Critic Reviews

• J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

  A tedious movie about excitement.

• Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

  As enchanting as all this alpine footage can be, as a movie, Steep is flat.

• Desson Thomson, Washington Post

  Sometimes it takes escaping death to feel alive -- especially if we have survived a cancer scare, a road accident or some other potentially fatal encounter. But Steep is about those who actively seek that dance with danger.

• Bill Stamets, Chicago Sun-Times

  Steep is a throwback to the early days of movies when the sight of things in motion was a thrill in itself. Seeing leaves rustling in the wind or waves on the sea was a marvel.

• Scott Schueller, Chicago Tribune

  Steep is one of those rare endeavors able to touch on the human condition without neglecting the film's true star: big-mountain skiing.

• Philip Marchand, Toronto Star

  Obenhaus's movie certainly contains a lot of spectacular photography.

• Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

  While it desperately wants to crossover to a mainstream audience, it is what it is: a movie for skiers.

• Jonathan Crocker, Total Film

  Steep is more promo-reel than documentary.

• Rob Daniel, Sky Movies

  Catch this on an IMAX screen if you're interested, but for a great movie about mountain-based triumphs of the human spirit check out the inspirational Blindsight instead.

• David Gritten, Daily Telegraph

  In this handsomely shot documentary about extreme skiing, thrill-seeking devotees boast of their exploits, but shed no light on what drives them to risk their lives.

• Xan Brooks, Guardian [UK]

  It gets a little wearing, hanging out with these lions, but there's no denying the beauty of the landscape, with its fluttering avalanches, plumes of powder and vertiginous, zigzagging descents.

• Wendy Ide, Times [UK]

  Remarkably, given the extraordinary descents captured on film and despite the less than subtle stirring score, the film is ultimately lacking in any real excitement.

• Daniel Etherington, Film4

  Amazing imagery of remarkable achievements and a chronicle of the sport but one that could have dug a little deeper into the psychology of the extreme skiers.

• Rosamund Witcher, Empire Magazine

  If you're a fan of 'extreme skiing' (ie. hurling yourself down terrifyingly steep terrain with sticks on your feet), this film is your Holy Grail.

• James Plath, Movie Metropolis

  An interesting documentary about a thrilling sport, but not necessarily a thrilling film.

• Chris Hewitt (St. Paul), St. Paul Pioneer Press

  There's awe-inspiringly beautiful footage in Steep and awe-inspiringly stupid talk.

• Scott Schueller, Baltimore Sun

  It's nearly impossible to walk away without a new motivation to find what can make you feel the way these characters do.

• Ken Fox, TV Guide's Movie Guide

  The tediousness becomes a little too palpable and the film's first half is frankly dull, despite some fine acting from Depardieu and Balibar.

Read all 18 critic reviews