First, the Recap:
Growing old. It is something we all do, folks, like it or not. The inevitability of aging has more than been addressed in film, often to the extent of emphasizing the search for ways to cheat it and/or at least delay it. However, when one truly looks at age, you can recognize all the roads walked, wisdom gained, lesson learned, and in joy and trial, ideally, a life lived to the fullest. Successful travel writer Bill Bryson (Robert Redford), coming off a horrendous TV interview, the funeral of a friend, and the indicators of his age, gets the notion to hike the full length of the Appalachian Trail, much to the serious hesitation of his wife, Catherine (Emma Thompson).
Insisting he not try it alone, Bryson ultimately finds a partner in oldest and former friend Stephen Katz (Nick Nolte), whom the years have not necessarily been as kind to. But, willing to give it a shot, and each for their own initial reasons, the two men make the trip to Georgia to begin the 2000+ mile trek. Along the way, conversations come up as the two reconnect and reminisce about the younger years, sometimes reveling in it, other times almost being at each other’s throats. With the physical rigors involved, it becomes evident that the chances of making it the entire distance may or may not be possible, hence the hike becomes a true test of both men’s fortitude, friendship, and determination to finish something they’ve started.
Next, my Mind:
Based on the novel of the same name by Bryson (who, granted, was much younger on this adventure than Redford or Nolte), this film directed by Ken Kwapis does take expected, abbreviated steps in presenting the story of Bryson and Katz, but does so in a way that still leaves plenty of room for the wit-filled stylings of Bryson’s writing without making the entire affair into a farce. Filled with more than enough pathos to accompany the humor, it is a story about the choice to look a daunting adventure in the eye and face it head on, finding the belief you can accomplish it while having odds stacked so much against you. And this is brilliantly pulled off here to great effect.
Let’s face it, the film excels mainly due to the fantastic casting of veteran actors Redford and Nolte, who play off of each other to such great appeal and entertainment. The dynamic created here with Redford playing the cerebral Bryson to Nolte’s worldly-focused Katz is pure joy, and viewers who’ve read the book can hopefully forgive the literal age difference being portrayed in the film’s characters vs. the real life people. Hilarious encounters with everything from bears and a chatty, think-they-know-it-all hiker Mary Ellen (a riotous Kristen Schaal), to a woman’s enraged husband and other incidents, Redford and Nolte flow in their roles, seasoning it with the introspective moments, whether deeply emotional or highly irreverent. Gorgeous cinematography and a quiet soundtrack top it off, and delivered here is ultimately what a story like this is really all about–being human.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading.
