The Way Back (2010)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Jameson W

  
  Great film. Well done...

• Bannan i

  
  Just, incredible.

• Ken S

  
  The most incredible story of walking ever told. Makes the LOTR's seem like a stroll in the park. I mean those guys were well rested, had plenty of supplies, maps, a Wizard, Elven healing, magic items and were fictional. These guys escaped from a Russian concentration camp,… More
  The most incredible story of walking ever told. Makes the LOTR's seem like a stroll in the park. I mean those guys were well rested, had plenty of supplies, maps, a Wizard, Elven healing, magic items and were fictional. These guys escaped from a Russian concentration camp, after a year of grueling labor, with just a little bit of bread (regular, not the magically filling lembas variety), a knife and an general assumption of where they might be, and how they might get there. That and these guys actually did this. They walked 4000 miles starting in one of the remotest place in Siberia and finished their journey by crossing the Himalaya's, on foot. I'm never complaining about walking anywhere ever again. Oh and before you get all angry panda that I spoiled the ending, they tell you that some people escaped in the opening seconds of the movie. They just don't tell you who survives (and neither will I).

• Chris W

  
  Ever since I first heard about this movie, I became very interested, and really wanted to see it. I had some very high expectations. Unfortunately my expectations were not totally met, and this film isn't quite as amazing as I hoped it would be, but damn, it's still really… More
  Ever since I first heard about this movie, I became very interested, and really wanted to see it. I had some very high expectations. Unfortunately my expectations were not totally met, and this film isn't quite as amazing as I hoped it would be, but damn, it's still really good, and some impressive filmmaking. The story is alleged to be based on real events, but this has been disputed, and it has been revelaed that the film's events are essentially fiction. Even though it sucks that this isn't really true, it's still a really compelling story, which is that of a group who escape a Siberian gulag prison camp in 1940 and make their way (by foot) all the way to India 4,00 mailes away, as they see it as the best place to escape to (though not initially so). In essence, this is just a classic survival story that pushes the man versus nature trope to the max. These characters go through all sorts of hell across all kinds of unforgiving terrain. The film is a little underwhelming in the sense that it's a little emotionally vacant, the characters aren't developed as much as they could be, and there's no real deep conflict at hand besides survivng the elements. While that's all a little disappointing considering that it means the film is 133 minutes (with almost all of it being the characters walking), it's extremely well done, and it looks gorgeous. Technically speaking, this is a very superb film. The cinematography is top notch, and Weir and his DP know where to set the lens and frma stuff just right. The makeup effects are also quite excellent, showing in detail the effects of sunstroke, extreme dehydration, hordes of mosquitos, and, let's not forget, the effects of freezing cold. Even though I did mention the lack of real conflict, the performances of the multicultural cast (playing multicultural characters) are all pretty good. Sturgess and Harris were good, but my favorites were the two performers representing Ireland: Ronan and Farrell. Since this is a survival story, one thing I liked and appreciated were some of the cool details about how the characters survived, such as the cool snow masks they make out of bark, and their sheer will to plow on despite increasingly ragged clothing. This film marked the end of a 12 year absence of Peter Weir, with his most recent film before this being Master and Commander. Though this isn't a masterpiece, it's good to see him make a return, and even better to see that he hasn't totally lost his touchc. Hopefully he won't let so much time pass between this and his next one, because God only knows that no one can make a film quite like him.

• Candy R

  
  Based on a true story. Prisoners of war escape a inhumane Soviet Union camp to trek through harsh winter snow to scorching desert heat and sand storms. Slow moving but pictureque.

