Tempestade Infinita

There is a sparseness to the writing which is wonderful. It does not force emotion but gently coaxes. I found the final scene, especially with Billy Howle's story, quite moving. In the end, I felt Pam Bales' story well worth telling. Locations in Slovenia really work.... Ha apparently I have to burn off a few hundred more words for this review to be accepted! So much for sparseness. I will say Naomi Watts does her best work in years and clearly on a difficult shoot. I will make note of the director and watch out for her work in the future. Malgorzata Szumowska! A hard name to forget. Anyway well done Mal!

Granted, I hadn't even heard about the 2022 drama thriller "Infinite Storm" from writer Joshua Rollins prior to sitting down to watch it. However, with it being a movie that I hadn't already seen and it having a fairly interesting enough synopsis, of course I opted to watch what director Malgorzata Szumowska had to offer.

I will say that the movie started out quite alright and was interesting enough for the majority of the playing time. However, while the story upon which the movie is based definitely is impressive and outstanding, then this 2022 movie just didn't cut it. Sure, it was watchable, but that was about it, because it was ultimately a fairly bland movie.

The storyline started out okay and had some interesting things along the way, however, I have to say that I never felt that neither Pam (played by Naomi Watts) or John (played by Billy Howle) were ever truly in any real danger, and the entire rescue trek down the mountain just felt rushed and superficial.

The acting performances in the movie were adequate, but I never was left with a wow sensation from the acting performances on the screen. Don't get me wrong here, because the actresses and actors performed adequately enough, but I just wasn't bedazzled or impressed by what I saw.

Visually then "Infinite Storm" was good, but visual effects and such just didn't really have much of any real important impact on the movie. Sure, it added the element of the blizzard and the fury of nature, but that was about it.

For me, then Malgorzata Szumowska's 2022 movie "Infinite Storm" came and went without much of a lasting impression. And once the blizzard settles and the snow is on the ground, this was essentially just a somewhat bland movie experience.

My rating of "Infinite Storm" lands on a four out of ten stars.

The story had a lot of potential. I get the theme of the story. But the pace was too slow and not much happens in the story. It was difficult staying focused and keeping my attention which considering I like slow burn movies means even this was too slow for me. I think another reviewer said it best that it needs more content in the story. Naomi Watts is a great actress and that has never been in doubt. But even she couldn't rescue this film.

While this isn't an action packed thriller. It is a movie about dedication, perseverance, overcoming personal loss, and fortitude to get back home alive.

We are brought along with Pam (Naomi Watts) through a happenstance solo backcountry mountain rescue with all its relevant dangers. The movie is essentially a day in the life of Pam, just another of the unsung heroes who help people when they need it, wanting no reward or recognition. The act in itself is reward enough.

It seemed to me like the producers wanted to keep the movie as real as possible without the usual Hollywood glamorousness. Housing is like real people would live in, real backcountry trails, associated obstacles and the packing of gear like any experienced person would.

For those of us returning to cinemas post-pandemic, this was a visual joy: wide-screen snowy mountains, a looming and belting storm, an engaging out-doors woman. Be prepared to suspend disbelief, as this search-and-rescue person shows poor judgement and sets off seemingly ill-equipped into a storm, technically un-proficient in doing a self-rescue from a snow well.

Rather over-done rescue sequence of seemingly suicidal man who at times didn't seem worth saving.

Also a notable gaffe as the action was supposed to take place in November, but the times projected on the screen show sunup at 6AM and still light in the sky at 7:30PM, too long a day for that time of year.

Some pardonable melodrama, but still oddly satisfying in the end.