"Alive" is one of the best disaster films ever made. This may be because it is based on a true story, thus avoiding the usual disaster formula of presenting us with dubious (but demographically diverse) characters and unrealistic heroes. Another difference from the typical disaster movie is that there are no real villains in "Alive". The character that comes closest is the plane's mechanic, whose greatest crime is stealing an injured girl's coat.
The story is very compelling, and the subtitle
"Miracle of the Andes" is well deserved.
(Although "Horror of the Andes" may be even more
appropriate.) It is a miracle that anyone
returned from those mountains alive.
"Alive" begins with a chartered plane full of
Uruguayan soccer players, en route to Chile.
There is a storm, and their plane crashes into
the desolate Andes mountains. The plane crash is
stunning. I doubt that Hollywood has ever done
another better.
About half the passengers, mostly young male
soccer players, survive the crash. They nurse the
wounded, obtain shelter from the cold, obtain
water, ration food, and wait for a rescue that
doesn't arrive. Needed leadership is initially
provided by angst-ridden team captain Antonio
(Vincent Spano) and medical student Roberto (Josh
Hamilton), but later surprisingly arises from
Nando (Ethan Hawke). Antonio's despair, Roberto's
pettiness, and Nando's vision all come across
with credibility. The nature of the story
provides dramatic tension, and the setting (the
Andes mountains) provides superb cinematography.
"Alive" will always be infamous in film circles
because of its subject matter: the survivors were
forced to cannibalize the dead, since there was
no other source of food. It is unfairly cynical
to judge the film by this, but undoubtedly that
has kept the film from receiving its due merits
or box office success. (89/100)
Witness Alive, the thrilling true-life adventure of challenge and survival! In this action-packed hit, a team of tough rugby players survive a plane c...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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