10/31/18 - Free Solo (2018) - 7/10

Within the first 5 minutes, my hands were pouring sweat. This is such a gripping and death taunting, capturing of the magic of the sport and milestone making. Tremendous moment to capture, which is part of the majesty of truly great documentaries: remarkably being in the right place, at the right time, with the right people. This time it resulted in pulse-pounding awesomeness.

This is a fascinating peak into this death defying sports figure, rewriting what humans are capable of. There is a real question of life and death here as we become one with the enigmatic scaler and the precarious crew monitoring his activities. I didn’t mind their intimate involvement within the film because their questioning and fear highlights and expresses what the audience is wavering on; is this film right to make if the worst happens? The questioning of the the effect the observer has on the subject and his goal is a legitimate and magnetic one.

This is a sleek and intense documentary experience. Captivating as we all hang on the cliff face with him.