Review of Walkabout (1971) by Chris W — 04 Jan 2008

Well, one of my goals for 2008 was to introduce myself to Nicolas Roeg. This was a heck of a way to start. With Walkabout, it's easy to see that Roeg was a cinematographer before he became a director.

This film is one of the best visual experiences I've ever had. The lighting, the camera movements, the focal points - all amazing. There were a few scenes that felt a little dated, such as the choppy cuts during the rifle hunting scene, but those are easily forgivable considering the perfection of the rest.

My only other small complaint is what seemed like a few unecessary scenes, one being the last one. Some scenes just didn't fit with the rest of the film. Most of that doesn't matter because of the film's amazing look and fantastic cross-culture study.

If this is any sign of what's to come with Roeg, I may have found a new director to add to my list of favorites.