BY MICHAEL GOODPASTER
I would never have watched this movie if I hadn’t been forced to. It wasn’t a physical force, but a guilt trip that found me sitting there staring at a movie I expected to a feel-good “Lifetime movie” bore fest. I know I sound harsh, but that was my honest impression going in. A lot of “based on real event” dramas like this just come off as easy award bait. The problem is that ‘The Impossible’ is NOT like those other dramas. It’s not a “Lifetime movie’ bore fest. It’s not a hokey feel-good movie at all. It’s a real drama with more tension in a movie than I can honestly remember seeing in a long time. If you go into this movie with an open mind, which I honestly didn’t have, and no real knowledge of the events the story is based on then you’re in for one helluva ride. This movie can be summed up pretty simply. A family goes to a Thailand resort for Christmas. All is well, but then a horrifying tsunami comes in and destroys everything in its huge path. Then they have to pick up the pieces and survive in the midst of the deadly chaos. They don’t pull any punches. This is not a clean-cut movie for everyone. While the narrative and themes are generally the really sappy inspirational television movie fodder, it’s the real deal. We see blood, we see boobs, and we see things we shouldn’t. It doesn’t sugarcoat anything. It just takes you for a ride. The cast was great. It stars Naomi Watts, Tom Holland, Ewan McGregor, and a hand full of others. I’ve always been a fan of Naomi Watts. She takes on interesting roles and seems to be really charming in interviews. Sometimes you take your fandom of someone for granted and just blindly go along with things. Naomi Watts’s performance in this movie is one of the best performances I’ve EVER seen. I know that’s a bat-shit crazy statement, but let me explain. She’s playing a real person who is experiencing the unimaginable. She reacts and lives it. It’s not like she’s putting on a voice, a cool costume, or dropping iconic one-liners. She’s just acting her ass off. Her main co-star is the young actor Tom Holland. I don’t think I’ve seen him in anything before, but I will for sure look out for him in future things. He was outstanding and for every praise I gave Watts you could give his guy. I want to go on and on about key plot points, the storyline, interactions, and spoil it all for people. It’s just intense. The action, the tension, the panic and desperation are all pretty damn stressful. You leave this movie feeling worn out and like you’ve just shared in it all. Even the most jaded can appreciate this movie. It takes you to the distance on a few levels and I really think it should be experienced. Do yourself a favor and despite any foregone conclusion watch this movie with an open mind. You will not be disappointed. A-
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