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An unpopular take on The Alpinist
Jabroni McChufferson wrote: Yeah this is a pretty distinct approach to the movie, and part of the reveal at the end when the viewer can see the whole story of Marc-Andre's climbing experience from start to end. First, I think there's a decided lack of interview footage involving him throughout; I was personally unaware of the events, so getting an hour into the film I was asking myself, "There isn't much footage of the subject of the movie, that's kind of strange." And second, from a narrative perspective, the movie takes the viewer through a smaller version of those who would have personally experienced the events; seeing impressive feats play out, growing recognition, skirting injury and death, and then surprise tragedy when you're thinking the danger has passed. That's literally how life can work sometimes, and it's why this movie has struck so deeply with a lot of people - it's not even necessarily about climbing being dangerous, but how those you feel connected to can be taken from you in an instant, and when you're least expecting it. To juxtapose the two - and I'll be flippant about it, but I don't really mean it quite like this - but Free Solo kind of thumbs its nose, where the entire point is skating close to death and coming out on top; it's man versus nature, and he wins LiKe A bOsS. Literally, the film ends with a shrug and a smile and "I'm going to go hangboard in my van" like it's another day in the office. It's an incredible impressive athletic feat that's non-relatable to basically anyone in the world. The Alpinist is the highs and lows of someone trying to live a climbing lifestyle, and the realities of how dangerous it can be. Everyone can relate to having someone you're close to and love taken from you; it's a story about the human condition, from the perspective of people who climb. |
Todd Berlier wrote: Soapbox: What’s wrong with this world is using tragedy for personal profit at the expense of human value and dignity. Neglecting to tell the majority uninformed viewer that your biographical subject is dead in the trailer and until the end of the movie is next level subversion of the audience. I can’t think of any other documentary I’ve ever watched that does something like this. Todd, I sincerely read and thought about all of yours and others ad hoc rationalizations, but they ranged from absurd to necrophilic. Talking about “feeling death" is one of the more memorable ones. Like Joker saying he gave himself a smile just so he could feel something. I suspect the real reason you feel “a lot of anger and unproductive negativity” is cognitive dissonance. And maybe a bit of guilt too that you swallowed this poison, and even said “thank you!” I think the world would be a better place if we told people’s stories without normalizing their tragedies as mere plot points in a “narrative” or for “artistry.” Like those primordial cavemen or dirtbag days when they'd sit around a campfire and tell stories about their tragic heroes, not for mere shock factor and social points, but in true love and elevation of human value and dignity, sharing our common quest for such kinds of dignity in the face of mortality. |
Todd Berlier wrote: Psychiatrist Iain McGilchrist lays it out pretty well in Hidden Brain’s “One Head, Two Brains”. Denial is a left brain specialty (e.g., denial of other perspectives): evaluating one’s self optimistically, more apt to stick to one’s existing point of view, at the extreme naively optimistic forecasting of outcomes, always a winner, …. Extreme right-brain dominance has its’ own issues as well. Collaboration of both is essential. |
Redacted Redactbergwrote: You know how many documentaries are like this? Post Humus documentaries are quite normal and tell a story chronologically many times. Or docs where they do not give away the "truth " until the end, or in general just slap ya in the face in the end. See: Plot twist. |
Mr Rogerswrote: Free Solo could have easily been on the list, the actual name of the documentary or the content may have been different though. |
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Into the Wild.. |
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Alex Supertramp had some great adventures. he got by on less and experienced more that most folks ever will. he fcked up in the end and died but he was a hell of an interesting and capable person. Reading that book inspired me to quit my job and take a much needed mental break/road trip. living frugally and minimalistic while sleeping in the dirt is good for the soul. |
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Would like to remind everybody saying “opinions are not facts” are presenting an opinion as a fact. Truth is a thing which exists and we use our rational brains to discern it. If two people have two different opinions, of those opinions, one is always closer or further from the truth. “Opinions are not facts.” Is a non-sequitur so cannot be aligned with truth. |
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Truth exists, eh. Like the earth is the immovable center of the universe? There was a time that was foundational to the point of Galileo's persecution. What exactly happened since then? Why did that "opinion" not stand the test of time? Or maybe it still does with some - so be it. |
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Opinions can contain facts. |
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@Bill, because it wasn’t the truth. Mr. Rogers, you don’t have to like the way the truth is presented in order for it to still be the truth. Whether you like something or not has no bearing on the truth of it at all. You can enjoy this documentary all you want. There are many ways of telling emotive stories, that doesn’t mean we should do all of them. If I kidnapped a puppy and made a film about torturing it, that would be very emotive, but it would also objectively be a terrible film, even if it did really well in a tight circle of people who like abusing animals. Marc Andre was on a crash course with no guidance and the producers were more concerned with desperately trying to get him on film doing something dangerous than with his obviously ailing mental health. His mother also didn’t seem to care. There’s nothing romantic about dying young in the mountains. |
Eric Marxwrote: Correct. They held opinions about the Bible that were not aligned with the facts. And science eventually exposed the facts of the matter. Until that exposure, wisdom would have held that their opinions were not fact and Galileo might have been spared persecution. Yes. It is your opinion that the golden rule originated from christianity and was then embraced by the world. That is not fact and contradicts written history.
Worse than holding to an opinion to the exclusion of all others is simple, unfounded character assassination twice over. The pattern repeats and is as destructive as ever. #goldenrule |
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Once a SOF Lt said: Everyone has the right to make an opinion...but thruth is that not all opinions weight the same. You are not gonna take financial advise from someone that is broke. |
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Guys, when will you all realize that Eric’s opinion is truth. |
Nick Goldsmithwrote: What? No sprinter van or did you sprinkle dirt in the bed? That was an interesting life that kid had and certainly a story worth telling. I think almost everyone hopes there is a story to be told about their life after they depart, whether they died young or old. I personally don't want my story to be " he got up, went to work most days and retired with a broken down body, the end." |
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Back in those days I traveled in a beat up Honda civic. Pitched a tent if I planned on being in one spot for an extended stay but usually just put a tarp on the ground. If it was going to rain I duct taped my tarp to the roof of the Honda , stretched it out and weighted it with rocks. Instant lean too. I earned my right to travel in a sprinter these days ;) |
Nick Goldsmithwrote: I lived out of a beater late 80s Civic wagon for a few months a long long time ago when my gf booted me in New Mexico. That's when I made it to the Wasatch and learned to climb. |
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89 civic hatchback. |
Eric Marxwrote:  |
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Eric Marx is the kind of family values guy who’s kids cut off all contact the moment they move out and he then blames them for being a controlling unbearable asshole.
In the time I knew him he was thoughtful, calculating, and I came away from every interaction I had buzzing because he was such a positive guy. I remember him asking me a question and I hesitated because I wasn’t sure if I should answer bluntly, and he saw that and said something along the lines of “I don’t care if you’re blunt, I’m confident in how I feel and I don’t need your validation.”
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