The cinematography and the nature and climbs its captures are all breathtaking, the visual achievement is impressive as are the physical acts of Honnold. The film falls short when investigating Honnold as a subject, who has a complicated history and personality which the film only tangentially engages with. It raises questions- the purpose and potential mortality of this particular career as well as its interpersonal effects and implications- but doesn't really answer them. For a feature length film Honnold isn't particularly engaging- his refusal of introspection, his questionable views of relationships, a couple cringeworthy comments about women, and a very clear and deliberate reserve- make for an initially intriguing but ultimately unfulfilling portrait. His physical prowess and accomplishments are impressive but as the film goes on his personality tends to grate. Perhaps his healthy ego and isolation are a part of what makes him an exceptional climber however this is not addressed in a satisfactory way. There is an attempt at investigating who Honnold is and what makes him tick but in the end that thread of the film is abandoned for the exhilaration and coolness of the climb.
Nature, as arguably the second lead in the film, is also underdeveloped. The attitude, again, is one of reserve, one of surmounting and dominating rather than communing with. This certainly is a matter of taste and perspective but for a career and the central act contingent upon the natural world the film does not engage with it much.
Interesting to a point but for a more complete and contemplative exploration of a man who interacts with nature this year provided the superior Leaning Into The Wind.
Stream It.
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