Against the Current

2009
R
1h 38m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Struggling with a tragic past, a man with an urgent calling enlists two friends to help him swim the length of the Hudson River.Struggling with a tragic past, a man with an urgent calling enlists two friends to help him swim the length of the Hudson River.Struggling with a tragic past, a man with an urgent calling enlists two friends to help him swim the length of the Hudson River.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

1.3K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win total

Photos75

+ 70

User reviews24

6.11.3K

Featured reviews

10kam6318

Warm thoughtful film

I had the chance to see this at AFI festival in Dallas. The movie is beautifully shot, and some of the scenes along the Hudson are gorgeous. The story line is intriguing, and unfolds as the swimmer makes his way through the challenge of swimming the Hudson. As the first reviewer said, he has a tragic story that compels him to take on this feat. I won't divulge the details, but as his story comes out, it makes you think hard about some of life's issues. Definitely worth seeing.

The dialog is also well-written. Although this is not a comedy, the dialog is often quite funny. Fiennes may have gorgeous eyes, but I thought Justin Kirk's character really stood out in the film.

nhpbob

A warm film that premiered at Sundance

This under-the-radar film about a guy who swims a good length of the Hudson River in NY State down to NYC, is one of those warm indie films that deftly balances drama with some humor. No surprise that it snagged actors like Joseph Fiennes, Elizabeth Reaser (adding another fine performance to her growing career since her debut in the great "SWEET LAND"), Justin Kirk, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Mary Tyler Moore in a notable supporting role.

The reason behind his swim I won't divulge here, but it makes for some powerful moments. As he swims, his 2 friends go along with him in a guide boat, and they come to shore for breaks, which leads to some great moments in the film. It's not all on the water. But when it is, it's riveting. As a viewer, I felt like I was swimming right there with him at times.

And the swimming scenes show off the wonderful Hudson Valley, and Joseph Fiennes looks like he really...um...took the plunge. That's really him in the water. Kudos to the filmmakers who must've been on the river an awful lot. (And to the camera people!) Hopefully this film finds its audience in other film festivals and in a future release.

9Richmondlady-71-51200

A Quiet Movie

The movie recently was running on Showtime and got TiVo'd last night. Watched because I like both Justin Kirk and Joseph Fiennes. So I watched this lazy Saturday early morning and thoroughly enjoyed it. Just what a quiet morning needs. The scenery along the Hudson Valley is spectacular and I felt I was rolling along in the boat. I think Justin Kirk was just right (as usual) with his character, no over the top stuff. Mary Tyler Moore was a hoot and hopefully we can see more of her. The subject matter is a bit disconcerting but it kept me intrigued. Not only was the story and scenery compelling, the music captured my attention also. The movie was well done...., Just watch while you can let yourself be carried along slowly. I gave it a rating of "9" since it i liked watching it and when it was done, stayed with me emotionally. Does cause one to consider uncomfortable situations....morally and ethically. Enjoy.

7SnoopyStyle

great trio

Paul Thompson (Joseph Fiennes) is haunted by the lost of his pregnant wife Amy. He talks his bartender best friend Jeff Kane (Justin Kirk) to help him swim the length of the Hudson River. Acquaintance Liz Clark (Elizabeth Reaser) is intrigued and joins the merry band. Later, Paul reminds Jeff that his planned end date is the fifth anniversary of Amy's death. He tells his fellow travelers that he plans to kill himself at the end of their trip.

I really love this trio. They have fun chemistry. They have also great depths. They have great interactions. I almost don't want them to have that detour with Michelle Trachtenberg and Mary Tyler Moore. The stars' presence took me out of the trio's journey. Instead, I would keep them interacting with non-stars. The best joke is the guy passing by in the truck yelling f*ggot at them. Each one of the three contributes something great to the group.

dbpizzuto

Great and Riveting to be sure, but...

I'd say other have covered the ground in reviewing this movie quite nicely, so I'm not going to reaffirm the quiet and rather dark magic you can expect to find here

But I do have one complaint that doesn't reflect on any aspect of the movie aside from some rather inaccurate editing. Let me say I've lived in Poughkeepsie and its environs most all my life. (Poughkeepsie, NY is located 75 north of NYC and 75 south of the Troy Dam where this swim begins.) So, here's the problem: The Hudson IS beautiful, no doubt and it does have tides, but it heads north to south; therefore you're not in Troy in one scene and Hyde Park at 80 miles south the next; you're not in Yonkers about 25 miles north of NYC in one scene and next at the Rondout Light at Kingston about 95 miles north of NYC. (There were many, many such examples throughout the film, and these are not necessarily as the movie might have ordered them.)

So, why do that when all the showing the River in its natural ordering would have no affect on the story line and show off this River as it truly is and most likely most, if not all, reflect the actual filming order. Why? Sorry, just found it annoying having spent 8 years as a limnologist researching the River from Troy to the G. Washington Bridge at NYC.

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Mary Tyler Moore's last film.

Quotes
Jeff Kane: We are looking to buy a boat.
Boatyard Owner: You sure can't have one for free... Ha-ha-ha
[laughter, slowing turning into hysterical cough; also declining any help offer with a hand-sign. All shocked, cough lasts for about 20-25 seconds, and at the end, he spits out, saying:]
Boatyard Owner: What kinda boat?
Jeff Kane: [totally confused] What?
Boatyard Owner: What kind of boat you're looking for?
Jeff Kane: Oh... aah... smallest one you got...
Boatyard Owner: Like a canoe?
[laughing, accompanied with small, scary cough]
Paul Thompson: A motor-boat... with a weak motor...
Boatyard Owner: A weak motor?
Jeff Kane: Weakest one you got.
Katie: He's gonna swim down the river to the city, and we need to ride next to him. So, you know, just anything that you could put along the side...
Boatyard Owner: You swim to New York City?
Paul Thompson: Yep.
Boatyard Owner: Some sorta charity type of thing? A dollar for a mile, or something?
Paul Thompson: Not really.
Boatyard Owner: Hmmm... Well, I got an old whaler, with an old 70-horse-power engine, couldn't outrun the turtle
[showing them to the coast, to the boat. Small cough and all move towards the coast]
Boatyard Owner: Twenty-four hundred bucks...
Paul Thompson: [almost immediately] Sounds reasonable...
Jeff Kane: Yea, I believe that's the going rate for all boats with weak engines.
Boatyard Owner: You folks done much boating before?
[small cough - everyone looking at each other...]
Katie: Uhmmm... I have. I went to the summer camp on lake Oregon. We had a water skiing, sometimes they let us steer a boat.
Boatyard Owner: Well, this boat couldn't pull the turtle, much less a skier.
Jeff Kane: What's with the turtles?
Boatyard Owner: [after a short pause] Piloting a boat is lot different from driving a car.
Jeff Kane: But, it, uh... starts with a key, right?
Boatyard Owner: Yeah. But it has no breaks for starters...
Jeff Kane: Neither did my last car. I think we will fine.