Through the Beauty and Danger of the Amazon, an Unknown City is Found

Charlie Hunnam in "The Lost City of Z"
Photo Credit: Imdb.com

One of the best aspects about film is how, once in a while, you will find a movie that tells a true story of which you know very little or nothing about, adding to the mystique of what you’re about to watch and leading to a cinematic learning experience that could offer much as you see these events come to life on screen.

Such is what happens in director James Gray’s biographical drama, “The Lost City of Z,” which follows a group of brave travelers who set out to find a lost civilization.  With a strong lead performance and a stunning true story about the power of worldly exploration, Gray’s latest is one of the best of the year so far.

At the turn of the twentieth century, Percy Fawcett (Charlie Hunnam) is an officer in the British military.  He’s soon given an opportunity from the Royal Geographical Society to travel to South America and map a jungle that rests on the edge of Bolivia and Brazil.  While doing so, he comes across clues of what may be that of a lost city.  When he returns to England and reports his findings to the Royal Geographical Society, the institute grants Fawcett their support to travel back to South America and continue his quest to find this mysterious civilization.

While Hunnam’s last couple of film performances had me skeptical of his acting abilities, I’m pleased to say he surprised me with his commanding work in the lead role.  Right at the beginning of the film, you can tell this performance will be the one where our perception of Hunnam's film acting will change, but the scene that convinced me of this was when his character addresses the Royal Geographical Society of his findings.  So passionate is Hunnam in displaying his character’s love for exploration, that you are instantly drawn to Fawcett’s persistence.  Through his portrayal of Fawcett, Hunnam succeeds in giving us an idea of how much these expeditions must have meant to this notable individual.  It’s a spirited and inspiring performance that exposes a new depth for Hunnam’s acting talents.

The movie also offers a terrific supporting cast that includes Robert Pattinson as Fawcett’s loyal fellow explorer, Sienna Miller as his headstrong wife, and Tom Holland as his tough-spirited son.

The superb cinematography by Darius Khondji captures the Amazon’s many details, highlighting its gorgeousness as thoroughly as its many perils.  With his camerawork, Khondji displays the denseness of the forest’s surroundings, transporting us to a part of the world that was once shrouded in secret.

The screenplay by Gray, which is based on David Grann’s book, “The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon,” offers a thorough look at Fawcett’s South American travels, his family life, and his military experience as the film spans across the first quarter of the twentieth century.  By providing us with a view into his life as a father, soldier, and explorer, we are given an in-depth look of not only his skills as a traveler, but the discipline he learned in the military that gave him the mentality and bravery for such an undertaking, as well as the role his family played in his career.  If you go into this film not knowing much about Fawcett, the screenplay offers plenty of components to let you become familiar with his contributions to geography.

Gray imbues this film with a bit of a classic Hollywood feel and crafts a wonderful exploration epic, and through his vision of the Amazon, Gray shows a love for exploration that’s as strong as his subject’s.  This is one of the finest cinematic journeys you can take this year, and if you’re looking for a grand adventure at the movies, Gray will take you there.

Final Grade: A