The Impossible

So much for a relaxing Christmas vacation...: The Impossible Review

Mom, can we go home now? (Courtesy of Collider)

The most recent feature to move me as much as The Impossible did was Changeling, which is also based on a true story of a mother's love in times of tragedy. The Impossible recounts the actual events surrounding a family vacationing in Thailand during the 2004 Holiday season. The day after Christmas, the most devastating tsunami of recent years collides into the resort where the family is staying. After being separated, the film covers their story of searching for each other with hopes of reuniting and returning home together as a family. 

Let me begin by saying this film is like no other. Sure there are plenty of disaster movies, many based on true events. This movie gives us a brisk 15 minutes of background, character introduction, and exposition. Then, the wave hits, launching the most gripping scene of the year as Maria (Naomi Watts) and her son Lucas (Tom Holland) struggle to overcome the force of the flood that is successfully pulling them apart. The scene was even more intense that the extended climax in Argo, and that's not said lightly. After the two grab hold of each other, the rest of the movie is post-disaster, and I can't say much more than that without giving a great deal away.

I don't think it would be appropriate to call this a survival movie, because after we see which of the main characters have survived, they get to safety rather quickly (although one has sustained potentially fatal wounds). Ever ask yourself during a movie disaster, "How do they clean up this mess? Did anybody die? Wouldn't the hospitals be a zoo right now?" This movie has all the answers.

The movie isn't dialogue driven. It certainly has a sufficient amount, but the story is told through visuals, and predominantly, through the actors. Naomi Watts portrays Maria with such intricacy and lovingness, balancing fortitude and compassion, expressing her pain and suffering flawlessly. I've already declared a potential win for either Jennifer Lawrence or Noomi Rapace, but the Oscar for Best Actress could be won by a much-deserved Watts this year. 

And hello, Tom Holland! Where have you been? The former West End portrayer of Billy Elliot plays Lucas, the eldest son of the family. Holland wowed me with his first film performance. He takes a boy from a privileged family on vacation in paradise and turns him into an emergent hero. Lucas rises to the occasion by watching out for his mother and making smart, life-saving decisions. He even helps to reunite displaced family members. Holland seems to make Lucas's attitude shift all more valued to the viewer.

Just before the closing scene, which ends on a positive note, there's a subtle homage to those who weren't so lucky that day, with survivors crying in front of a wall with a list of names. It's a very moving scene which can be easily missed, so look for it towards the end of the movie. It's not a happy sight, but it adds to the realism and maintains truth in an otherwise uplifting ending.

This movie requires thick-skin for viewing. While watching, I remembered the film was PG-13, and was horrified, especially when I saw a girl in the theater that couldn't have been more than six. This movie really should've been R, and easily could have been. After the initial wave hit, I don't think I went more than seven minutes at a time without cringing. It also was emotionally over-breaing. The movie almost moved me to tears of joy, and would've been only the second movie to do so (don't ask me the first, I'm too embarrassed to tell). 

Not only was The Impossible one of the best movies I've seen this year, it's one of the most powerful films I've had the privilege of seeing as a moviegoer. Heartfelt performances, gripping content and intelligent cinematography help embed this unique story of post-disaster onto your mind, making the viewing experience impossible to easily forget.

Rating: 5/5