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| Martin Sheen |
Welcome to Alternative to What: a weekly column that tries to find a great alternative to driving to the multiplexes. Based on releases of that week, the selections will either be thematically related or feature recurring cast and crew. The goal is to help you better understand the diversity of cinema and hopefully find you some favorites while saving a few bucks. At worse, this column will save you money. Expect each installment to come out on Fridays, unless specified.
THIS WEEK:
The Way (2011)
- Alternative To -
- Alternative To -
A Walk in the Woods (2015)
Nowadays, there's something cheap to the way that nature films operate in fictional narratives. The quest for spiritual enlightenment is often depicted with a moment of zen done through exercising and meeting random people. For what it's worth, a lot of the times it feels rather inconsequential or trite. There isn't much to a nature movie nowadays. While films like Wild show something exciting about it, you're often met with mediocre works like Nature Calls that doesn't provide any sustenance and leaves audiences feeling underwhelmed. With many already giving A Walk in the Woods negative reviews, it doesn't look like we're going to be seeing another milestone anytime soon.
However, what's more interesting is that it is an attempt to appeal to older viewers: a demographic that feels largely forgotten in cinema. This isn't to say that they don't have a handful of films per year worthy of getting excited about. It's that they manage to pander to the audience without adding anything worthwhile. It's a banner idea that "old people matter" instead of just accepting that maybe they just want to be people, you know. Maybe they just want to see a story where they aren't a hero in some crisis. Maybe they just want to know that they exist in a world.
That is why The Way is actually a really good movie. The plot is simple, with Martin Sheen playing a man grieving over his lost son. He then decides to go on a long trail walk to deal with his pain. There's the additional guests that keep popping up and it's full of humble humor. In fact, it may be one of the more wholesome movies that I have recommended on Alternative to What. For what it's worth, the film isn't so much about old people being useful. It is about learning to accept fate and live a normal life.
However, what's more interesting is that it is an attempt to appeal to older viewers: a demographic that feels largely forgotten in cinema. This isn't to say that they don't have a handful of films per year worthy of getting excited about. It's that they manage to pander to the audience without adding anything worthwhile. It's a banner idea that "old people matter" instead of just accepting that maybe they just want to be people, you know. Maybe they just want to see a story where they aren't a hero in some crisis. Maybe they just want to know that they exist in a world.
That is why The Way is actually a really good movie. The plot is simple, with Martin Sheen playing a man grieving over his lost son. He then decides to go on a long trail walk to deal with his pain. There's the additional guests that keep popping up and it's full of humble humor. In fact, it may be one of the more wholesome movies that I have recommended on Alternative to What. For what it's worth, the film isn't so much about old people being useful. It is about learning to accept fate and live a normal life.
One of the more compelling things is that it is also very spiritual. It isn't in the way that Jesus dictates life, as most genre films have been about lately. It is about how we seek solace in him in times of need. For those wondering, there is a lot of spirituality in this film. There's plenty of Catholic imagery spread throughout. If this seems to be a deterrent, please don't let it be. These are all just constructs to the character and not a preaching device for propaganda. Sheen doesn't tell audiences to convert. He simply asks them to follow his story and maybe find the solace and comfort that he did in finding ways to move on after a tragedy.
The film also feels personal likely thanks to the involvement of Emilio Estevez: Sheen's son. He directed the film. He does a pretty good job of making the atmosphere come to life and the ominous cries of nature feel personal. He fills the film with characters that are both tame and flawed. It may not be as beautiful in cinematography as Wild, but it is one of those films that explore self-realization with a clarity that isn't on the nose. Most of all, it treats Sheen like a real character, leaving him not as an old person who achieved something, but as a man who understands something more about life by the end.
I may only be 26 and don't have a lot of knowledge about what old people look for in modern films. However, I do know that sometimes I don't get the major films, such as The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. To me, there's something missing in them. They have charm, but they don't seem to question or challenge anything deeper about the Autumn years of life. Again, it could just be my lack of life experience, but I find films like The Way to be a far more effective use of time, especially as they delve into something deeper and more indicative of the character. The Way is one of those films that don't exist too often because of how religion is used to push agendas. I assure you that this one doesn't. All it will do is fill you with awe, knowing you saw something unique and powerful.
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