2016 Directed by James Gray
A true-life drama in the 1920s, centering on British explorer Col. Percy Fawcett, who discovered evidence of a previously unknown, advanced civilization in the Amazon and disappeared whilst searching for it.
Charlie Hunnam Robert Pattinson Sienna Miller Tom Holland Angus Macfadyen Ian McDiarmid Franco Nero Bobby Smalldridge Tom Mulheron Edward Ashley Harry Melling Daniel Huttlestone Johann Myers Michael Ford-FitzGerald Aleksandar Jovanović Michael Jenn Nicholas Agnew Frank Clem Clive Francis Matthew Sunderland Yelena Solovey Murray Melvin Bethan Coomber David Calder Stacy Shane Richard Croxford Niall Cusack Colin Carnegie Pat Mooney Show All…
Northern Ireland Screen Plan B Entertainment Sierra / Affinity MICA Entertainment MadRiver Pictures Keep Your Head
La cité perdue de Z, La ville perdue de Z
If not for the ineffably modern hollowness of Charlie Hunnam’s speaking voice, or the distinct rind of 21st century celebrity that still clings to co-star Robert Pattinson like the dying traces of yesterday’s cologne, someone could easily be fooled into thinking that “The Lost City of Z” was shot 40 years ago. In fact, that might be the greatest compliment a viewer could pay writer-director James Gray (“The Immigrant”), a man who seems increasingly determined to revive the glory days of our national cinema, when movie were pictures and auteurs were mavericks. Gray pulls from the past as liberally as Quentin Tarantino, but without the ego — he doesn’t try to process his influences through the slaughterhouse of his own…
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Percy Fawcett, the subject under a dual-microscope in James Gray's latest memory flip-book, forces the viewer to reconsider Adventure - as a genre and as a daydream - through immense meditation to his particular obsessions and mystifying personal narrative. Being both a product of colonialism and a primitive prognosticator of empathetic relations to other cultures, he's a White Explorer desperately trying to rebel against the stigma even as he continues to roam the jungle in search of a fabled city spoken in whispers and translations comprised of miscommunication. Whether he reached his destination is unknown, but Fawcett's idealism feeds Gray's melancholic grasp on clinical study and, without revealing the trick, his own personal interpretation of the story. The Lost…
It's rare to find a movie these days that believes in adventure and sincerity and pure storytelling as interchangeable qualities, and lives up to all of them.
me: i'm tired of white men
charlie hunnam:
me: actually can i have five more of these little blonde bitches?
Percy's ambitions of finding Z reflect that of Gray's ambitions with his biggest project to date. Reminiscent of the films of David Lean, The Lost City of Z is a marvel of a film that packs a surprising emotional punch. Gray's themes of family continue and deepen more with this astonishing film. I couldn't stop looking at it. Images that feel reminiscent of Paths of Glory and Apocalypse Now are great but Gray adds his own spin to keep it fresh. So many amazing images that it's too much t unpack on a first viewing. That final shot is an all timer. This confirms that James Gray is the next great American Director. Let's all bow down to a true master.
"Mr. Fawcett, that jungle is hell, but one kind of likes it."
The Lost City of Z seems, on the surface, as if it would be a film that I would appreciate, but struggle to connect to, however that is far from the case. A truly fascinating epic that only improves with time. An absolute shame that it wasn't a hit, I mean it got the box office of a Blumhouse production with the budget of 5 times one. If it at all interests you I dare you to seek it out. If it doesn't, seek it out anyway because you'll probably be surprised. I think I'd call it a masterpiece.
Stunning production and cinematography can’t save a ponderous, cold script where every line, every emotional beat is gunked up with trite speechifying monologues that read like those inspirational plaques you buy at Michaels. James Gray is very obviously a director of vision, but i consistently struggle to connect emotionally to his lush, ornate productions populated by characters that speak in lines made for movie trailers.
Again people what is it with these endings this week!? This one was not that bad, because we actually don’t know what happened to Percy and hit son on their expedition. But I liked the part where Nina disappeared into the jungle, that was beautifully done. Also again, Robert, you are so unappreciated, thank god I still get to see a lot of new movies with you as the supporting/leading role ✨
Went into this movie blind and with little knowledge about the true history of “Percy Fawcett”. Now I’ve fallen into an rabbit hole of exploration, but back to the movie I need to go back and see who the cinematographer was cause god damn that was beautiful. The use of location and scenery was great. Showing care and compassion to the tribes. Percys own compassion for them from the start.
In terms of locations 'The Lost City of Z' is a beautiful film, but due to its story and unfortunately also the acting, it is a bit of a let down. The film aside, I never really knew the story of explorer Percy Fawcett and although it is interesting, 140 minutes is not long enough to cover everything and I think the filmmakers tried to tell as much as possible in the limited timeframe they have here. Hunnam is cool to look at, but his acting skills are below par. Every time he is in a film, he has the same accent, which becomes an irritation point. Good try at a spectacular arthouse-like adventure film, but sadly it misses the captivating characters and storyline.
Tobias Andersen 7,606 films
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