The Great Alone (2015) User Reviews

Overcoming Obstacles to Do What You Love

[larrys3 · 6/10 · 21 November 2016]

This documentary chronicles the story of Lance Mackey, to date the only winner of the Iditarod dog sled race four consecutive years (2007 thru 2010). The Iditarod race is held every March and is over 1.000 grueling miles through the Artic wilderness, beginning in Anchorage and ending in Nome, Alaska, and can take some 8 to 15 days to complete.

Mackey was smitten with the dog sled racing bug ever since he was very young, and especially after seeing his father Dick Mackey win the Iditarod in dramatic fashion, in 1978. However, he would have to overcome a lot of obstacles along the way including his rebellious youth and drug use, the divorce of his parents, and being given little chance to survive a throat cancer operation. Eventually, he would overcome them all and become a champion musher, while achieving lots of notoriety whether he welcomed it or not.

As far as the film itself, it can be disjointed, at times, but does contain some superb cinematography, and, of course, I'm always enamored by those wonderful and loyal sled dogs, to whom Mackey clearly gives much love and attention to.

All in all, I thought this documentary has some drawbacks, but it illustrates the remarkable determination of a man to overcome many challenges, and to be successful at what he loves to do.

HEAVY STUFF! Not some sport promo!

[djestic03 · 8/10 · 26 February 2023]

...as much a story of man against nature, man against himself, and man against man as any story you would ever watch. The documentary plays out without maudlin hype, with excellent camera work- you are right THERE-warts and all. Mackey is an unlikely hero in the Iditarod, a 1000 mile race through grueling Alaskan wilderness, not a polished man but rough hewn and flawed but who appears MADE for just this sport. Kudos for letting us be our own judge... great journalism.

NOTE ON DOG ABUSE: I mushed ( 20 minutes) by a Colorado family that used "retired" sled dogs for tourists for these brief outings of 90 minutes. From the second these dogs are hooked up, they are lunging to pull, yapping, up on their hind legs, vocal... 'LETS GO!' You HAVE to stand on the brake when stopping or they will take off. I was not going to participate until I understood this: not torture but fulfillment for them. In the movie, Mackey is nuzzling all of his dogs regularly, sleeps with them outside at times!... with some nuzzled in his arms. They lick his face anytime he's close to them and can't get enough of him! Not abuse!

Not sure of the purpose

[Interestedviewer2 · 6/10 · 22 December 2018]

I picked up the documentary from the library because I like Cloud Cult, the music in the background. That said, I have been very interested in the Iditarod. I didn't find Lance to be a very likeable person quite frankly. But I guess if you are a winner, often times your obsession doesn't allow you to be a socially perfect person. I was disappointed that his mother, who raised him, wasn't given more of a presence, particularly after he won the races. Lance clearly disliked his father but his father got the glory after Lance the first race in 2007 and his mother had to fight to get any kind of attention. I find that very dismissive and sexist.

He may have won four in a row and that is something that is something amazing. But yet, I feel like this film left me flat - like, so what? Maybe his personal history should have been left out? Or maybe there should have been more attention on the history of the race or even his brother and father's involvement.

I am sure if I met Lance I probably wouldn't like him. Is that the point?

Surviving The Great Alone

[valleyofrivers · 9/10 · 16 June 2016]

Lance Mackey is a leader, not just of men, but of man's best friend: His dogs. The life bestowed on Lance did not come easy, and he's worked for every inch of snow he has ever traveled. The four-time winner of both the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and Yukon Quest has molded himself into a legendary dog musher. Lance Mackey is many things, but above all else he's a survivor.

The Great Alone tells the story of Lance Mackey, an Alaskan dog musher born into an elite dog mushing family. His father, Dick Mackey, is a founding member and winner of the 1978 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Five years later, in 1983, Lance's brother Rick crossed the finish line in first place. Lance would have his turn beginning in 2007, and he would continue winning for three more years. In 2008 Lance became the first person ever to win not only the Iditarod, but Yukon Quest as well in the same year, a feat previously not thought to be possible. He would prove everyone wrong by doing it again in 2008.

