Gorillas in the Mist (B+ or 3/4 stars)
'Gorillas in the Mist' (directed by Michael Apted) is based on the autobiographical 1983 book by Dian Fossey. Before said book was adapted to film, Fossey had been mysteriously killed; and her death provides a creepy climax to the movie. 'Gorillas ...' begins with Kentucky-born Naturalist Dian Fossey (Sigourney Weaver) lobbying for an opportunity to lead an expedition funded by National Geographic to the Congo for purposes of studying a dying breed of mountain gorillas. Inspired by famed anthropologist Dr. Louis Leakey, she devotes her life to the study of primates, & persists hard to get to Africa. Once there, she hooks up with a man named Sembagare (John Omirah Miluwi), who becomes her tracker, translator, & beloved assistant. When political upheaval in the Congo drives her from the nation, she doesn't give up; moving her camp to a nearby jungle in Uganda.
From there, she becomes fascinated with the lives & habits of the gorillas in Uganda. Studying them closely, Dian develops 'communication' with the primates, and in doing so, becomes obsessed with their well-being. With time, a National Geographic photojournalist, Bob Campbell (Bryan Brown), joins her for a stretch & makes a pictorial journal of her study. The duo enjoys an affair but split up when Dian is forced to choose btwn. Bob & her gorillas. Shocked by the poaching of the gorillas for their skin, heads, & hands, Dian complains to the Ugandan government, which dismisses her by explaining that poaching is the only means by which the natives can live. Dian Fossey then becomes a militant animal-rights activist; alienating allies she might have had, & creating a host of enemies. And it is with her enemies (politicians & natives, alike) where Dian's untimely end (in her cabin, 12/26/85) most likely occurred.
I enjoyed a good part of 'Gorillas in the Mist'. I enjoyed it as a gorgeous film filled with interesting imagery & a solid female leading performance. But the movie isn't perfect. And I'll touch on a few reasons why. Firstly, 'Gorillas ...' has been criticized for its inaccuracies. For purposes of making the film more cinematic, various plot points were either embellished or created. One other critique would be: Sigourney Weaver. That sounds damning, but I don't mean it to be. She's actually VERY good; giving a passionate portrayal as Dian Fossey. Her physical performance (much like in Alien, Aliens) is fantastic. Her facial tics, gestures, & body language are great. And there's a wonderful tenderness & delicacy that she has with the gorillas. I loved watching her. But on the flip side ... some of her line deliveries (as I often feel) come across unconvincingly. Whether it was her or the writing, I didn't feel like I was watching a 100% complete performance.
But those criticisms aside, I repeat how much I relished about the film. There are some wonderful, evocative sequences in the jungle. The best scenes highlight Dian & the gorillas interacting (especially the male named Digit). I wanted more of those types of scenes than the melodramatic ones near the end; or scenes involving the obligatory romance btwn. Dian & the Bryan Brown character. He just seemed to be a blip in the radar of the Dian Fossey story. From a technical standpoint, the film is stunning; with spectacular mountain locales, great editing (of those gorilla scenes), a moving music score by John Barry, & intricate costume/make-up work (for those gorillas who weren't actually gorillas ... but humans). So yeah, 'Gorillas in the Mist' is a stellar film. Absorbing. A solid B/B+. It's the kind of film that's tailor-made for copious Oscar nominations. I just wish its quality was just one notch better (as far as character development goes).
From there, she becomes fascinated with the lives & habits of the gorillas in Uganda. Studying them closely, Dian develops 'communication' with the primates, and in doing so, becomes obsessed with their well-being. With time, a National Geographic photojournalist, Bob Campbell (Bryan Brown), joins her for a stretch & makes a pictorial journal of her study. The duo enjoys an affair but split up when Dian is forced to choose btwn. Bob & her gorillas. Shocked by the poaching of the gorillas for their skin, heads, & hands, Dian complains to the Ugandan government, which dismisses her by explaining that poaching is the only means by which the natives can live. Dian Fossey then becomes a militant animal-rights activist; alienating allies she might have had, & creating a host of enemies. And it is with her enemies (politicians & natives, alike) where Dian's untimely end (in her cabin, 12/26/85) most likely occurred.
I enjoyed a good part of 'Gorillas in the Mist'. I enjoyed it as a gorgeous film filled with interesting imagery & a solid female leading performance. But the movie isn't perfect. And I'll touch on a few reasons why. Firstly, 'Gorillas ...' has been criticized for its inaccuracies. For purposes of making the film more cinematic, various plot points were either embellished or created. One other critique would be: Sigourney Weaver. That sounds damning, but I don't mean it to be. She's actually VERY good; giving a passionate portrayal as Dian Fossey. Her physical performance (much like in Alien, Aliens) is fantastic. Her facial tics, gestures, & body language are great. And there's a wonderful tenderness & delicacy that she has with the gorillas. I loved watching her. But on the flip side ... some of her line deliveries (as I often feel) come across unconvincingly. Whether it was her or the writing, I didn't feel like I was watching a 100% complete performance.
But those criticisms aside, I repeat how much I relished about the film. There are some wonderful, evocative sequences in the jungle. The best scenes highlight Dian & the gorillas interacting (especially the male named Digit). I wanted more of those types of scenes than the melodramatic ones near the end; or scenes involving the obligatory romance btwn. Dian & the Bryan Brown character. He just seemed to be a blip in the radar of the Dian Fossey story. From a technical standpoint, the film is stunning; with spectacular mountain locales, great editing (of those gorilla scenes), a moving music score by John Barry, & intricate costume/make-up work (for those gorillas who weren't actually gorillas ... but humans). So yeah, 'Gorillas in the Mist' is a stellar film. Absorbing. A solid B/B+. It's the kind of film that's tailor-made for copious Oscar nominations. I just wish its quality was just one notch better (as far as character development goes).