Movie Review: Walking Out - The Will to Survive. SXSW Premiere and Red Carpet Interviews.

Genre: Drama
Directors: Alex and Andrew Smith
Cast: Josh Wiggins, Matt Bomer, and Bill Pullman
Studio: IFC Films
Rating: NR
Runtime: 95 minutes

Rating: ★★★★★

Movie Review: <i>Walking Out</i> - The Will to Survive. SXSW Premiere and Red Carpet Interviews. 1

Walking Out is the story of David (Josh Wiggins), a typical 14-year-old who, once a year, travels from Texas to visit his father Cal (Matt Bomer), who lives a modest life in a rustic cabin in Montana. While David is satisfied playing video games on his phone, Cal is intent on taking his son on his first moose hunt deep in the mountainous terrain. Seeing how important the trip is to his father, David reluctantly agrees. Upon reaching the top of the mountain, their father/son adventure takes a horrible turn when both are severely injured during an encounter with some bears. Despite his own injuries, David realizes his father’s only hope is if he carries him back down the mountain before he succumbs to his injuries.

The film is inspired by the David Quammen short story of the same name and can be summed up simply — the art of survival. Directed by twin brothers Alex and Andrew Smith, Walking Out is an epic tale wrapped in a small package. Instead of flashy CGI or special effects, it’s a bare bones story about a father and son trying to survive. The approach works remarkably well as every scene feels private and personal.

Wiggins and Bomer give outstanding performances and their overall arc of a father and son thrown into a situation where they must come together is beautifully done. During our interview, Wiggins told me he and Bomer grew up in the same area, which provided an instant connection that translated beautifully on screen. It was easy to feel the sincere bond between the two. There’s a rawness to Walking Out and it’s hard not to wonder how much of their scenes are the result of good acting or a natural reaction to their environment. I could feel my teeth hurting as David and Cal shiver while struggling to stay warm.

While Bomer and Wiggins are the lead actors, the state of Montana is the real star of Walking Out. It’s no surprise that the Montana Film Office showed up at SXSW in force to promote Walking Out and The Ballad of Lefty Brown, both of which were filmed in Montana and shown at the festival. Walking Out takes advantage of the breathtaking Montana views by showcasing various mountain ranges during the transitions of some scenes. As beautiful as these shots are, it’s also one of my biggest complaints about the film.

Watching Walking Out, there appears to be two agendas at play — the first to make an inspiring low budget film, and the other to sell Montana to both viewers and future film directors. For the most part, both work hand in hand, yet at times, I felt I was watching an ‘Explore Montana’ ad. The array of shots of the magnificent Montana landscape are beautiful to see but when the film cuts back to the story where the landscape is strikingly different, it doesn’t feel like there was any attempt to visually merge the two. Given how drone use has become an inexpensive way for filmmakers to achieve amazing cinematography, I would have enjoyed a shot or two that begins with Bomer and Wiggins and slowly pulls back as the drone lifts into the air to reveal how isolated the two are. Instead, I kept feeling like I was seeing stock footage of Montana scenery cut into the film to accentuate how lovely the state is.

Ernst Reijseger’s music is beautifully composed but the cello heavy score is out of place and distracting at times. Maya Angelou once said, “Music was my refuge; I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.” Part of what makes Walking Out so intense is there is no refuge. You’re right there with Cal and David and as things become dire, there is no escape for them or the audience. Given the minimalist approach of the film, the Smith brothers might have been better served by utilizing the natural Montana score of blowing wind and babbling brooks. This would have been a bold decision, but the absence of instrumental music would have heightened the desolation felt by the characters.

Walking Out is a powerful film that will leave you inspired. Wiggins’ performance is so inspirational, you feel each step David takes with his father on his back, leaving you emotionally and physically exhausted by the end of the film. Other than a few flashbacks featuring Bill Pullman as Cal’s deceased father Clyde, Wiggins and Bomer do an amazing job carrying the film by themselves; well, Wiggins does most of the carrying—literally. I can’t wait to see more of him in the near future. Despite a few minor complaints, the overall appearance of the film set against the Montana backdrop is absolutely beautiful.

During SXSW, IFC Films acquired the North American rights to Walking Out and the film will have its general release later this year.

Prior to the screening of Walking Out, I spoke to Josh Wiggins and the directors about their new movie. Earlier, while setting up my camera on the red carpet, an older woman and man walked onto the carpet. I spoke with the man while the woman was obviously feeling like a star as she stood on the carpet. He asked me if I was looking forward to the film. I replied I was, but was disappointed Matt Bomer was not in attendance due to filming his new Amazon series, The Last Tycoon. I explained how I’d covered Bomer for years on White Collar and what his work meant to me personally. At that point, the man introduced himself as Matt’s father and the older woman as his grandmother. In her grandson’s absence, she simply wanted to feel what it was like to walk the red carpet. I asked her what she would have said to Matt had he been there. You can watch her answer in my video below.

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Greg Staffa

I provide testosterone to the site. You won’t be reading about how nice a actress looks in a dress or how much of a hunk Matt Bomer is in my reviews. I describe colors using words like brown, not taupe. My twitter name is @staffaroadtrip because I love road trips and have done two different 48-state road trips since 2008. My favorite show is White Collar.