THE AERONAUTS

This could have been a rather standard historical biopic in lesser hands, even with Thorne's strong screenplay, but under the control of Tom Harper (not to be confused with the infinitely inferior Tom Hooper), 'The Aeronauts' is a far more thrilling, nail-biting and giddying adventure film than you'd ever expect. There are so many moments in this film where I found myself sweating from the tension, writhing in my seat even at the merest visual suggestion of how incredibly high they had reached in nothing but a wicker basket. The film was created with IMAX presentation in mind, giving you some indication of how important the experience of the film was for the team behind it - so much so that Redmayne and Jones flew a real balloon to roughly 8,000 feet in order to replicate the 1862 flight. The set pieces in 'The Aeronauts' have you on the edge of your seat, not just because of how well-constructed they are, but the manner in which cinematographer George Steel keeps you constantly aware of height and space around them. Where the flashbacks have a stately, almost dull period quality to them, the flight sequences are shot with tremendous and often unforgiving immediacy, instantly re-establishing tension and milking it for all its worth, each set piece escalating further than the last, placing Amelia in particular in impossible situations that require every ounce of bravery and ingenuity she has. Enormous credit must also go to the flawless visual effects, crafting images of often beautiful peril. To be honest, the experience of watching 'The Aeronauts' was such an exhausting and intense one, even on a traditional cinema screen, that watching it on an IMAX screen might have killed me.

As tremendous as the execution often is, much of the heart of the film lies in the terrific chemistry between Jones and Redmayne. This was also clear in 'The Theory of Everything', but that lacklustre film never found a way to properly capitalise on it. 'The Aeronauts' makes up for that just by placing them in a small space in insane circumstances and giving them something to do. Each character plays into the best aspects of each of their qualities as an actor, and while they (much like the film) never find their feet in the flashbacks, they're a pleasure to watch together in the flight sequences. Jones in particular not only has to deliver an emotionally resonant performance but a physically demanding one, with Amelia comprehending circumstances that would drive any ordinary person (including myself) mad.

There's little groundbreaking about 'The Aeronauts', but that isn't to diminish what an excellent and genuinely thrilling experience it is. At its best, it's 'Gravity' in a hot air balloon, a nail-biting and awe-inspiring adventure of human beings pitted against the ferocity of the elements. Tom Harper has done a sterling job elevating Jack Thorne's screenplay and imbuing it with tremendous tension. Even with its faults, 'The Aeronauts' knows exactly what kind of film it needs to be and does so with great aplomb. If you can see it on the big screen, don't miss the chance. Those set pieces deserve to be seen on as big a screen as possible.