Customer Reviews

White Mile

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Boasting one of Alan Alda's best performances, this HBO made-for-cable film has an intelligent script, strong dialogue, and excellent acting by all cast members. Based on a true incident, the horrific drowning of several members of a corporate sortie to the treacherous Chilko River for white water rafting, the pacing here is flawless. The writer, Michael Butler, and the director, Robert Butler (related?) have fashioned a seamlessly powerful work that hits the viewer right between the eyes.

Alda's character, Dan Cutler, is a callous, ruthless corporate type who, without question, still exists. One of the top honchos at a prestigious ad agency, he is constantly egging on his subordinates to push themselves, to feel life in their gut and their private parts. He organizes the sortie and in essence bullies both ad agency execs and VIPs from two clients into doing the white water rafting which starts off well, then escalates into a terrible set of events.

The rafting footage is absolutely spectacular; tremendous credit should go to the cinematographer here. This makes the story truly believable; you really feel it when things go horribly wrong.

The endpiece, a courtroom trial, is, in a way, tacked on, but still delivers the goods. See this for Alda's amazing performance. One would think after watching this film that Alda actually IS like this in person; his performance is that believable. Peter Gallagher is also excellent, but this is really Alda's show and what a show it is. He is astoundingly good.

Highly recommended.

I was one of the lawyers for the plaintiff in the lawsuit. I saw the movie several years after the trial, and found it to be an accurate depiction of the facts and events that took place. An amazing story and very tragic.

Think Citizen Kane on the river. Solid acting but the whitewater stunts are not the run of the mill Hollywood. Those guys led by Bryan "River Dog" Koelzer, who sat in the middle of the raft without a paddle, really make this movie special. This movie was voted the top 5 whitewater films of all time by Paddler magazine. If you don't own a copy you are will never reach complete enlightenment.

This work relates, speaking in broad terms, a narrative (based upon a true story) of a group of executives that is pressured into taking part in a whitewater raft trip, during which an unfortunate incident occurs. A subsequent lawsuit which addresses the incident completes a good portion of the film. The entire production wants nothing, as all involved perform at a high level. The scenario, by Michael Butler, is stripped neatly to its essence, and immediately engages the viewer with its combination of visceral excitement, suspense, and character development. The direction by the veteran Robert Butler is precise and enhanced by the splendidly balanced casting. Alan Alda gives his finest performance, softly creating a characterization which fascinates as it develops. Among other cast members, Peter Gallagher, Bruce Altman, and Robert Loggia offered nary a flaw in this seamless tale. The scenes immediately leading to, and including, the actual raft trip are enthralling as a test of strength between Alda's character and his companions, a test that reveals varying moral sensibilities. Editing, in a film reflecting issues of larger scope than are commonly seen, provides an important framework; here, a linear structure is created and moves smartly. The cinematography and lighting, under the aegis of Lloyd Ahern II, can be enthusiastically endorsed (with a wide range of scena) as a standard to be envied. The score by Pray For Rain, refreshingly non-DJ, implies applicable emotion neatly and nicely throughout this interesting and beautifully balanced motion picture. An obviously high level of preparation by all involved bring forth one of the finest films of the 90s.

This movie was really good and I'm glad to hear that someone who actually was involved in the case liked it too. I saw this during my business class and I found that it really related well to the whole "win at all costs" idea as well as a business's ethics. Peter Gallagher and Alan Alda did wonderful jobs and are both very convincing. I also liked how they showed in the beginning the making of a commercial and the brainstorming process of making a commericial. Overall, this movie was great. You might be asking me WHY I fell asleep during it. It was because I literally had a sleepless night!

The second unit stunt doubles led by workhorse David "Flipper" Cline really bring this story to life. Some of the best whitewater stunts ever captured on film. This video is worth every penny of its used price.

I am related to one of the victim and from what I read of the trial depositions, a lot of this was true: some refused to go on the trip until they were told they could fish instead of raft, the release wasn't distributed until on the private plane to the site, the agency head discouraged or refused (depending on your perspective) the guide using a second boat to avoid mingling with another group, several on the trip grumbled concerns when they saw they were all going in one boat but due to peer pressure (yes, even at that age) none made a scene about it. One only wishes they had.

The thing that is most striking about this movie (other than the white water sequences) is how Mr. Goodguy can so turn on a dime and be such a slimey, self-serving, non-sympathetic figure in this movie. While he is like this throughout the movie, bullying his workers to go on this dangerous trip even one who feared for his life but needed his job more, his personae truly comes alive when the widow of one of these men comes to see him and he offers her some amazingly good cheescake....I loved seeing him like this -what an an incredible job of acting. This has to be a universal concept that happens in job situations throughout the world - "You do this or it's your job".....The action scenes are well filmed and acted and an exciting movie all-around. Peter Gallagher is good as the person who tries to do the right thing, Robert Loggia (always good) as someone who should have known better but surprisingly goes along with the rafting trip.