The Impossible Review

Rated PG-13 (Intense Realistic Disaster Sequences, including Disturbing Injury Images and Brief Nudity)

Running Time: 1 Hour & 54 Minutes

Cast-

Naomi Watts-Maria Bennett

Ewan McGregor-Henry Bennett

Tom Holland-Lucas Bennett

Samuel Joslin-Thomas Bennett

Oaklee Pendergast-Simon Bennett

Marta Etura-Simone

Sönke Möhring-Karl

Simon Blyberg-Ferdinand

Christopher Alan Byrd-Dieter

John Albasiny-Oliver Tudpole

Johan Sundberg-Daniel

Jan Roland Sundberg-Daniel's Father

Douglas Johansson-Mr. Benstrom

Emilio Riccardi-Morten Benstrom

Geraldine Chaplin-Old Woman

Ploy Jindachote-Caregiver

Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona

Naomi Watts delivers a powerful performance in "The Impossible," a dramatization of one's family battle for survival during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Despite all the tragedies our world faces every day, no other force on Earth can compare to the catastrophic and indiscriminate wrath of Mother Nature. On the morning of December 26, 2004, a massive tsunami (the result of an undersea megathrust earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8) struck the coasts of Southeast Asia, leaving behind untold amounts of property and infrastructure damage in its wake as well as over 280,000 casualties, with a further 1.7 million displaced. Given Hollywood's penchant for wanton destruction with films like "The Day After Tomorrow" and "2012," it's easy to become desensitized since we know in the back of our minds that what we're seeing on-screen isn't real but director Juan Antonio Bayona's "The Impossible" shatters that fantasy in this dramatization of one family's battle for survival in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami. This is actually Bayona's second film; his first was the 2007 Spanish horror flick "The Orphanage," which was co-produced by Guillermo del Toro and received a ten-minute ovation from the audience when it premiered at the 60th Cannes Film Festival. Emotionally harrowing and powerfully acted, "The Impossible" is directed with a raw, visceral intensity by Bayona and serves as a terrifyingly harsh reminder of the fragility of our human lives. 

A British expatriate couple living in Japan, Maria (Naomi Watts) and Henry Bennett (Ewan McGregor) are taking their kids, Lucas (Tom Holland), Thomas (Samuel Joslin), and Simon (Oaklee Pendergast), on a much needed Christmas vacation in Thailand. Landing in Khao Lak on Christmas Eve, the family stays at a newly renovated resort overlooking the beach but the Bennett's idyllic holiday is shattered on the morning of December 26, 2004 when a devastating tsunami strikes the coast. With the resort decimated by the initial tidal wave, Maria fights for her life as she is thrashed around by the surging waters and debris. She manages to reach Lucas and the two catch their breath while holding onto an uprooted palm tree. Severely injured, Maria comes to rely on Lucas for support as they look for help in the wake of the disaster. A group of locals drive them to a hospital, where Maria lies on the brink of death. Meanwhile, Henry has managed to survive, shielding Thomas and Simon when the water hit. Sending his two sons to a safety zone up in the mountains, Henry searches for his wife and eldest child, desperately clinging onto what little hope he has left despite being faced with such destruction. 

Loosely based on the true story of María Belón, who survived the tsunami along with her husband and children, "The Impossible" may be marketed as a disaster/drama film but it also contains elements of horror, which isn't surprising considering Bayona's background. However, it's not a chainsaw-wielding manic threatening the lives of this family, it's Mother Nature. The director builds an omnipresent sense of dread, opening with a black screen where the only sound that can be heard is a dull roar that increases in intensity before cutting to a shot of a calm blue ocean as a plane screeches into view. The story (written by Sergio G. Sánchez, who worked with Bayona on the "The Orphanage") quickly establishes the family in broad strokes and just fifteen minutes in the tsunami hits, as sudden as it did in real life even though we're already aware that it's coming. It's an amazing scene, a seamless blend of practical and digital effects but what makes it stand out is the way Bayona presents it. Usually, Hollywood markets these sequences as the 'money shot' but that's not what the film does because then it would come off as distasteful and exploitative. Instead, Bayona shows the incoming tidal wave as a reflection on a glass door and just when Maria braces herself, the film immediately cuts to black. Sounds of rushing water are heard and then we see Maria, bloody and battered, screaming for Lucas while the water indiscriminately destroys everything in its path. It's a terrifying scene, one that held my stomach in a knot as the two are tossed around like ragdolls by the strong current. 

The direction here is utilized for maximum impact, with Bayona bringing a raw intensity that may be too much for more sensitive viewers. As the waves subside and the full scope of the destruction comes into view, Maria and Lucas struggle to survive; the brief glimpses of their injuries are nothing short of horrific. This is why the film affected me so deeply because Bayona doesn't shy away from the human toll that comes from such a disaster but he never verges into sensationalism. The sense of loneliness and desperation that comes with not knowing if your loved ones survived or perished is felt throughout. Sánchez's script tells a straightforward story but it derives much of its drama by putting the audience 'in the moment' and immersing us into the mindset of these characters. However, the film does commit one small misstep, relying on a series of contrived coincidences in the last twenty minutes as characters just miss each other. It feels artificial and forced but it then crescendos into an uplifting moment that put a lump in my throat. Films like these can devolve into mawkish over-sentimentalism but Bayona treats the material with a deft touch, pushing "The Impossible" as a late but no less worthy addition to the list of best films of 2012. 

A large part of what makes the film so harrowing is the naturalistic performances. Naomi Watts is one of my favorite actresses and here, she's put through the gauntlet, the agony and pain etched on her face is so real that just typing about it makes me feel emotional. I've always felt Ewan McGregor was underrated as an actor and here he proves what he's capable of when given such strong material. In a gut-wrenching scene, Henry calls Maria's father Brian but breaks down in tears. It's a powerful moment that represents how easily our lives can be taken away in an instant. Upstaging both Watts and McGregor is sixteen-year-old Tom Holland. This is his on-screen debut but what a debut it is, perfectly conveying the fear and desperation when thrust with the responsibility of keeping his mother alive but there's also a quiet determination in him. Many of the film's most emotional moments come from him and Watts. Addressing the controversy of the film being 'white-washed,' I agree that it's purely a marketing decision to increase international appeal as the family it's based on is Spanish but it's not as if the actors that were chosen are terrible, far from it in fact. I feel that focusing on the particulars of the family's race is doing the film a disservice as its purpose is to show that a disaster like this transcends skin color. To make such a big deal out of this honestly feels rather petty. 

In limited release since December 21, 2012, "The Impossible" has received largely positive reviews with a solid 80% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics noted that 'the screenplay isn't quite as powerful as the direction or the acting, but with such an astonishing real-life story at its center, [the film] is never less than compelling.' Unfortunately, American audiences have shown little interest as it has only grossed a mere $3.6 million, even with an expanded release. Internationally, it's a different story as the film has already earned $67.6 million. Despite having a pair of recognizable leads, the fact that it's a 'foreign' film (this is a Spanish production) has put Americans off. Bolstered by Bayona's confident direction and the cast's excellent performances, "The Impossible" is an unforgettable, emotional experience that not only captures the devastating enormity of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami but treats it with the respect that it deserves. Audiences will find it hard not to leave the theater deeply affected by what they've seen.

Final Rating: 4.5 out of 5

"Listen, what if that boy was Simon or Thomas? What if they needed help? You'd want someone to help them, wouldn't you?"