long with limited tension

Rating: 5/10 (11 July 2014)

It's 1939. Austrian Heinrich Harrer (Brad Pitt) is climbing the world's 9th highest peak Nanga Parbat in British India. The mountain has become a German Nazi obsession after previous failures have left 11 dead. He's self-assured but selfish. He leaves behind his expectant wife. Heinrich wants to attempt a summit but Peter Aufschnaiter (David Thewlis) takes the team back down. When WWII breaks out, the team is arrested and put into Dehra Dun P.O.W. Camp. His wife leaves him. Heinrick escapes with Peter. Tibet is forbidden to foreigners. Eventually he sneaks into the city of Lhasa where they meet the young Dalai Lama.
This is a long movie without much drama. Lots of things happen but I don't really care about much of it. It looks beautiful. I can't really invest myself with Brad Pitt's character. Even as they starve in the mountains, I didn't get a sense of tension. It's a long beautiful fascinating story but a bland watch. I don't care about Heinrich or his relationship. The Chinese invasion has a bit of drama but it could have been so much more compelling.