Les rapides de la mort

This work relates, speaking in broad terms, a narrative (based upon a true story) of a group of executives that is pressured into taking part in a whitewater raft trip, during which an unfortunate incident occurs. A subsequent lawsuit which addresses the incident completes a good portion of the film. The entire production wants nothing, as all involved perform at a high level. The scenario, by Michael Butler, is stripped neatly to its essence, and immediately engages the viewer with its combination of visceral excitement, suspense, and character development. The direction by the veteran Robert Butler is precise and enhanced by the splendidly balanced casting. Alan Alda gives his finest performance, softly creating a characterization which fascinates as it develops. Among other cast members, Peter Gallagher, Bruce Altman, and Robert Loggia offered nary a flaw in this seamless tale. The scenes immediately leading to, and including, the actual raft trip are enthralling as a test of strength between Alda's character and his companions, a test that reveals varying moral sensibilities. Editing, in a film reflecting issues of larger scope than are commonly seen, provides an important framework; here, a linear structure is created and moves smartly. The cinematography and lighting, under the aegis of Lloyd Ahern II, can be enthusiastically endorsed (with a wide range of scena) as a standard to be envied. The score by Pray For Rain, refreshingly non-DJ, implies applicable emotion neatly and nicely throughout this interesting and beautifully balanced motion picture. An obviously high level of preparation by all involved brings forth one of the finest films of the 90s.

The streaming service Max recently came to Australia after 512 years of waiting, and I was looking through what it had. I mean, it's great if you want to watch most HBO shows, but definitely not all HBO shows (most stuff pre-Sopranos, including Oz and The Larry Sanders Show? Fuggedaboutit). If you want to watch older movies, it's pretty bad. All the ones they have are the sorts most avid film watchers will have already seen, or even own copies of.

But they had White Mile, which I'd never heard of. It turns out it's obscure because it's a TV movie, and a very average one, but the idea of a white-water rafting trip going wrong sounded intriguing, and I like Alan Alda, so I thought, what the heck.

My life has not been made any better or worse by having sat through White Mile. It is a TV movie. It's about workplace imbalances, then it's about the trip going wrong, and then it's a courtroom drama. It doesn't so anything of these things terribly, and it doesn't do any of these things particularly well. White Mile is a TV movie.

Alan Alda is quite effective as a callous, driven head of an advertising agency who in a quest to strengthen the bond between his employees and their clients goes overboard (sic!) with a team-building rafting trip to Chilko River in British Columbia, Canada. Despite typical 1990s TV movie production values, the film offers some intense and complex psychological drama, especially in the final third. And the strong cast give performances that become increasingly effective as the film progresses. Both Alan Alda and the film itself were nominated for Golden Globe awards in the "Made for Television" sub-category.

1994 gave us two white water rafting movie experiences: The River Wild and White Mile. Which one is better? They're both great in their own way. The River Wild is an action/thriller while White Mile is more of a drama/thriller. White Mile is a sadder, heavier story. It feels very realistic, almost like watching an actual real life disaster unfolding. I found this specific getaway gone wrong scenario, and the toxic workplace environment element relatable in some hard ways. Going down river rapids outside of a raft is terrifying. To a degree, I knew personally this fear portrayed by these characters. The latter third of this movie is an interesting and emotional court room drama. The characters go back and forth about what is morally right in the aftermath of the tragedy. Alan Alda and Peter Gallagher lead a strong cast of quality actors. They bring the drama and their characters teach us some important lessons. Alda especially nails his role as a conceited, bully of a boss. There is depth here and a heaviness which is successfully conveyed to the viewers.

The intensity of "White Mile" is somewhat surprising. Oh, I don't mean intensity in the way the DVD case will have you believe - all action and peril in the vein of "The Edge". In fact, the white water rafting is ultimately a very brief portion of the story. The stars of the film (Alan Alda and Peter Gallagher) offer up both very solid and very conflicted characters. At first, the depth is a unexpected thing. We aren't given basic sketches created simply to graft onto a script. Michael Butler has written this film as, essentially, a moral dilemma. In the end, it is so much devoted to this approach that we never quite get going in a fully emotional sense.

"White Mile" made me think. That's a good thing. It didn't particularly make me feel, but I'm okay with that. The acting was good, the direction adequate, and for something I went into without expectation, I can't say I'm disappointed. Good film.