Russell Crowe's 'The Weight' Earns Rave Reviews for Its Immersive Filming
Russell Crowe's new film, 'The Weight', is drawing strong praise from critics, according to MovieWeb. The historical drama stars Crowe and Ethan Hawke in a 1933 Oregon tale about a man offered early release from a labor camp to smuggle gold through treacherous wilderness.
Per the outlet, Matt Zoller Seitz of RogerEbert.com awarded the movie a perfect four-star review. He noted the story shifts from a prison drama to a wilderness adventure and then into a psychological thriller, calling it 'successful in every department.'
Much of the film's visceral feel reportedly comes from its authentic production. Actors Ethan Hawke and Julia Jones told MovieWeb that the challenging forest and river scenes were shot on location, with no green screens used. Hawke explained the raw authenticity of the filming directly contributed to the movie's intense atmosphere.
The AV Club's Mitchell Beaupre compared the film's tone to classic '70s adventures like 'The Treasure of the Sierra Madre'. However, not every critic was fully convinced by its familiar structure, with Peter Travers noting it was 'predictable' but elevated by the lead performances.
'The Weight' is currently playing in select theaters.
