After Bryson and companion give up and return home Bryson starts work on writing A Walk in the Woods. But once they start walking there is not enough substance despite near disasters involving bears, falling off the path onto a ledge, flirting and an angry jealous husband. He eventually finds someone from his past, a recovering and unfit alcoholic, who is the only one who agrees to join him on the trek. There is some humour in the purchase of trecking gear and tent - many of us share his ignorance when confronted with the technology of outdoor equipment. A short stroll from his home he reaches the Appalachian trail and decides, much to his wife's concern, decides he will walk it. This autobiographical story starts promisingly as Bryson after, embarrassing himself at a wake, considers his own life and that apart from a few reviews he has written nothing in four years. I've not seen many of his films before to be honest, but he gives a strangely withdrawn and unlikeable performance as Bryson that doesn't feel authentic to the book.Īnyway, worth a watch for a chuckle and to fill some time, and if it makes you pick up the book then it's well worth it.Īs an indicator of quality I'd give this three stars but I've bumped it to four because I watched it with my Mum and she was laughing her head off and it was nice experience to laugh along together. On the flip side Redford is nowhere to be seen. A particular highlight is his description of life as a recovering alcoholic, and the whole that drinking has left in his life. He's so believable as a man in terrible shape, probably because he is in real life from the looks of him, but he has a great sense of comedic acting and he pulls off one or two quietly touching scenes with panache. It's farcical and obvious at times but Nolte's winning performance makes up for it. He was the source of all the laugh out loud moments in the book and it's the same here. The film is an enjoyable enough adaptation, mostly made watchable by Nick Nolte's spot on casting as Katz. It made me want to walk it myself one day.or maybe not! It's classic Bill Bryson, funny, quietly touching and really interesting with loads of content and facts about the Appalachian Trail and America in general. To anyone watching this I'd say give the book a read. The quality of the picture is so fine, so clear, and high def, and the sound so good, that I am glad I didn't fork out for a BluRay. However, don't be fooled into thinking that this is a family movie as it involves strong language and sexual references. There are, of course, breathtaking locations to be seen in this adventure movie, and the cinematography is wonderful, not least when Bryson and Katz stand upon a rock ledge overlooking an expansive wilderness. While I enjoyed Redford's performance (he'll be 80 this year), it was Nick Nolte's performance that won my applause. Although Bryson and Katz niggle at each other from time to time, they also reminisce. In reality, though, Bryson was only in his 40s when he headed for the hills. Needless to say, Bryson and Katz (who is said to be Matt Angerer in real life) are not prime examples of how to navigate the Appalachian Trail but what makes this film somewhat special to me is the rapport between the two aging (aged) buddies who are in some kind of geriatric denial. Walk in the Woods (2015) is an uplifting, often hilarious adventure movie which is a fresh of breath air to watch. Bill Bryson ends up on the Appalachian trail with the only person who will go with him: Stephen Katz (Nick Nolte), a man markedly out of shape, a womanising ex-alcoholic who's got a little secret about why he wants to go. Not easily put off, so Catherine insists he cannot go alone. His wife, Catherine (Emma Thompson), worries he will die. Having just attended a funeral, and perhaps feeling decidedly mortal, he decides he isn't quite done yet. He's now living in New Hampshire and while walking around his neighbourhood discovers a section of the 2,200 mile Appalachian Trail which spans the distance between Georgia and Maine, U.S.A. The movie: Iowa born Bill Bryson (Robert Redford), author of travel, science, and various other Books, has returned to America after living in England for some years.
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