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Shackleton [2002]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Shackleton is not a biopic of the great Anglo-Irish explorer but a dramatisation of the failed trans-Antarctic expedition of 1914-16. As written and directed by Charles (Longtitude) Sturridge the production, filmed on real ice floes in Greenland, stays remarkably close to the facts, capturing the look of the surviving expedition photos of Frank Hurley (collected in the book South With Endurance) with great fidelity. Kenneth Branagh makes no attempt at an authentic accent but otherwise gives a powerful impression of a most commanding personality. When the expedition ship Endurance became locked in the Antarctic ice Shackleton vowed to bring every man home alive, and against virtually impossible odds, including a 700-mile journey in an open boat through some of the worst seas in the world, he did just that. This superlative mini-series realises the story with production values and cinematography which would not disgrace a big-budget feature (Hurley's own 1919 documentary film can be seen on video in South). Intense physical drama, strong performances and Adrian Johnston's fine score combine here to deeply moving effect, marred only a little by a rushed conclusion. With Roland Huntford, author of the definitive Shackleton biography, as production advisor, this easily stands as the benchmark for all future comparable films. --Gary S Dalkin


Almost brilliant, but...
Review date: 2008-08-08 Rating: 8 out of 10

I SO wanted to give this five stars. If I would ever claim to have a hero, Shackleton is the man I would name and this could have been the defining biopic of his tremendous adventure in the Antarctic in 1914-1916. It has the directorial heft of Charles Sturridge (Brideshead Revisited. Need I say more?), who also wrote the screen play but it has it faults:

1) What a shame it was filmed in Greenland rather than the correct hemisphere. I know this was due to the problem of finding manageable conditions in which to work but it's a bit like finding that a film about Lawrence of Arabia was shot in Nevada.
2) In the course of the 3hr20min film, far too much concentration is placed on the fundraising and organisational preamble. Important to a degree, this nonetheless feels like too long an overture for a great action story.
3) The story is essentially composed of four parts: the escape from the ice on the floes, the journey of the James Caird, the plight of those on Elephant Island and the epic crossing of South Georgia. The first of these is well done, though too compressed to show how arduous it really was. The second part is a pretty poor cop out, with only one shot of the Caird at sea as it approaches the mighty wave (we get no sense of how vital Worsley's navigation was or the relief of sighting land that saved the six men from heading,lost,into the Atlantic). The existence of those men left on Elephant Island is underplayed (we get no sense of their feeling of helplessness after months without relief, nor any sense of their awful life huddled under two boats living on penguin offal and seaweed). The extraordinary crossing of South Georgia is almost treated as a Sunday walk and the actors' depiction of their utter exhaustion is rather hammed up. The greatest part of the whole story - three of these four parts - is dealt with in a hurried forty minutes and it's not enough.
4) If I were being really pedantic, I would criticise the appearance of Shackleton, Crean and Worsley as they arrive in Grytviken. They should have looked filthy, bedraggled, at the point of collapse, blistered and wasted. Sure, they look tired but Branagh has neat hair, a fluffy but neat beard and no appearance of the unspeakable devastation of their condition.

But, the good points are as follows:
1) Thank you, Mr Sturridge, for attempting a film that needed to be made.
2) The characters of Shackleton, Crean, Worsley, McIlroy, Orde-Lees, Hurley, Marston and McNeish are brilliantly caught, especially Orde-Lees.
3) The scenery, albeit in Greenland, is breathtaking.
4) The historical authenticity of the ship, the clothing, the props and the spirit of the era are all excellent.
5) Shackleton's charisma is well portrayed by Branagh - he had a remarkable personal charm and a hugely endearing rogueish appeal to women - and Branagh gets this over well but couldn't he have at least tried to emulate Shackleton's Kildare brogue?
6) The leadership of Shackleton was essential to the whole expedition. He inspired terrific loyalty in (almost) all his mean and they did what he said (almost) without question which is a mighty achievement in such desperate circumstances. That skill comes across well.


Lastly, can someone please try to make a modern film about Scott and Amundsen? By 2012, there will be a golden opportunity to capitalise on the centenary of their remarakable exploits.

Overall, a great film that makes you grateful for a warm dry bed and good fresh food but I wish it didn't feel as though they were running out of time and money 2/3 of the way through.


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Reviews


Good drama
Review date: 2007-08-23 Rating: 8 out of 10

TV adaptations never match up to the book, and this film is no exception. For those, like myself, who have read Endurance, Shackleton, Nimrod etc, see that a TV adaption falls considerably short of doing justice to the real Shackleton. However, this asside, I really enjoyed this movie for the sake of it, and accept that the 'film buff' will learn nothing about the real Shackleton here, but will appreciate good drama and a sterling performance from the cast. Enjoy.

Brillant Film, Excellent Story
Review date: 2006-05-06 Rating: 8 out of 10

if you like Adventure, but also like a good story with Emotional then this is for you.

Should not stand alone.. see the documentary
Review date: 2005-01-25 Rating: 4 out of 10

Having read the book by Caroline Alexander and seen the documentary based on the same book, I was curious to see a dramatization with renowned actor Kenneth Branagh. Although to some extend he portrayed Shackleton reasonably well, the overall picture is one of disappointment. Totally irrelevant mistress sidestory takes up way too much time in the very long film.
We could have spend a little more time on the ice and in the lifeboats - how boring it may have been - but that was the reality of it. Fear of boredom deprived us of the right to experience, what Shackleton and crew actually experienced. Could otherwise have been a great opportunity to state a point for modern age busy people. How to survive boredom - in which case the film actually fullfills this alternative objective unwillingly.

Disappointed
Review date: 2003-10-16 Rating: 4 out of 10

I read the book Endurance just before seeing the film Shackleton, and I have to say I was very disappointed with the film. More than a third of the film takes place in England, dealing with the fundraising for the expedition, an extra-marital affair, and a rather inconsequential problem of Shackleton's brother commiting fraud and spending time in prison. I was impatient, since the story of the expedition itself is so fascinating. It seemed like the director didn't realize that that story by itself was MORE than enough to create a gripping three hours, and instead added in scenes of "meanwhile, back in England" to make it interesting.... WHO CARES!

The biggest disappointment was that for all this time wasted on inconsequentials, they glossed over the most spectacular part of the story- that of the final journey of Shackleton and two companions over South Georgia, and the four consequent months that the others waiting with failing hope on Elephant Island. That happened in about 10 minutes... vs. 90 minutes in England....

Really disappointing, aside from some nice cinematography. Read the book and leave the rest up to your imagination.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Phoebe Nicholls
Kenneth Branagh
John Grillo
Paul Humpoletz
Eve Best

Creators:
Kenneth Branagh (Primary Contributor)
John Grillo (Primary Contributor)
Charles Sturridge (Writer)
Delia Fine (Producer)
Emilio Nunez (Producer)
Francesca Barra (Producer)
Rupert Ryle-Hodges (Producer)
Selwyn Roberts (Producer)
Snorri Þórisson (Producer)

Director(s):

Recording label: Cinema Club
Manufacturer: Cinema Club
EAN: 5014138291167
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, PAL,
Release date: 2003-04-14
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 206 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2002-04-07
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: German (Original Language)
Language: Norwegian (Original Language)

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