Sprawling Epic!

Rating: 9/10 (24 October 2013)

The Way Back is an inspiring, hold-your-breath epic that tells the story of an impressive and nearly impossible feat. Peter Weir's first film in seven years is a good one and it touches on many social themes people had to deal with during the World War Two era. I liked this gritty tale of survival and bonding with each other despite lack of trust. However, the film gets intense at times especially in the latter stages.
Peter Weir's film tells the tale of a supposedly true story about a group of people who escaped from the Siberian gulag in 1940 and traveled 4500 miles through the Gobi Desert in Mongolia to their freedom across the Himalayas in India.
The acting is quite good. Jim Sturgess may turn out to be a good lead if he keeps up roles like this. Ed Harris does very well as Mr. Smith and should have garnered an Oscar nomination. Colin Farrell also stands out and I like his macho, pro-Stalin stance. Saorirse Ronan is very good and delivers a captivating performance.
Overall, this is a very good film that tells about what it takes to survive against Mother Nature and her forces. The acting is very strong and the story is often compelling. There are a few intense, emotional scenes mixed in as well. I'm surprised people don't know much about this film because it's a dandy and is worth seeing. I rate this film 9/10.