• ♥˩ƳИИ &

  
  Cast: Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris, Colin Farrell, Saoirse Ronan, Mark Strong, Dragos Bucur, Gustaf Skarsgård, Sebastian Urzendowsky, Alexandru Potocean Director: Peter Weir Summary: After narrowly escaping from a wretched World War II Siberian labor camp, a small band of… More
  Cast: Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris, Colin Farrell, Saoirse Ronan, Mark Strong, Dragos Bucur, Gustaf Skarsgård, Sebastian Urzendowsky, Alexandru Potocean Director: Peter Weir Summary: After narrowly escaping from a wretched World War II Siberian labor camp, a small band of multinational soldiers desperately undertakes a harrowing journey to traverse Siberia, the Gobi Desert and the Himalayas on foot. My Thoughts: "A beautifully shot movie about a journey to freedom. The actors are really good in the film. As they travel you get to know them a bit and root for them all even knowing some will not survive. The obstacles they had to over come on their journey is admirable. If not for their strong will to survive, I think most would have turned and went back or given up and died. The chemistry between the character's seems so natural. They truly care for one another and refuse to leave anyone behind. It's a beautifully done film of inspiring character's. Their survival of their journey was truly a miracle and I'm in awe of their strength and will. The film should be seen."

• Anthony L

  
  I think The Way Back is a return to form for Peter Weir. It's an amazing story of human strength that many directors could have done as good a job with but many have reacted negatively to Weir's adaptation. Basically Steven Spielberg could have made it with a mega budget,… More
  I think The Way Back is a return to form for Peter Weir. It's an amazing story of human strength that many directors could have done as good a job with but many have reacted negatively to Weir's adaptation. Basically Steven Spielberg could have made it with a mega budget, horrible actors, bad script and it would probably have made more money. I would suggest that in his avoidance of cliches and concentration of only the important parts of the story that has lead people to this conclusion. I think he has done a remarkable job, there are countless films about journeys and escape but this one felt fresh with never a dull moment and without resorting to unnecessary action sequences etc. The script and acting was perfect, the character development was good as you'd expect from Weir and the scenery was beautifully shot. I'm not sure how a film like this avoids the praise it deserves and other less achieved films get all the hype. Another feather in the cap of a great director.

• Kase V

  
  Peter Weir's 'The Way Back' is an occasionally gripping film that only flounders under its long run time and its characters' unoriginal plight. The acting, however, is brilliant. Everyone gives very strong and entertaining performances, especially an enthralling… More
  Peter Weir's 'The Way Back' is an occasionally gripping film that only flounders under its long run time and its characters' unoriginal plight. The acting, however, is brilliant. Everyone gives very strong and entertaining performances, especially an enthralling Colin Farrell. The film also fails to invest its audience emotionally, with character deaths that are not as gut-wrenching as they should be. Still, 'The Way Back' seems to have a good head on its shoulders, and comes very close to accomplishing what it tried to.

• Mark W

  
  An epic human endeavour film was a great chance for director Peter Weir to gain back some respect after the disappointing dud "Master and Commander". It's a chance that Weir has passed up though, as this is just as much of a letdown as his last outing behind the… More
  An epic human endeavour film was a great chance for director Peter Weir to gain back some respect after the disappointing dud "Master and Commander". It's a chance that Weir has passed up though, as this is just as much of a letdown as his last outing behind the camera. In 1940, seven prisoners escape from the confines of a Russian gulag in Siberia, and set out on a gruelling, 4,500-mile trek across some of the world's harshest terrain, with little food and few supplies. Their efforts are almost certainly doomed, yet they would rather die as free men than Stalin's prisoners. With "Master and Commander" Peter Weir last helmed the camera in the water. With this, he is very much on dry land but unfortunately his results are much the same. This is a real bore-fest. What we get are lots of weather beaten skin and ground beaten feet. The occasional bout of starvation is thrown in and that's pretty much the jist of the whole film. But ultimately, we the audience, are starved of anything that resembles substance. Fortunately we get a few crumbs tossed our way with some gorgeous scenery by cinematographer Russell Boyd. There's no doubt that this looks fantastic but it's not enough. Not nearly enough. The film is as long and arduos as the supposed journey. The characters are interesting, most notably Colin Farrell's thief Valka, but he leaves the film far too soon and the likes of Ed Harris and especially Saoirse Ronan have very little to do. There's no faulting the performances, the actors do what they can with the limited material which is flimsy and seriously underwritten. In fact, it was exposed as being based on a complete lie and not the true adventure it had been labeled as. Not a good start...not a good middle and not a good end either. The only thing it had in it's favour was the wonderful scenery, but then again, with a film that is backed by National Geographic, you expect that certain standard. A real disapointment from director Peter Weir. I have come to expect more from him. It will appeal as a travelogue maybe, but as a form of entertainment, it has about as much appeal as looking at someone else's holiday snaps.

