A team of mountain climbers run into dire straits when they encounter a turn in the weather and become stranded during an assault on K2 in `Vertical Limit,' a thriller directed by Martin Campbell. Millionaire businessman (and experienced climber) Elliot Vaughn (Bill Paxton) has surrounded himself with the best climbers in the world to help him reach the top of K2 and effect his `life's statement.' And coincidentally, there just may be some publicity in it to help him launch his new airline, which is scheduled to make it's initial flight (over K2, of course) just as they make it to the summit. World renowned climber Tom McLaren (Nicholas Lea) is in charge on the mountain; but when conditions dictate a return to base camp, Vaughn's money and position prevails and they continue on with what becomes a fool's errand. Watching the proceedings from below is photographer Peter Garrett (Chris O'Donnell), who is in the area on assignment for National Geographic. Garrett also happens to be an expert climber, as is his sister, Annie (Robin Tunney), who happens to be a member of Vaughn's team. When it becomes clear that the stranded climbers have a window of but a certain number of hours for survival, Peter goes into action and puts together a rescue team; he's not about to let his sister die on the mountain. To lead his team he enlists the help of a local, Montgomery Wick (Scott Glenn), a legendary climber who knows K2 better than anyone else alive. And with his team in place and good to go, the adventure begins. The story-- by Robert King, with a screenplay by King and Terry Hayes-- is substantially well written, and though it has a sense of `been-there-done-that' about it, it's like your favorite ride at an amusement park; as soon as you get off, you want to get back on and go again. That's the way it is with this movie. It's familiar territory, but under the steady hand of director Campbell, and with the help of some breathtaking photography, it's a heart-stopping, exciting film that refuses to let you off the hook from the opening sequence to the very end. The only flaw overall would have to be that King and Hayes took the low road-- or the easy way, if you will-- by introducing a plot twist that concerns the relationship between Vaughn and Wick that is somewhat cliched; almost as if they felt the drama of the rescue and all that surrounds it was not enough somehow. They were wrong; the element in question merely serves to lower the bar a bit. Happily, however, it is not enough to negate the entertainment value of the entire project, nor does it significantly alter the fact that this is basically a good story. I mention it only because I feel that had they used a more imaginative, alternative means to their end, it would have made what is predominantly a really good movie an exceptional one. An interesting cast was assembled for Campbell to use in the telling of his story, most notably O'Donnell, who has attained a level of maturity that gives a credibility to his character that he has lacked somewhat in previous outings; and Scott Glenn-- looking aptly weather-beaten here-- who effects just the right touch of isolation to make Wick a somewhat enigmatic presence. Tunney makes her Annie believable, which is especially important in putting across the climbing sequences, and Paxton does likewise with Vaughn, though his character is not really much of a stretch for him as an actor. But he does deliver. The real find here, however, is the charismatic Izabella Scorupco (Monique), who not only proves that she has what it takes as an actress, but is a classic beauty in the style of Lake, Leigh and Bergman rarely seen in Hollywood in the past two or three decades. The supporting cast includes Steve Le Marquand, Ben Mendelsohn, Temuera Morrison and Robert Taylor. There are a number of scenes in `Vertical Limit' that will have you on the edge of your seat and may even have you gasping aloud; at the same time, there are certain aspects of this film that have inevitable conclusions. But Campbell has put it all in a fresh, exciting package that makes this movie more than worth your while and is thoroughly entertaining. Check it out; It's a ride you're going to be glad you jumped on. I rate this one 7/10.
Review of Vertical Limit
