Hunter Ploch

Simply put this is an amazing film. It accomplishes so much and can be viewed in so many ways. On the surface it is an absolutely thrilling look into the physical feat that Alex accomplishes. You feel like you are right there with him on the wall. The film does a great job of giving his accomplishment the proper context and shows you what a truly amazing feat this really is. But the film is more than just an exposition of a physical feat, it is a very well done examination of a character that is possibly like no one else on this planet. The film does this in subtle ways but I couldn't help but notice all of the little details the filmakers drop throughout the course of the film. The way he speaks to other people, the camera work to show his reactions to other people, the way he conducts himself (eating food out of the pot with the spatula), it all works to show the viewer that this person is not like other people. He doesn't connect with other people and view things in the way most people do. This is shown in obvious ways at times (the MRI scan, the parts with his girlfriend, etc.) but there are so many other details in the movie that work to show how different Alex is from the rest of us. Alex isn't better or worse than anyone, but I couldn't help walk away feeling a bit sad. He says "I love you" for the first time in the whole movie (it feels like his whole life tho) at the very end. THAT felt like more of an accomplishment from a character perspective than actually finishing the climb. I couldn't help feel sad because I felt that human emotion and connection seem so foreign to him. He is, bar none, the greatest free-soloist of all time (in my opinion) but basic human things like hugging, kissing, showing affection, caring for others seem to be very difficult for him. No judgement and no bad vibes towards him, just a fascinating portrait of a character. Absolutely recommend this movie to anyone. One of the best documentaries I have ever seen and honestly on my top 25 list of movies ever. I think this is an Oscar contender and will be an important movie in documentary and filming history.