• Fernando Rafael Q

  
  Peter Weir's latest film tells the man-against-the-elements story of a group of prisoners who walk 4000 miles to India after escaping a Siberian gulag, facing harsh weather. Harsh is probably an understatement. Freezing cold, searing heat, snowstorms, sandstorms, bugs; the… More
  Peter Weir's latest film tells the man-against-the-elements story of a group of prisoners who walk 4000 miles to India after escaping a Siberian gulag, facing harsh weather. Harsh is probably an understatement. Freezing cold, searing heat, snowstorms, sandstorms, bugs; the effects of these conditions are showcased masterfully with the Oscar-nominated makeup by Edouard Henriques, Greg Funk and Yolanda Toussieng. The cinematography is also remarkable. Spectacular wide shots of the snow-covered Russian landscape, or the sandy, hot-as-hell Gobi Desert show that the journey was definitely not an easy task. Despite the tragic circumstances (and the appealing imagery), The Way Back is mostly uneventful and never really involving. The cast is underwhelming, and their accents dodgy. At times, that last thing doesn't matter. Jim Sturgess speaks with his eyes, for example. On the other hand, usually stellar Colin Farrell is laughably bad. Saoirse Ronan is the best among a predominantly male cast. And I don't know what it is about Ed Harris, but he never impresses me. I know he's a good actor; he's just never blown me away. At 133 minutes, the film is very, very long, yet some sequences still feel rushed.

• Conner R

  
  Just a really well done survival story that manages to find something new about war to tackle. While it may have a familiar story and reminiscent of movies like The Great Escape, Bridge on the River Kwai and Rescue Dawn, it definitely stands apart with the way it portrays its… More
  Just a really well done survival story that manages to find something new about war to tackle. While it may have a familiar story and reminiscent of movies like The Great Escape, Bridge on the River Kwai and Rescue Dawn, it definitely stands apart with the way it portrays its characters and their story. There's an effort to shy away from too much character development; most of these characters remain a mystery throughout. However, you still end up caring about these people a lot and want them to succeed just as bad. Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris and a completely bizarre Colin Farrell all make a huge effort to make these characters realistic. Peter Weir's direction and use of the landscape given is just amazing; you really begin to feel like you're there. This also happens to be paced a lot better than it theoretically should be; it moves extremely fast for a movie about people walking for two hours.

• Bruce B

  
  Incredible story of 6 men who escape from a Russian Camp in Siberia, and they walk all the way to India, over mountains and hellish conditions. Shows the will of these men to survive, while on there trek they find a women who also has escape a women's camp. Not all make it to… More
  Incredible story of 6 men who escape from a Russian Camp in Siberia, and they walk all the way to India, over mountains and hellish conditions. Shows the will of these men to survive, while on there trek they find a women who also has escape a women's camp. Not all make it to India, see who does and who doesn't. National Geographic sponsor this film. I am sorry I missed it on the big screen. Worth every bit of 5 stars.

• Lewis C

  
  The Way Back is a drama about a group of prisoners and a teenage girl seeking to escape the reach of the communists in 1941.  Loosely based on a true story, the movie follows the group from their escape from a Soviet gulag in Siberia, through the Gobi Desert and across the… More
  The Way Back is a drama about a group of prisoners and a teenage girl seeking to escape the reach of the communists in 1941.  Loosely based on a true story, the movie follows the group from their escape from a Soviet gulag in Siberia, through the Gobi Desert and across the Himalayas...all on foot. It's was an incredibly perilous journey, and many of the characters do not make it to the end. Hunger, exposure, exhaustion, and dehydration were the almost constant companions of the group, and they took their toll.  The great cast (including Colin Farrell, Ed Harris, Saoirse Ronan, and Mark Strong) really makes you care about the slowly bonding group as they travel mile after mile through harsh conditions and dangerous environments. The Way Back may not have the thrills of an action blockbuster, but it kept my interest throughout. A good movie about a very interesting subject. 

