With an Oscar qualifying run now set for late December, we now have our first taste of his upcoming prison escape epic “The Way Back,” and it looks like six-time nominee Peter Weir might want to start getting fitted for a tuxedo.
While it does play out conventionally — this is trailer after all — the film promises a gritty tale of man versus nature that has long been a theme Weir has returned to more than once in his career. There are snatches of beautiful cinematography on display with the 4000 miles that the prisoners, escaping from a Soviet gulag, have to cover, ranging from mountains to deserts to rivers. And while the imagery is strong, the performances look to be solid across the board.
Starring Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris, Colin Farrell, Mark Strong and Saoirse Ronan, the film premiered at Telluride to strong reviews and will hit Los Angeles on December 29th before rolling out across the country in January. [The Guardian]