Thirteen Lives (2022)
The story of the Thai football team and their coach who got trapped in a cave system, right as a flash flood hit in 2018, was still reasonably fresh in my mind when I put Thirteen Lives on. I do love a Ron Howard film but I expected a solid story well told, though one which didn’t do much more than keep my eyes busy. When I know the ending, I’m always suspicious of a story and that definitely tempered my expectations.
In the midst of the Thai panic and tearful insanity gone worldwide, two English divers (John Volanthen and Rick Stanton) rock up at the Tham Luang caves arguing about custard creams. The everyday nature of these men is rooted in two excellent, understated performances from Colin Farrell and Viggo Mortensen. Viggo looks and sounds a bit like Sean Lock. I miss Sean Lock. People from all over the globe and just about every Thai resource are battling not only to save but even just locate the children, with the help of these men, progress is made and the boys are located.
I’ll leave the story there, in case you live in a ca… In case you don’t know it.
Hard times often bring out either the good or bad in people, and Thirteen Lives is a brilliant portrayal of a time when everyone pulled together. It is tense, stressful and nerve wracking- far more than I was anticipating. There is also a surprising amount about the rescue efforts I didn’t know or remember (I forget that I forget things). Most of all Thirteen Lives is very, very emotional, and really moved me alongside being gripped and entertained.
A superb film, expertly made. I can’t think of a single reason not to give Thirteen Lives 10/10.
THE RINGS OF POWER
BLOW THE MAN DOWN
ABOUT TIME
ICE GUARDIANS
ARCTIC
AN AMERICAN PICKLE
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