The victories accomplished were accompanied with great personal hardship. Diagnosed with cancer, Lance would spend a great deal of time and energy fighting the disease, conquering it only after radiation and surgery, which left his throat vulnerable to injury. He was advised by medical professionals to never race again, advice he refused to follow, and was quickly back on the sled.

The Great Alone follows Lance on his 2007 and 2008 Iditarod victories. It highlights his deep bond with his dogs, the life he had before racing, and some of the personal issues within his family. The Great Alone does a fantastic job at shedding light on a sport few get the chance to truly be immersed in and what it means for not only the racers, but the Alaskan community as well.

If you enjoy documentaries about dogs, sporting events, athletes, the wilderness, self-reliance, or simply would like to see a truly inspiring story, this documentary is all of those things. I personally have a great respect for Lance Mackey, not only for what he's accomplished, but how he accomplished it as well. He never seemed to lose focus on his love for his dogs or why he began racing to begin with. The cinematography is excellent and Lance's story is very well told. I was left feeling inspired and hope to someday see a sled-dog race in person.

Lance Mackey is many things, but above all else he's a survivor.

So Glad I watched This Movie

[skyhiink · 10/10 · 23 June 2016]

This movie was by far one of the most touching films I have seen. It takes you into the mind and life of a dog loving sled champion.If you are an animal lover you will love this, but if you aren't and simply love a great documentary.... Either way you will win if you watch. For those minutes I became Lance Mackey. Not only did it help me understand this amazing sport.... But it also let me feel as if I stepped into his shoes and for an hour or so.... I too was a dog sledding champion. Thanks for making this film and sharing your world with me. By the way, I found this gem in good ol' Netflix. I seriously would have paid to see this in a movie theater. It kept me at the edge of my seat.... It made me laugh.... Even made me tear up. MUST-SEE!

What a great film, ignore the trolling from the wha cko that hates dog sledding

[VoyagerMN1986 · 9 June 2017]

This film is a great film about survival, about working dogs who are the are on average 10x more physically and psychologically healthy than pet dogs.

Please ignore the sole detracting review from a person who lives in Florida and runs a one person effort to ban dog sledding and who knows nothing about it. Really three dozen dogs have died running the Iditarod since 1993? OMG! But in fact some 10,000 dogs have run that race. Statistically they are safer running that race than in a the urban dog park in Florida! Iditarod dogs have a lower death rate and lower injury rate than human marathon runners

The person running this one person effort admits she has never even been to Alaska to witness an iditorod and is an expert?

Her rantings have been thoroughly debunked. See tinyurl.com/yet89gm and tinyurl.com/y8y9brqd

Exceeded my expectations

[maccas-56367 · 9/10 · 25 January 2019]

This documentary is about a lot more than just a dog sled race. It totally exceeded my expectations.

I love Alaskan scenery and love dogs, so thought I'd give this film a go. Didn't expect this film to be so inspirational!

It's a story about redemption, and a love for family - both the human kind and dogs. Overcoming such challenges such as addiction, broken family bonds, an unforgiving climate, cancer and health issues along the way.

Beautiful cinematography - but it's virtually impossible to make Alaska look ugly anyway!

I lost it at the scene during the 2007 Iditarod when Lance knelt down and thanked each individual dog prior to the finish. His love for his dogs was the highlight of the film.

Definitely recommend!

Movie glorifies animal abuse

[sleddogac · 1/10 · 18 May 2017]

The movie doesn't give important facts about Lance Mackey. In a recent Iditarod, one of Lance Mackey's male dogs ripped out all of his 16 toenails trying to get to a female who was in heat. This type of broken toenail is extremely painful. Mackey, a four-time Iditarod winner, said he was too stubborn to leave this dog at a checkpoint and veterinarians allowed Mackey to continue to race him. Imagine the agony the dog was forced to endure.

In the 2015 Iditarod, two of Mackey's dogs died. His dog Wyatt died after having been forced to run in the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest just weeks before the Iditarod.

Lance Mackey has 120 dogs who are forced to live at the end of short chains. Chaining is cruel, which is why it's been banned or restricted in many places.

Learn more: Sled Dog Action Coalition

No stopping Lance

[tinacarter-39877 · 16 August 2018]

Great documentary and lesson on never giving up!! Lance has passion and is determined to overcome any obstacle.