One person shows are difficult to pull off in cinema.  On stage, at least the person is usually telling stories directly to an audience and a connection is made.  On film, the audience is invisible and the person is on his or her own.  All is Lost presents a nameless sailor (Robert Redford) who experiences really terrible luck in the Indian Ocean.  We witness how he ably responds to his sailboat being damaged, how he weathers severe storms and keeps himself alive as his situation continues to worsen.

It is compelling, yet I fear viewers will be bored.  I squirmed in my seat because the film absolutely refuses to sensationalize any aspect.  It’s as realistic as can be, which I applaud, yet I cannot deny that it all became bit dull.  It would have helped to have the Redford character speak once in a while, but Our Man, is he is identified in the end credits, is not a man who talks to himself.  Thus, it almost rates as a silent film.

J. C. Chandor’s film is expertly made; the end credits identify that three separate sailboats were sunk in the making of this movie.  Redford’s character is resourceful and resilient, yet it is inevitable that he finally reach his breaking point.  And then when all seems lost, as the title implies . . .

Because this is as realistic as it could be, professionally filmed and acted on real seas (no green screens here), and serves as a reminder just how determined a human being can be when facing overwhelming forces of nature and fate, I do recommend the film.  Just don’t be expecting anything super-exciting; this is semi-documentary style filmmaking with a big star.  ☆ ☆ 1/2.  21 November 2013.