The Alpinist

Starring: Marc-Andre Leclerc, Brette Harrington, Peter Mortimer, Alex Honnold, Will Stanhope, Hevy Duty, Barry Blanchard, Will Gadd, John Walsh
Directed by: Peter Mortimer, Nick Rosen
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Documentary, Sport
2021

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Follows Marc-Andre Leclerc as he attempts some of the most dangerous, innovative alpine climbs in the world.

Review:

Tim: I have to say, I've long been fascinated by mountain climbers. From Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air, to the more recent Free Solo, I love getting to know the courageous men and women who risk their lives to climb seemingly-impossible terrain. The Alpinist is another terrific entry into this set, a look at a climber unlike any other.

I admit I'd never heard of Marc-Andre Leclerc before watching this documentary. Some of that sounds like it was by design, as he never sought out publicity, never wanted any fame. He was focused on the climbs. Some of the most fascinating moments of this film is when he falls off the radar, when he doesn't return calls or seek out the filmmakers. He's doing his own thing and could care less about the progress of the documentary about him. I respect that attitude so much. Leclerc is a climber. Nothing else (except maybe his relationship with Brette) matters as much. To watch this documentary about a man who lives on the edge- literally and figuratively, well, that's stunning. I was amazed at many of the climbs Leclerc attempted and completely. The film does a good job of explaining these, and often, why no other climber has or maybe will- ever attempt them. Leclerc's in a different class- you have to believe he's one of the most successful, accomplished climbers of all time.

The film does a nice job of portraying these climbs. It's always a difficult part of films like this- an climber attempts a solo climb, so you're not going to have anyone else there, filming them. Or, do you use drones? Which have major limitations and drawbacks as well. The filmmakers here use many techniques at their disposal, but multiple times, they just rely on footage Leclerc films himself. There's a great moment where they learn Leclerc successfully completed a stunning, almost-beyond-belief climb. And, he never even told them. They got no footage of it. Their disappointment and amusement shows how unique Leclerc is as a human being. This is really the heart and soul of the film. We get to know Leclerc fairly well- an amazing achievement for such an inscrutable guy. And, we see him brazenly attempting jaw-dropping mountaineering feats that often, no other human being has attempted. His unique skills, combined with his legendary focus, the pureness of his love for mountaineering- it feels like they all combined into a human being the likes we may not see again. I'm obviously not an expert in this world, but from what I've seen and read, you feel a sense of awe when you consider what Leclerc has accomplished.

As much as I loved getting to know Leclerc, I don't feel like this film quite reaches the heights of Free Solo. Similarly, I loved getting to know Alex Honnold from that film (and I was so happy he popped up in this film numerous times). However, Free Solo was so good because the footage, the story that was told. There were moments in that film where my heart was racing, where I was so invested, so compelled by what I saw on screen. That isn't quite the case here, Oh, sure, there's intense moments and Leclerc's story is fascinating, but there's distance in the viewing. The filmmakers here do an extraordinary job, but the film packs slightly less of a punch than Free Solo. I felt a lot of awe considering Leclerc, slightly less awe at the film itself. This one is so exceptionally good, but it's mostly in the character development they allow Leclerc, less in the way the film is presented. Not a huge deal, but this is a big reason why I think this movie just misses out on greatness.

That being said, I want to stress that The Alpinist is a huge achievement. The filmmakers captured so much of the insanity, bravery, unconventional qualities that make Leclerc such a legend. I think the best way to see this movie is going in knowing nothing about Leclerc or his achievements. That's how I watched the film and the twists and turns made for an unforgettable experience. This film is beautiful, powerful, memorable. It's exceptionally well made and one film that will stay with you long after finishing it.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Free Solo, Everest, Infinite Storm