Aloft (2014) User Reviews

BEWARE: US theatrical release is cut by at least 15 minutes

[paul-allaer · 4/10 · 11 July 2015]

Some time ago, my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati started showing the trailer for this movie (which now is 1 1/2 yr. Old), and I was really looking forward to seeing it. Then the trailer disappeared, and finally this weekend the movie showed up. I figured this would not be playing long so I went to see it right away.

"Aloft" (2014 release from Canada-Spain-France; running time: TBD) opens with the character played by Jennifer Connelly (later we learn her name is Nana) and her two young boys, named Ivan and Gully, trying to catch a ride somewhere out in a remote 9and very cold) area in Canada. They go to a mysterious gathering of what looks to be a faith healer. Shortly thereafter we are informed "20 Years Later", where we get to know now grown-up Ivan, married and with a young baby. One day a Canadian journalist shows up out of the blue at Ivan's house. She informs him she is going up into the Arctic circle to go interview his mom and she wonders if Ivan wants to join her. At this point we're not even 15 min. Into the movie but to tell you more would spoil your viewing experience.

Couple of comments: firsts, this movie is written and directed by Peruvian director Claudia Llosa. She previously brought us the outstanding movie "The Milk of Sorrow", so that, along with the intriguing trailer, had given me high hopes for "Aloft". Alas, things are not that simple: "Aloft" is not a straight-forward movie, and it takes a LOT of time before I was able to piece together what the heck was going on. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but it does require serious paying attention to the movie. The director jumps back and forth between the two story lines (separated by 20 years) throughout mots of the movie. The Big Reveal comes about 75 min. Into the movie, and from then on I was very much into it. Second, Jennifer Connelly brings an outstanding performance as Nana, not always a likable character. Connelly is intense and emotive. Also nice work from Cillian Murphy as the grown-up Ivan, and last but not least also kudos to the 2 boys playing the young Ivan and Gully.

However, I have a major complaint about this release. It was listed at the theater and also here on IMDb as having a running time of 112 min. The version that I saw in the theater was at least 15 minutes shorter. When I started looking into it, I read the plot summary as it's posted on Wikipedia, and there I learned of several KEY PLOT points that were missing entirely from the cut that I saw. As you can imagine, I am completely disgusted with the US theatrical release and, regardless of the ultimate quality of the movie (which is not bad, although certainly not without challenges), I cannot recommend to anyone to see this movie in the theater. I have no idea whether the subsequent DVD/Blu-ray release will have the original longer version or the US shorter version, or both. Sadly, this is not the first, not the second, nor the third or last time this has happened to foreign movies being released in the US.

VIEWER BEWARE!!!!!

Not as bad as the critics say

[meganbeneski · 6/10 · 1 June 2015]

I was anxiously awaiting the release of Aloft in the US because I really enjoy the work of the two lead actors, Jennifer Connelly and Cillian Murphy. The film was in competition at the Berlin Film Festival last year so, there were plenty of reviews out there for me to read beforehand. I finally had a chance to watch it and in my opinion the critics missed the point of this film. They were in search of obvious plot points and cleanly presented character arcs. But, there is none of that. It is a melancholy film to be sure. The characters are existing in an environment lacking love, levity, hope and basic comfort (beautifully realized by the bleak environment of the frozen wilds of Canada.) Jennifer Connelly's character, Nana, is a single mother raising two boys; Gully who is terminally ill and Ivan who is woefully unloved and overlooked. Nana is not a sympathetic character in the least. She sees her circumstances as permission to inflict whatever poor choices she wishes on those around her and her choices run the gamete of self-indulgent to self- destructive. When she chooses to leave Ivan her rationalizations are flimsy and cruel and really only a justification for her to "get out" and put herself first. Cillian Murphy is subtly enthralling as a grown up Ivan. Raised in an environment of very little joy Ivan progresses from an unhappy, sullen boy into a short-tempered, hermit of a man that seethes with anger and distrust. There are moments throughout the film that show Ivan's vulnerability and capacity for sweetness. Like when he is training his beloved falcon or playing with his own son. But, he is damaged and guarded. The result of being unloved and discarded. The story is told in two separate timelines approximately 20 years apart and flashbacks help fill in the story of the boys before they are separated from their mother. Details are few and the circumstances of what caused the rift between Nana and Ivan are not fully realized until the end. I do feel like the depiction of the characters, flawed as they are, was realistic. Their choices were selfish, rooted in anger and hurt. But, it is a picture of the pain of physical and emotional abandonment and ultimately survivor's guilt. It shows that the choices that we make profoundly affect those around us and those ripples can be felt for a lifetime. There are no happy endings or neatly defined explanations for why people do what they do to the people that they love, this film depicts that ambiguity in a lovely way.