• Kristijonas F

  
  Although this movie does not offer the truly involving drama that the viewer might expect, the sweeping scale of the film itself - including the great performances from the cast - overshadow most flaws. And as a Lithuanian immigrant who's mother was born in a similar labor camp… More
  Although this movie does not offer the truly involving drama that the viewer might expect, the sweeping scale of the film itself - including the great performances from the cast - overshadow most flaws. And as a Lithuanian immigrant who's mother was born in a similar labor camp in Siberia - the film's intentions deeply resonate with me.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"Their escape was just the beginning"</i> Siberian gulag escapees walk 4000 miles overland to freedom in India. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> In… More
  <i>"Their escape was just the beginning"</i> Siberian gulag escapees walk 4000 miles overland to freedom in India. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> In 1941, seven assorted inmates of a Siberian prison camp escape, pick up a teenage girl on the way, and walk 4,000 miles to freedom in India (well, some of them). This true life story is a straightforward piece of work, and stands primarily on the drama inherent in the journey and the hardships suffered by the escapees. As well as its strength this is also its weakness, because it never really draws all members of the fellowship as strongly as they deserve to be drawn. One is left with memories of Ed Harris as the pessimistic American and Saoirse Ronan as orphan Irena as the dominant personalities. Colin Farrell is Colin Farrell, and Mark Strong makes a short appearance. As for the others - by the time you have sorted out who is who, and they have individually started to make impressions, the movie is over. But it is a gripping movie where you are constantly amazed at how inhospitable this planet can be, and how resilient people can be in challenging the worst life can throw at them. And this film, too, contains one of those magic moments to treasure - a masterclass in dialogue-free acting from Harris, lasting no more than a few seconds, after Ronan has washed his damaged foot.

• Manu G

  
  Very good film, lots of struggle, sacrifice and courage involve in this film. Great acting by some good actors and some newcomers. Their escape was just the beginning During WWII Janusz(Jim Sturgess), young Polish officer held by Soviets as POW, is interrogated by NKVD (Stalinist… More
  Very good film, lots of struggle, sacrifice and courage involve in this film. Great acting by some good actors and some newcomers. Their escape was just the beginning During WWII Janusz(Jim Sturgess), young Polish officer held by Soviets as POW, is interrogated by NKVD (Stalinist secret security police). When Russians cannot force him to admit he is a spy, they bring his wife and extort from her a statement condemning Janusz. As a result he is sentenced to 20 years in one of the Gulag forced labour camps deep in Siberia. At the camp , Janusz meets an American Mr Smith(Ed Harris), an actor Khabarov(Mark Strong), a hardened Russian criminal Valka(Colin Farrell), Polish artist Tomasz(Alexandru Potocean), a Latvian priest Voss(Gustaf Skarsgård), a Pole suffering from night blindness Kazik(Sebastian Urzendowsky), and an accountant from Yugoslavia Zoran(Dragos Bucur). Khabarov secretly tells Janusz that he is planing to escape south to Mongolia, passing Lake Baikal. It turns out that it's just Khabarov's fantasy in order to keep his own morale high, but Janusz decides to implement the plan. He runs away with Mr Smith, Valka, Voss, Tomasz, Zoran, and Kazik during a severe snowstorm in order to cover their tracks. During a second night of their escape Kazik freezes to death after loosing his way to the fireplace while looking for wood and is later buried but the group. After many days of travel across the snows of Siberia they reach Lake Baikal. There they meet Polish girl Irena(Saoirse Ronan), who tells them a story of her parents being murdered by Russian soldiers, and her escape from a collective farm near Warsaw. Not all the details of her explanation how she ended up so far away from Europe check out (e.g. Warsaw is still under German occupation), but it turns out that she tried to conceal some more tragic experience. The group let's her join their quest. When they reach an unpatrolled border between Russia and Mongolia Valka decides to stay, as he still sees Russia as his home country, and Josef Stalin as a hero. The rest continue to Ulaanbaatar, but soon they see images of Stalin and a red star. As it becomes clear that they will not be safe in Mongolia which is now also a Communist state, they realize that India is the closest refuge for them. As they continue south, across the Gobi desert, lack of water, sandstorms, skin burned to red-flesh, blisters and sun strokes weaken the group. Irena collapses several times and soon dies. The next to die is Tomasz. Smith seems on a verge of death to, but motivated by Janusz rejoins remaining Zoran and Voss and soon all four find a small stream of water and avoid dehydration. While getting close to Himalayas they are guided to a Buddhist monastery, where they regain their strength. Smith decides to go to Lhasa from there to join American military mission fighting next to Chinese against Japan. The other three continue towards the Himalayas and they soon reach India. At the end of the film Janusz finally reunites with his wife half a century later. For all those years he wanted to see his wife again so he could forgive her and she could thereby forgive herself.

