Director: Martin Campbell
Starring: Chris O'Donnell, Robin Tunney, Bill Paxton, Scott Glenn
Running Time: 124 minutes
Synopsis: Siblings and mountaineers Peter and Annie (Chris O'Donnell and Robin Tunney) grow apart after losing their father in a harrowing Monument Valley rock climbing incident. Three years later, Peter is wildlife photographer while Annie has become a celebrated climber. They meet again at the K2 basecamp, where Annie is joining the expedition of charismatic billionaire Elliot Vaughn (Bill Paxton). After bad weather traps the climbers, Peter teams up with grizzled veteran Montgomery Wick (Scott Glenn) to mount a rescue, but personal agendas will complicate an already hazardous operation.
Synopsis: Siblings and mountaineers Peter and Annie (Chris O'Donnell and Robin Tunney) grow apart after losing their father in a harrowing Monument Valley rock climbing incident. Three years later, Peter is wildlife photographer while Annie has become a celebrated climber. They meet again at the K2 basecamp, where Annie is joining the expedition of charismatic billionaire Elliot Vaughn (Bill Paxton). After bad weather traps the climbers, Peter teams up with grizzled veteran Montgomery Wick (Scott Glenn) to mount a rescue, but personal agendas will complicate an already hazardous operation.
What Works Well: Whether in the Arizona desert for the opening sequence or on the unforgiving K2 mountain (but mostly filmed in New Zealand), the cinematography is a spectacular combination of breathless and awe-inspiring. The stunt performers earn their salaries in a series of near-death encounters, and the many intersecting backstories (Peter and Annie's trauma; Elliot and Montgomery's history; Elliot's disregard for safety; a couple of exceptionally laid-back Australian brothers) inject the thrills with sufficient human depth.
What Does Not Work As Well: The production carelessly disrespects its own subject matter, with many mountain climbing details just ignored, including basics like cold breath and essential clothing. The search for cheap thrills bends towards the ridiculous when nitroglycerine gets involved, and the never-ending avalanche of close calls, explosions, cliff face rescues, slides into danger, and death defying leaps quickly blend into too much of a good thing.
Key Quote:
Peter: My sister's dying up there, Mr. Wick.
Montgomery Wick: Up there, you're not dying, you're dead.
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