Behind the camera, George Clooney presents They are a human being Sports drama directed by Joel Edgerton and Callum Turner about the rise of the US rowing team to the Olympic Games.
No doubt, They are a human being Inspiring sports and not recreating a biopic, George Clooney as director distinguishes himself in the way the rowing race scenes are shot, and the game gets, thanks to the judicious placement of cameras and drones, an impressive pace.
No doubt, They are a human being Encouraging, while extolling the values of solidarity, self-transcendence and courage in the face of adversity. Mark L. Smith’s screenplay (midnight sky), adapted from work The boys in the boat Written by Daniel James Brown, it focuses on the journey of Joe Rantz (Callum Turner).
A young man who studied at the University of Washington in the 1930s, he was kicked out by his father when he was 14. When the film opens, America is in the midst of an economic crisis – the Great Depression – and Joe doesn’t have enough to pay for his university studies and barely enough to eat. After seeing an advertisement, he decided to apply to be part of the establishment’s rowing team, as it would provide him accommodation and a salary. Against all odds, the coach, Al Ulbrickson (Joel Edgerton), will lead nine athletes, including eight rowers, to the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
A classic filmmaker, George Clooney doesn’t worry about big effects and lets the films do the talking. Therefore, the presence of the group in Nazi Germany does not lead to a specific perception, the swastika flags are enough to get the message across. The same principle applies to Joe’s situation, where nothing is tearful, nothing is melodramatic – and Alexandre Desplat’s music is included.
We can blame They are a human being Paying at what was agreed and moving less than that Tender bar, George Clooney’s previous film in 2021, starring Ben Affleck. But that forgets his qualities as a director, the economy of camera movements, the precision of the scenes and the judicious choice of actors that at times recall Clint Eastwood.
They are a human being Coming to Quebec theaters on December 25th.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
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