Post by Absinthe on Apr 25, 2013 13:07:26 GMT -6
The Impossible is based on the true story of a family's survival after the deadly tsunami that hit southeast Asia in 2004. It is a heart wrenching and heartwarming tale of strength, perseverance and love. And it made me cry a ridiculous amount of tears.
When Maria (Naomi Watts) and Henry (Ewan McGregor) decide to vacation with their three sons, Lucas, Thomas, and Simon (played by Tom Holland, Samuel Joslin, and Oaklee Pendergast), they never imagined it would become the fight of a lifetime. When the tsunami hits, the family is enjoying time together by the pool. Henry is in the shallow end with Thomas and Simon, Maria is reading/watching nearby, and Lucas has gone in search of the overthrown ball he and his brothers were playing with. The moment of sheer terror when the wave comes upon them and the family tries to come back together is breathtaking. And as the movie progresses and two parallel stories are told of trying to find each other, you root for them. You cheer when they make a stride in the right direction, you cry in despair when they miss by just. this. much. By the time the movie ends, you are meant to be a quivering mass of emotions and the movie succeeds excellently in making that happen.
I give The Impossible 4.5 out of 5 thumbs up for some absolutely phenomenal acting, heartbreaking cinematography, gutwrenching storytelling and an overall visceral emotional experience.