Director: J.A. Bayona
Starring: Tom Holland, Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts
‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’
Not many actors in Hollywood have created a legacy as strong as Tom Holland. Since his rise to stardom in the 2000’s, Holland has become a fantastic icon. Whether it’s superheroes that spin webs, Hurricane survivors or mischievous teenagers, Holland has played many powerful characters. Arguably, Holland’s strength as an actor has always been his strong commitment to his craft. He is one of those actors that has often poured his heart and soul into each and every role. An actor with strong commitment to his craft, Holland has become a beloved icon in entertainment. Through his abilities to play characters that are compelling, Holland has built a legacy that’s lasting. Although he’s best known for portraying the role of Spider-Man, Holland has proven that he can excel in every genre. A British icon, Holland has turned into a promising actor whose movies audiences often cherish. Throughout his promising career, the actor has created many unforgettable movies worth seeing.
I’m a huge fan of Holland and admire all the movies he has made in his career. However, “The Impossible” is my favourite. Released back in 2012, J.A. Bayona’s movie honoured the true story of a family which miraculously survived a tsunami. Packed with breathtaking production design, engaging storytelling and are of acting, it’s one of the greatest disaster movies ever made. At the centre of it all is an extraordinary performance from Tom Holland, who portrays a helpless teenager whose family is secluded in a tornado disaster. Ultimately, what makes “The Impossible” a masterpiece is its universal appeal. Unlike most movies about tsunami disasters, it tackles powerful themes which everyone would relate to. A spellbinding masterpiece about tsunami survival, there are several strong reasons why “The Impossible” is worth seeing.
“The Impossible” tells the true story of a family that survived a grim tsunami disaster which is impossible. Tom Holland plays Lucas Bennett, a rebellious teenager with a love for adventure. Lucas’ dreams come true when his family goes on a vacation to Thailand. Assisted by caring parents Maria (Naomi Watts) and Henry (Ewan McGregor), Lucas seeks to find joy during his vacation. However, Lucas’ dream is shattered when his family endured a tsunami disaster. A tragedy that’s unexpected, the tsunami leaves the Bennett family emotionally devastated. In a painful situation where chances of survival are impossible, Lucas begins to question whether happiness is ant longer attainable. As all odds are stacked against his favour, Lucas begins to wonder whether his hopeless family will ever be able to survive a terrifying real life tsunami disaster.
J.A. Bayona is a newcomer towards themes of survival. Before he directed “The Impossible”, Bayone has never made a film about tsunamis before. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the true story of a family surviving a tsunami disaster but he succeeds immensely. Through spellbinding cinematography, Bayona captures a family embarking on a journey to survive a tsunami. Visually, the film is a feast for the eyes. Bayona effectively uses handheld camerawork to capture a family that seeks to survive a terrifying tsunami. Emulating James Cameron’s “Titanic”, Bayona effectively uses handheld camerawork to capture families in a sea catastrophe. For instance, the handheld camerawork elevates the tsunami catastrophe scene. During this unforgettable scene, Lucas and his family encounter the tsunami for the first time causing tragedies. One appreciates handheld camerawork capturing the struggles families in a tsunami are facing. Shaky camera is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Paul Greengrass’ “Captain Phillips” has suggested, handheld camera elevates commemorated movies about real-life hijackings. Nevertheless, it works really well in this film. Through breathtaking visuals, J.A. Bayona captures hardship families in frightening tsunamis are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “The Impossible” worth praising is the production design. From a technical perspective, the movie is extremely well-made. Bayona effectively uses makeup to capture the hardships faced by a family that faces a tsunami. It isn’t easy to recreate a real-life tsunami disaster but Bayona pulled it off. Throughout the movie, Bayona expertly uses engaging makeup to capture a family affected by a tsunami which is frightening. For instance, makeup elevates the hospital scene. During this heartbreaking scene, Lucas seeks to care for his injured mother in a hospital that causes trauma. One appreciates makeup that captures families impacted by tsunamis which are frightening. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Fernando Velazquez’ music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing the burden that families facing tsunamis bear. Through strong production-design, Bayona captures families facing a decline.
Storytelling is one of the primary reasons why “The Impossible” is a captivating movie about tsunamis that’s compelling. The movie is well-written, and effectively uses silence to capture tensions of families that face tsunami violence. Inspired by Robert Zemeckis’ “Cast Away”, the filmmaker successfully uses silence to capture the lives of families facing disasters which are cast away. For instance, silence enhances the mother disappearance scene. During this sad scene, Lucas is separated from his mother in a disaster which is frightening. One appreciates silence capturing the lives of families facing a traumatic experience. Through sequences of silence, Bayona captures the hardships that a family which survived sad tsunamis had gone through. Silence is a complicated technique to use in films. As Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List” suggested, silence elevates movies about the Holocaust. John Krasinski’s “A Quiet Place” proved that silences elevate apocalyptic horror movies. Nevertheless, it works tremendously in this movie. Through an engrossing screenplay, Bayona captures the lives of families facing frightening tsunami disasters with a painful price to pay.
One appreciates astonishing performances.
Tom Holland delivers one of his finest career performances as Lucas. Holland first gained appreciation for portraying Spider-Man in the MCU. With “The Impossible”, however, Holland took on his most emotional role. It isn’t simple to portray a teenager that survives a tsunami disaster that is painful but he succeeds. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and emotional in his most memorable role. It’s a role that gave the actor a chance to showcase emotional range he had not shown in his career. With bold expressions, he captures the angst, grief and resentments of a teenager that survives a terrifying tsunami disaster. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most talented young actors which is working today.
Naomi Watts is superb as a protective mother whose life changes drastically when her family faces a tsunami. Watts has always excelled at plating women which are under intense stress, and “The Impossible” showcases her strengths as actress. Whether she is striving to save her children from tsunamis that are frightening or grieving loss of family, Watts uses body language to create a character which is compelling. It’s a role that gave the actress a rare chance to showcase emotional range she hadn’t shown in her career before. It’s a fantastic performance from one of the best actresses working in the industry today.
The final, most notable standout in the cast is Ewan McGregor. As a protective father, he brings heartbreaking emotion to the movie.
Finally, “The Impossible” will earn recognition of everyone for capturing a family’s survival. Unlike most films about disasters, it tackles strong themes that everyone would relate to. The film discusses timeless themes including identity, marriage and trauma which definitely resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be familiar with tsunami disasters to relate to its message. It delivers a bold message about survival which would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “The Impossible” is one of those rare disaster movies which everyone would adore.
Fans of Tom Holland will definitely appreciate “The Impossible” and so will movie-goers that seek exhilarating entertainment. A captivating masterpiece about survival, it honours a young actor that has built a legacy that’s powerful.
Nearly 15 years following the release of a groundbreaking film about a family that miraculously survived a frightening tsunami achieving happiness in an impossible situation that’s terrifying, it’s a riveting reminder of an actor that has built a lasting legacy earning a huge following for his abilities to weave together interesting characters in unforgettable movies which are definitely without a doubt worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 