• Sajin P

  
  An almost perfect survival movie about a 4000 mile walk from Siberia to India. Supported by an excellent cast as well. Although towards the end of movie it feels like some one was in a real rush to pack everything up. Movie makers went to so much details in showing the trek from… More
  An almost perfect survival movie about a 4000 mile walk from Siberia to India. Supported by an excellent cast as well. Although towards the end of movie it feels like some one was in a real rush to pack everything up. Movie makers went to so much details in showing the trek from Siberia to Tibet, but when finally the time for the toughest part of their journey, through Himalayas came, everything was wrapped up and in the blink of an eye, the end credits were rolling.

• Mike S

  
  How much walking can they fit into one and the same movie? It makes Lord of the Rings look like a stroll around the block. Strangely enough though, the movie is never boring. In the hands of any other director, it probably would have been, but with so many compelling characters, it… More
  How much walking can they fit into one and the same movie? It makes Lord of the Rings look like a stroll around the block. Strangely enough though, the movie is never boring. In the hands of any other director, it probably would have been, but with so many compelling characters, it held my interest all the way. The cinematography and photo is absolutely beautiful - taking us through a wide range of breathtaking landscapes. It was also cool to see Gustaf Skarsgård make his Hollywood debut (even if he comes off as rather pale next to his more esteemed colleagues). My only real gripe is the duration of the film. They could easily have cut out half an hour, without the plot taking too much damage. And the escape from the prison was a real cop-out. At any rate, this is a very captivating journey. A testimony to the human spirit, and an illustration of how the right mindset can take you through the most unforgiving of terrains. For where there is life, there is is hope. And where there is Peter Weir, there's an epic worth seeing.

• danny d

  
  i loved this movie. the story is awe inspiring. some may say its a tale of survival, i think its far more a tale of providence. the story is completely unbelievable except for the fact that it may be true (depending on what you read), and the landscapes, camera work, and acting… More
  i loved this movie. the story is awe inspiring. some may say its a tale of survival, i think its far more a tale of providence. the story is completely unbelievable except for the fact that it may be true (depending on what you read), and the landscapes, camera work, and acting performances were all phenomenal. the very final 10 minutes or so were a bit brief in relation to the excellence of the rest of the story, and despite the slow pace i would have loved to see those 10 minutes stretched into another 30, but overall this is a wonderful movie.

• Jake .

  
  I'm not totally sure why The Way Back has recieved nothing by way of publicity or promotion or anything else. Although there is that lone Oscar nom. Still, it seems like kind of a high-brow work to go completely unnoticed. I mean, it opened against yet another rom-com about empty… More
  I'm not totally sure why The Way Back has recieved nothing by way of publicity or promotion or anything else. Although there is that lone Oscar nom. Still, it seems like kind of a high-brow work to go completely unnoticed. I mean, it opened against yet another rom-com about empty sex! It's a very epicy epic and if that's your thing, it's bound to be a masterpiece. I actually liked it more than I would have expected - although it seemed a bit too long. The title itself is kind of ambiguous - at least I think so. Most of the characters are fleeing their homelands, not going home. Still, that really doesn't matter much. I really like Jim Sturgess and I think this has taken him to new heights as an actor. Really, everyone's great. Saoirse Ronan and Ed Harris' characters are really weak, but their acting itself is fine. Idk, it's a good solid film. I really do not have any complaints other than those that it does drag a but. However, the film is good and well and it's a bit of a disgrace that hardly anyone will probably end up viewing it.

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