The Impossible is not for the faint-hearted, but for those who can stand the suspense, the graphic images, and an overwhelming sense of devastation, it is a rewarding watch.
Naomi Watts' magnetism loses none of its lustre, even as her character's energy fades. This is the grittiest role I have seen her in and she turns in an outstanding performance. It's a tough performance to beat, in this competitive awards season. Even so, Tom Holland, playing her eldest son Lucas, proves himself a worthy screen-partner. For a young actor to achieve such a mature performance is a feat that mirrors his character's story: in many ways, The Impossible is the story of Lucas and his unfair rite of passage, having the responsibilities of manhood thrust upon him suddenly and too soon.
Much of the drama and poignancy is owed to the sympathy one naturally feels for the blameless victims of a natural disaster that still feels close to home, less than a decade on. But in lesser hands, one may have felt only pity. Juan Antonio Bayona's masterful treatment of the story is such that one responds with a wide range of emotions. He builds suspense as well as Hitchcock, endears us to characters as well as Richard Curtis and shocks us with the brutality of Polanski, all the while inspiring with his closely observed study of selfless love. The result is an honest depiction of personal and communal devastation that turns many unexpected corners to arrive at its surprisingly unpredictable conclusion.
See this film if you liked 127 Hours and Schindler's List, or if you attend funerals for fun.
See this film if you liked 127 Hours and Schindler's List, or if you attend funerals for fun.
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