to survive. And the infinite storm is really just the struggles we all face in our inexorable search to make it home.