The Lost City of Z (2017)

Film: The Lost City of Z (2017)
Stars: Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson, Sienna Miller, Tom Holland
Director: James Gray
Oscar History: No nominations
Snap Judgment Ranking: 3/5 stars

I had what may end up being one of my most hilarious moments of the cinematic year this past month with The Lost City of Z, though it had nothing to do with the script of the film.  I was terribly ill when I attempted to see this movie the first time in theaters, eventually having to leave the AMC just during the opening credits as I was getting a massive tension headache (I get those occasionally), and as a result had to rent the picture to finally see the movie.  While I was watching the movie, I was stunned at how intensely dark the picture was (literally, not metaphorically), and was genuinely worried that either there was something wrong with my eyes or the cinematographer was insane to have lensed the picture in such a depressing way, and had planned on it being a centerpiece of my review.  The next day, while stating that I thought the film was dark to family members, I realized that the settings on my TV had been off by a significant margin and as a result for potentially weeks I had had my TV settings way too dark, likely from sitting on the remote.  Anyway, I re-watched the film and realized the movie's cinematography was much, much clearer than I initially had found, and my eyes are seemingly fine.  Anyway, let's get into actually reviewing the picture.

(Spoilers Ahead) The Lost City of Z is the story of Percy Fawcett (Hunnam), a member of the military that while impressive, doesn't come from the "right background" to be able to get promoted and thinks that the only way that he can succeed & regain his family's honor is to fight in battle.  He doesn't get that opportunity, but instead is sent on a mission across the world by the Royal Geographic Society to survey the Bolivian/Brazilian border to prevent war.  While in the Amazon jungle, he discovers broken pottery and statues that indicate that there was an advanced civilization in the middle of the jungle, and comes to believe through conversations with locals that a lost city, an El Dorado of sorts, is within the confines of this jungle.  He is met with scorn and criticism, but is intent on proving himself correct, not being pegged as a failure like his father, and becomes increasingly obsessed by the quest, eventually alienating his wife and sons.  The movie ends like in real life, with Percy and his son Jack (Holland) trekking into the jungle, and never being found again.  A true story, neither Fawcett was ever seen again, though the film ends with the implication that he found the city, with him sending a compass to the Royal Geographic Society (it was his intention to do so to indicate that he'd found the place).

The film is beautiful (once you adjust your television), and a handsome if occasionally stilted production.  It's hard for me to watch the movie and not think of the considerably better and more philosophical Embrace of the Serpent from two years ago, as they have similar looks at white men going mad trying to find a secret within the jungle that alludes all.  The film doesn't seem to know precisely what to do with some of Percy's home life, frequently making Sienna Miller a lifeless form in the picture, always doting but never really doing anything outside of being a dutiful wife; even in the scenes where she pushes back, it's with the implication that she won't deter her husband.  This steals away a third of the picture, and whenever we're not in the jungle the movie drags.

The film, though, is saved from being simply eye candy by a rugged turn from Charlie Hunnam.  Hunnam, who has had a strange career graduating from twink to biker to now handsome leading man,  is easily the best part of the movie, finding a strong central core in his Percy, a man haunted by failure, and willing to put everything he has on the line not to end up like his father.  The script doesn't push that narrative, but it doesn't need to with Hunnam pulling it out at every turn; the way he over-extends and gleefully embraces any sort of success, as if he's been deprived of it for his whole life is excellent.  He never quite takes us into madness, but you can see it in his eyes-you can see the unhinged way he recklessly embraces the world that when he ends up lost, perhaps taking with him the life of his first-born son, you know that anything could have been possible next in his existence.  Considering the laundry list of Percy Fawcett theories, Hunnam does a great job in projecting what might happen into the future, and gives a great piece of acting at the movie's core.

Those are my thoughts on The Lost City of Z, a movie that grew on me upon second viewing and not just because I could finally see the picture.  How about you?  Do you think this film finds any way to improve upon Embrace of the Serpent, or are you as fascinated as I am about what happened next to Percy Fawcett?  And when is Charlie Hunnam going to get an awards magnet role, as he's clearly capable of one?  Share your thoughts in the comments!