Under the lens takes a deep look at films by focusing in on one or two particular areas of the picture that helped to define it for better or for worse. Spoilers will be included in this review.
The Aeronauts is a 2019 adventure thriller directed by Tom Harper and stars Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne. The plot of the picture is very simple, a balloon pilot with a tragic past and a scientist out to prove himself find themselves in a fight for survival while attempting to make discoveries in a gas balloon in the 1860s.
Under The Lens: Real Time and Visuals
Real-Time: The Aeronauts for the most part takes place in real-time, with the whole picture taking place over the course of a few hours and a single flight by Amelia and James. The picture does take time out to give the viewer flashbacks to the pasts of both of our heroes and show the motivations behind why they are attempting the flight. Filming a script in real-time can be challenging as one has to keep track of what is going on and for how long, however, The Aeronauts does a good job in using the real-time effects to showcase as much tension as possible. I found myself many times on the edge of my seat.
Visuals: The Aeronauts is very simply breathtaking in its visuals, George Steel the pictures cinematographer (Who had to overcome an extreme fear of heights) captured the majesty of the balloon flight and the skies our characters fly through. Every other shot showcases an almost alien world, further cementing that this was the first time humans had reached these heights. Steels innate fear of heights influenced his shooting style, as the viewer can’t help but squirm as we see characters dangle from ropes tens of thousands of feet above the ground, or climb up the balloon canvas slipping on ice and snow. It’s brilliant and truly makes the picture stand out and feel special.
Highlights
The death of a character is vividly shown as they fall through the clouds, it’s scary and packs an emotional punch
The chemistry between Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne crackles which is good as the majority of the picture is just them interacting.
The costume and set design is great and draws in the viewer to another age long since gone
Quotable Quote
Amelia Wren: You don’t change the world simply by looking at it, you change it through the way you choose to live in it.
Something to think about
Do you have a fear of heights? Or does the thought of flying in a hot air balloon thrill you?
Conclusion
The Aeronauts is a visual feast for the eyes, its plot is overly simple and when it comes down to it, the picture is more interested in exploring the unmapped skies and delving into what makes its characters tick then the plot about predicting the weather. This is not a bad thing though, as Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne’s characters are very interesting and worthy of exploration. George Steel’s cinematography caps off this picture and elevates it from being a basic period adventure thriller and casts the viewer INTO the adventure instead of just witnessing it. If you are looking for something to watch while theaters are still closed then The Aeronauts is a perfect pastime, just be sure to hang on to your seat as you may develop a fear of falling…
