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Bacon's most unknown, not to mention jerky, performance has him as a tough outdoor guide to a quartet of young boys. You dont do things his way, he'll let you have it, which he does to Astins character most of the way. The other boys are more agressive and seem pumped up about the journey, but Astins brace-faced, glasses wearing, fearful city kid is the constant target of Bacons challenges. Like canoeing down river, or crossing a creepy, rickety suspension bridge. Right there is one of the films best moments, when the boys have only one plank at a time to step on while crossing a river 182 feet below them. There are other tense scenes as well, like the crossing of "Devil's Tooth," or Astin and Bacons final run down the river, with the two flying over a waterfall. The other boys are decently played, but are so tough on each other that at times it gets unpleasant. The story is told in some sort of flashback, with Astin making comments right into the camera, and then picking up back in the woods with him looking a couple years younger. The explanation on that is the film went unreleased for 2 years and I guess they thought it would be interesting for an older Astin to add commentary on his trek a couple years later. It comes off ok. Of note as well is the great soundtrack that features some great Cutting Crew and Bruce Hornsby songs. The violence is kept pretty low till the end, when Adlers character trashes Bacon with an array of objects causing him to plummit into a ravine. The climax deals with Astin toughing the river to get Bacon help. Its nicely shot but could've used some music to bring out the drama. But even without it the film is very exciting all the way through.
score 8/10
mcfly-31 3 August 1999
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw0252289/ |
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22-2-2021 04:52:03