UNCHARTED
US, 2022, 116 minutes, Colour.
Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg, Antonio Banderas, Sofia Ali, Tati, Gabrielle, Steven Waddington.
Directed by Ruben Fleischer.
More sober older audiences for whom this film is definitely not intended, may find the opening sequences far-fetched: Tom Hollander is Nate Drake (without the benefit of Spiderman suit and powers) sliding out of a plane’s cargo hold, bounced along various dangling bales, losing his grip, a car speeding out of the hold towards him… But, wait till the narrative takes up this episode again and it seems even further-fetched.
But, uncharted is based on a PlayStation game, live-action characters in impossible situations, and the invitation to the players to identify with the hero. Lots to identify with here!
Nate and Sam are orphan brothers, living in an institute run by severe nuns, Sam running away but promising to keep in touch with Nate always. Move to the present. Nate works at a bar in New York City, encounters Victor Sullivan, “Sully” (Mark Wahlberg doing his usual action shtick deliberately meaning to be unsympathetic) who knows Nate’s brother. Sully has a proposition – searching for Ferdinand Magellan’s gold treasure.
The young lads had been expert on Magellan, on maps of his journeys, on his journal, concluding that the gold was shipped to Barcelona and is hidden there. There are two keys – one of which is on auction and which Sully intends to steal. Of course, he does, but not without a spectacular modernist chandelier clinging stunt by Nate. The rival bidder is a Spanish grandee, Antonio Banderas.
The first part of the film is action adventure – one of the characters even referencing Indiana Jones. However, this is one this one is more like Romancing the Stone or the National Treasure films. While while Mark Wahlberg is of the age of Harrison Ford, Michael Douglas, Nicolas Cage, Tom Holland is 20 years younger and it is his film. They do team up with a British treasure seeker, Chloe (Sofia Ali) and are pursued by a literally cutthroat seeker, Braddock (Tati Gabrielle). Lots of vistas of Barcelona’s churches, Gaudi included, and mysterious basements, tunnels, – but no gold! But an authentic map!!
Then, off to the Philippines (using Thai locations) and that mid-air action again. But, then and from then on, more adrenaline pumping, even for the older non-targeted audience. And it is pirate adventure, gold bullion, stranded galleons, pursuits and double crosses, helicopter attacks, helicopters raising the galleons…!
In the past there was Saturday matinees. In the present there are computer games – and the chance to re-create the adventurous Saturday atmosphere with film versions like this.
- The title question the PlayStation game? Live-action? The target audience?
- The stylised nature of the computer game, the plot and characters, the quests, twists and turns, betrayals? Action and audience identification with characters?
- The tone of the opening, in the air, the far-fetched action!
- The basic premise, Ferdinand Magellan and exploration, circumnavigating the world, gold, his death in the Philippines? The gold in Spain? Barcelona? The importance of maps? Magellan’s journal? The search for the treasure?
- Sam and Nate, orphans, bonding, at the orphanage, the severe sister? Sam and his escape, codes, invisible ink…? Promising to keep in touch? Nate, growing up, bartender in New York, his knowledge of history, with customers, stealing the necklace, the encounter with Sully, Sully taking the necklace? Information about his brother?
- The proposition, the keys to unlock the treasure, the auction, the Spaniard millionaire, clashes with his father and killing him, at the auction, is employing Braddock? Sully, at the auction, relying on date to disrupt the option, failing, the derring-do on the chandelier, the fall, Sully disguising himself as staff, the arrest of Braddock, the escape?
- The action in Barcelona, the visuals of the city, the Cathedral, Gaudi architecture? The nuns? The encounter with Chloe, the past with Sully, her knowing Sam? Each not trusting the other? Nate liking Chloe? The plan at the Cathedral, the app, the two going down into the basement, the tunnels, finding the salt containers, only salt, the map? Almost drowned, escaping? Sully, on the surface, the fight with Braddock?
- The transition to the Philippines, the action sequence, reprising the opening, Nate and the dangers, the dangling bales, losing connections, the car driving towards him, Chloe and saving him? Landing the Philippines, the map, Nate thinking things through, the coordinates, Sam’s postcards, the invisible ink? Leaving Chloe the false coordinates? The boat, going to the galleons, Sully following him?
- Braddock, her killing the Spaniard, taking charge, her henchmen, following Nate, bringing the helicopters, the range of fights, the lifting of the galleons? Action in the air, Sully piloting the helicopter, the crashes, the fight with Braddock, into the ocean, the Galleon falling on her? The irony of the bullion, Sully sacrificing it to save Nate, Nate having the gold in his pocket?
- The rear encounter with Chloe, the fact that she had been hired by the Spaniard, doubledealing? The galleons now with the Philippines government?
- The credits sequences, preview of possible coming attractions?
