ALL IS LOST

Very few clues are given as to the man's character and backstory. The few that do exist are subtle and far between at best, but they’re there - a nod to the fact that no matter who we are or where we came from or what has led us to this moment, when survival, pure unadulterated survival, is all you have, instinct kicks in and our desires and goals become primitive and common, regardless of wealth or family.

Barely a word is spoken throughout its 106 minutes, save for a mayday call and a lone frustrated expletive. Instead, our character’s vast solitude in a relatable location is its key to viewer connection. There are no overwrought cries of pain, abandonment or injury. No exaggerated gasps of shock or disbelief. And definitely no plunges of mental stability due to loneliness or dehydration. From the get-go, Redford's character is an established and experienced yachtsman, and therefore his performance that follows is subtle and calculated, making it all the more compelling. Director J.C. Chandor (‘Margin Call’) defies conventional Hollywood storytelling, because there is no story. There is no dialogue. It’s just a man, on a boat, trying to stay alive. And it's fantastic cinema.