Movie Man Darian Watching All Night Long

The Call Of The Wild

This film is a fantastic wholesome film for the whole family. This is one of The most heartwarming films I’ve seen about an animal captured on film. The last film that really rattled me about a animal In a film was Okja and War Horse. Now This film explodes on the screen with tremendous energy as within minutes your hearts are won over by this dog and you follow it on this incredibly exciting story. The film does suffer from some pacing issues at some parts in the film but besides that it’s a damn fun movie with one of Harrison’s best performances in a while. 

Firstly, this film is beautifully well done a lot of people have been saying the CGI of the dog was distracting to be quite honest I didn’t even notice as I was so engaged into the story as the film didn’t go the route I thought it would. The film really chronicles the story of this dog from the beginning to the very end and very few films about animals I’ve seen pull that off well and this film does just that. As I thought Harrison Ford was going to be in every frame of this film but he doesn’t show up until the forty minute mark and I was surprised by that but I kinda love that as the Film takes the audience on a ride with this dog named Buck and we get to learn so much about him and see what he goes through so by the time we meet Harrison and him further on in the film we are already emotionally invested into the dog and then we now learn about the bond those two form. It was brilliantly captured and done I have to say. Their is such great raw emotion that never feels cheesy or forced but genuine and the sweeping wonder and adventure of it all wins you over especially the shots of the landscapes which is beautifully shot. As I praise this movie for a lot I liked theirs a flaw or issue I had a minor flaw but it was the pacing as during the first half it is fun to learn about Buck but it does go quiet to slow and then when he meets Harrison’s character the pace moves at a lightning pace as your so engaged so their were some times when the pacing would slow down the momentum of the story. 

Secondly, Ford gives an incredible performance! Harrison has been turning in some truly terrific performances over the last couple of years most recently with Blade Runner 2049. Here he gives one of his most emotionally vulnerable performances now he’s done that before but I haven’t seen him channel that raw deep emotion in sometime and it was awesome to watch onscreen as I think he was truly magnificent in this film. The whole rest of the supporting cast is great but it’s Harrison who truly steals the show. 

Lastly, I’m not a huge watcher of dog movies as it’s a touchy topic for me as I had a dog myself and it’s quite difficult emotionally to watch in a film as it will get me very much wrapped up into the story. Now being able to capture that friendship between man and dog is not easy theirs dozens of films that try to capture that raw honest connection and I can say that The Call Of The Wild does just that with breathtaking cinematography a outstanding score and the film is packed with tons of heart and a truly amazing performance from Harrison Ford. It’s a film the whole family can enjoy I recommend everyone go check this film out. 

Rated PG : for some violence, peril, thematic elements and mild language

This film chronicles the story of a dog named Buck and the many adventures he goes on to find his search for meaning

Harrison Ford : Ford delivers a emotionally raw performance that is amazing to witness. Here Ford brings one of his emotional performances in a long time. Here he plays a man stricken with sadness and loneliness I haven’t seen Harrison headline a film as the lead role of a film that is a drama in a very long time because for the last couple of years he’s been in Blade Runner 2049 and multiple Star Wars films. It was refreshing to see him show his dramatic strengths once more as here he is the centre of the film and really brings a great depth to his performance. Harrison shows such gripping emotion through his deep voice and his ability to show so much at times by saying so Little their is actually a scene where he shows a heart shattering moment in the film and he uses narration but within the scene says little it’s more about the emotion of the moment and he sweeps you up in it with the cracking of his voice to try and hold the tears back to the tears stream down his cheeks. Harrison really wears his heart on his sleeve in this film and shows a vulnerability he hasn’t tapped into in sometime and it amazed me as on the outside you see this toughness and regret his character carries and over the course of the film learns to open up more and we see a softness and tenderness to Buck that will warm your heart and Harrison truly brings his dialogue to great passion onscreen as you can feel the impact of the words hit you like he means what he says this is definitely one of Harrison’s more emotionally raw performances I haven’t seen for a long time and he really steals each frame he’s in with his amazing onscreen charisma and charm. Ford delivers a raw performance full of incredible depth and layers that will amaze you. 

Chris Sanders : Chris is one of my favourite directors that works for Disney as he’s proven himself time and time again how great of a storyteller he is as well as being a terrific filmmaker as well. Here he brings another great story of a relationship between an animal and a person and it’s touching as he never tries to over crowd the film with two many characters that aren’t important to the plot but keeps it contained to this dog named Buck and then Harrison’s character who we meet later on. It also is an adaption from a very famous novel of the same name and he gave a fantastic adaptation of the novel bringing incredible heart and emotion to the film. Chris was able to show this character from the very beginning and really get the audience to not only be won over by its charm and appeal but due to the huge character arc this dog goes on and by the third act you are completely and fully emotionally wrapped into this story as Chris was able to execute it in a fully formed way that never felt overlong or dragged out. I did mention that there was some pacing issues but that is the only minor issue that needed fixing. Chris surrounds the film with such a grounded sense of reality and it pulls you in within seconds of it starting from the cinematography to the music this feels so intimate and personal with how its being told and that is also why I think it is different then any other dog film I have seen is the grounded sense and the ability to flesh out the relationships in a very real way that feels genuine. On top of the fact that he gets an  incredible emotionally powerful performance from Harrison Ford he packs the heart and fun wit and a great adventure on the screen one that kids can enjoy but also the adults can too it appeals to both demographics. Chris once again did a magnificent job at telling this beloved tale and putting it on the big screen Chris gives solid direction here.