Fearless (1993)

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

"Fearless" awakened one of the most bizarre thoughts that ever crossed my mind: envy toward people who lived near death experiences, for the certitude that these people would never be the same again, and when you try to be someone else, any option is worth considering."Fearless" takes place during the aftermath of a plane crash that presumably killed most passengers and left a few survivors in a state of shock. Are they privileged? Maybe from our standpoint, but most of them would endure the trauma of having witnessed the death of a friend, a parent or 'just' the seat neighbor. Most of them would endure the survivor's guilt, not to mention the traumatic landing and the subsequent lottery of death. Peter Weir's movie, based on a novel by Rafael Iglesias, explores the complexities of the human soul from the different ways it reacts to a life-changing experience. The most intriguing case is Max Klein, an architect and family man, played by Jeff Bridges. Around him, it's chaos, mayhem, panic, cries and cadavers yet he walks along the site, like floating on a cloud of extraordinary serenity. He's not just a survivor, but also a savior, he gives a baby back to his mom, helps a little boy who was flying alone, and shows the safe way to many distraught passengers. Yet, the film doesn't focus on his heroic status, which he himself declines, it is more about the perception of life and death when you have been walking on the thin tightrope that separate the two worlds, when you 'saw the tunnel leading to a light'.Speaking of 'light', the narrative is punctuated by a few flashbacks that reveal how normally scared Max was during the flight, while sitting next to his best friend and colleague. It's only after the situation got more critical, that a mysterious heavenly light appeased his thoughts, and filled his heart with the serene confidence he would live. The crash sequence, which is among one of the most realistic, haunting and emotional from any other film, give some interesting insights that are later 'contradicted' by Max. The way he sees it: he's already a ghost, God can't touch him, he shares the little secret with Carla, a Hispanic mother who lost her child and can't recover from the guilt of not having held him more tightly in her arms. Max and Carla form two interesting cases. Max survived and believe he's invulnerable, 'fearless' as the title suggests, with an inexorable desire to live life to its fullest, and the consequence is that it affects its relationships with his entourage. He becomes totally estranged to his wife, played by Isabella Rosselini (whose uncanny resemblance with her legendary mother was almost distracting), he lost the fatherly bond with his son in favor of the one he rescued, he couldn't even find the right words for his friend's widow or cooperate with the lawyer's desperate efforts to obtain a huge indemnity. Max rejects life's normality: money, convention, fear, video games; living with memories as his idea of the perfect life is a personal utopia that can only be fulfilled with someone who understands him. And this person is Carla. Played by Rosie Perez, Carla is the emotional core of the film, through the reaction most viewers can relate to, she's not a kind of super-human or angel, she only tried to save her son but failed. And this failure puts her in a depressive state with suicidal impulses that only her deep Hispanic Catholic faith can alter. Contrarily to Max, Carla is much aware that she's living and that's what makes her life unbearable, for Max, the idea of death is so intolerable that he teases it by eating strawberries, a fruit he's allergic to, crossing the road, or walking on the ledge of a building's roof in the film's most emblematic scene. Fear is connected with self-preservation, but in Max' case, the fearless state doesn't mean he doesn't want to live, but it betrays his sentiment of inner immortality, yet the only way to be immortal is to be actually dead. In fact, Max is still between life and death. Either the wish to be dead out of guilt or sensation of being already dead from a weird exhilaration, both Perez and Bridges drive the film through sensitive and sensational performances. The therapist, played by John Turturro, explains to Max' wife that he and Carla represent two extremes in terms of reactions and on their interactions chances of recovery depend. The relationship has a romantic vibe and maybe Max genuinely loves Carla, but "Fearless" never lures us into the idea that Carla would fall in love with him on the simple basis that they had the same experience. Love is not an end but a mean for Max to suppress all the traces of guilt in Carla's mind. Ironically, that's what Max' wife tries to do, helping him to regain his faith in life, and her many attempts to give a helping hand are concluded by 'failure to communicate', leading to what seems to be marital dead-end. But there is a reason Rosie Perez' performance was so acclaimed, she's not just a weepy, mourning mother, there is strength in her heart, and if her recovery can put an end to the mystical bond she had with Max, it leaves at least some room for the woman who really loves him. The conclusion of "Fearless", perhaps one of the most emotionally satisfying ever, is perfect because it does three things: it provides some answers about Max' enigmatic state of mind, finds the perfect remedy, and highlights the truth that one of the best things about life is to realize how great it is to live. Those who faced death have more awareness, and maybe this is what I consider their privilege. Do I want it? I'm not sure I'm that … fearless.

A CRIMINALLY unknown film, especially in the UK, where it is close to impossible to get hold of, this Peter Weir outing, with Jeff Bridges taking the lead, also boasts star turns from John Turturro, Isabella Rossalini, and Rosie Perez, the latter of whom received an Oscar nomination. Everybody is on top form in this perfectly executed, beautiful meditation on what it is to be a human being.To explain all the subtext of "Fearless", all the symbolism, the various layers of allegory, would be an essay in itself; safe to say this is a film that sends you away reeling, thinking and talking about life for a long time. It sounds melodramatic, but when you see it, it makes perfect, serious sense. I understand it received standing ovations when it premiered, and rightly so! Many have said in the past, and I'll say it as well, that the final 10 minutes of this film is pretty much the most powerful cinema I've seen. Jeff Bridges nails it, and I find myself inexplicably in tears each time. Trying to explain it is tough; it speaks to something fundamental in you, and is truly life-affirming, if you choose to listen. A film that proves cinema, when image, performance, music and meaning are meshed perfectly, is sometimes able to convey what nothing else can.

Peter Weir has always been a filmmaker to admire. 'The Truman Show' is a legendary film, my all-time favorite film. 'Fearless', which released way back in 1993, sadly ranks amongst his weak efforts. However, this does become 'A Must Watch' film due to the strong performances by it's lead cast.Academy-Award-Winner Jeff Bridges stars as a man's who's personality is dramatically changed after surviving a major airline crash. The aftermath of the character and his connections with the world... is what 'Fearless' is all about.'Fearless' begins wonderfully, but 40-minutes into the film, it loses the pace. Even the culmination leaves a lot to be desired. Weir's direction is satisfactory, but the Screenplay has loose-ends. The Cinematography is good.As mentioned, 'Fearless' is packed with strong performances. Jeff Bridges plays a highly difficult role with brilliance. This truly is one of his best performances to date. Rosie Perez is outstanding in a role that, again, is very Hard to play and execute. Isabella Rossellini is marvelous. Tom Hulce is hugely effective. Benicio del Toro leaves a mark, he's superb.On the whole, Not A Gem, but surely deserves a watch for the Performances, that leave you stunned!

Peter Weir is unique in his ability to convey the niceties of life with authenticity. Jeff Bridges is the master of the theatrical understatement. A plane crash creates a untenable level of fear in the mind anyone who has stood next to one and pondered that fate.Henryk Gorecki's Symphony No 3 creates an overwhelming sense of sadness. Fearless benefits from all these things, as well as a strong supporting cast.I cannot watch this movie without being buffeted emotionally. I know many film lovers prefer a more concrete plot and less tugging at the heartstrings. They should turn to a different page now.Fearless is a gem for anyone else.I hasten to add America, the Peter Weir was only on loan, and we want him back in Australia.