Survival Drama – Matthew Liedke on Film

More than a decade after “Captain Phillips,” director Paul Greengrass is back with a thrilling movie based on another true story. And he gets it right again.

“The Lost Bus” is a film set during the 2018 Camp Fire, an event caused by a transmission line failing in northern California. The fire ended up becoming the deadliest in the Golden State’s history, largely destroying several communities, including the city of Paradise.

Greengrass’ film provides a view of the fire’s overall impact, mainly through the lead firefighting agencies. However, the movie largely centers on Kevin (Matthew McConaughey), a local bus driver who evacuated an elementary school through the fire with help from a teacher, Mary (America Ferrera).

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False advertising. I’d say there’s more climbing in this movie than falling.

The threat of falling is constantly at play in this feature, though, so I guess it counts. The two main characters who’re at risk are Becky (Grace Caroline Currey) and Hunter (Virginia Gardner). Both women are experienced free-climbers who have thoroughly enjoyed the thrill.

However, after a personal tragedy during a climb where she lost her husband, Becky has given the practice up. That is until Hunter convinces her to climb an old antenna tower to help her overcome her trauma. The two do climb the structure, but in doing so, some of the ladders break off, leaving them without a path back down.

Continue reading “REVIEW: Rating for ‘Fall’ pushed up by survival thrills”