Review of Gorillas in the Mist (1988) by Miles H — 31 Jan 2008

What ever happened to Sigourney Weaver? The late 80s must have been a thrilling time to be going to movies. First her dramatic turn as Ripley in "Aliens" and here, a similarly triumphant portrayal of Dian Fossey that is not only credible, but goes above and beyond standard biopic peformance.

It's difficult to explain, but the nuances of her performance and the way in which she makes what's pretty much a flat representation on paper come to vivid and haunting life is really quite extraordinary.

Now some of the other characters aren't so succesful and some are rife with cliches, but the show belongs to Weaver and the gorillas, and when the camera is on them (which it usually is), the film is captivating, achingly powerful, and fascinating.

The photography is beautiful, but not glossy, which is very important in presenting a world that surges with both unspeakable beauty and unspeakable violence and cruelty. Apted structures the film nicely and depicts Fossey's descent into questionable ethics without sensationalism.

The ending is subtley portrayed but very affecting. There are some truly heartbreaking scenes in this movie, the most profound in which involves the beloved gorilla called Digit, and it will certainly make anyone with an ounce of compassion for animals bawl.

But this isn't a message movie, nor is it a stuffy biopic. It's an intimate look at a life less ordinary, and for the most part, it works and soars.