Numbing drama co-produced by Spain/Canada /France with big name actors and slow direction

[ma-cortes · 5/10 · 21 September 2015]

In the opening scenes of the brooding titled ¨Aloft¨ or ¨No Llores Vuela¨ , a young boy carrying a falcon rushes along with his mom (Jennifer Connelly) across a bleak , frozen stretch of road in the Arctic , on their way to see a mysterious faith healer . She is Nana , a single , working-class mother desperately seeking a solution for her youngest child Gully (Winta McGrath) , who suffers from a brain tumor , while also dealing with her precocious , restless older son Ivan (Zen McGrath). Nana lives in northern Manitoba , working part-time on a farm , where she is having an affair with her married boss and attempting to raise her two young sons . In a last-ditch effort to save him from his terminal illness she drags her kids to that aforementioned faith healer (William Shimell) . Later on , us we follow a mother and her grown-up son (Cillian Murphy) . Nana has a great strength , almost stoicism, and she will become a renowned artist as well as healer , and he will grow into his own as an expert falconer married to an attractive woman (Oona Chaplin) . In the present , that puts the very meaning of life and art into question , so that we may contemplate the possibility of living life to its fullest , despite the uncertainties littering our paths . Tracking a journey by a documentarian , Jannia (Mélanie Laurent ), and her subject (Cillian Murphy) toward the North Pole . As journalist Jannia and accomplished falconer Ivan brave punishing winds and frozen but crackling lakes to visit his strange mother . There takes place an encounter between the two that will bring the very meaning of their lives into question .

This Faith-Healing drama is moody , downbeat , slowly paced , somber , dark and attempts to comment on humanity , or the lack of such in the world . ¨Aloft¨ is as remote as its Arctic setting , as the story is certainly rare but with great actors though protagonists leave us cold . Like cheeks on a freezing day , any curiosity or interest the sparse script engenders is puckered dry by the end , leaving behind only an irritating numbness ; and including some ethereal , semi-supernatural roots . The picture relies heavily on the thunderous relationship between a troubled woman who gets reacquainted with her adult son ; both of whom marked from a past event marred by an accident that tears them apart . The family's tough-to-follow saga is one of abandonment and reunion , with filmmaker as well as writer Claudia Llosa showing both to be equally taxing in their own ways . The film holds itself at an icy remove from its audience , rendering its characters as impenetrable as if they were encased in ice . Nice performances from Jennifer Connelly as a struggling mummy encounters the son she abandoned 20 years earlier , delving her evolution to becoming a renowned healer , Cilliam Murphy as a peculiar falconer who bears the marks of a double absence and Mélanie Laurent as the young journalist will bring about an encounter between the two main starring . The freewheeling camera often stays close on the important cast , which also includes Oona Chaplin , William Shimell and Ian Tracey . Furthermore , a colorful , cold and evocative cinematography by Nicolas Bolduc . Sensitive and and relaxing musical score by Michael Brook .

This thoughtful , meditative , thought-provoking , but deceptive flick was regularly directed by Peruvian director Claudia Llosa who previously directed the magical realism-infused 2009 drama titled "The Milk of Sorrow" , it told the story of a rare disease transmitted through the breast milk of pregnant women who were abused or raped during or soon after pregnancy . This was her first English-language film titled "Aloft" , like her prior two features — debut "Madeinusa" and Golden Bear-winning follow-up "The Milk Of Sorrow" , "Aloft" boasts Llosa's magnificently lyrical eye for photography and her unassailable slickness to originate a haunted , slightly otherworldly atmosphere even out of banal happenings .

Wonderful Cast Wasted in a Messy Screenplay

[claudio_carvalho · 3/10 · 11 August 2017]

"Aloft" is one of those films that it is impossible to write a synopsis. The screenplay is so messy that the viewer will probably ask in the end of the movie what the story is about. There are heartbreak moments, like for example when Ivan asks his little brother Gully to jump off the truck that is sinking in a frozen lake. But the story is a whole is a complete mess. It is also heartbreaking to see Jennifer Connelly, Mélanie Laurent, Cillian Murphy among others wasted in such a bad film. My vote is three.

Title (Brazil): "Marcas do Passado" ("Marks from the Past")

Might need a second viewing

[meghanndotta · 7/10 · 16 May 2022]

I caught this movie halfway through. I was taken in and very intrigued but missing a lot, obviously. So I rewatched from the beginning and so glad I did. Some things might have been more confusing but I had seen further down so now I was understanding. It's definitely not a film for everyone. And I'm additionally annoyed that the US version is cut. However, all in all, I really did enjoy this film. I loved the actors and I thought they played their parts well. It does leave a lot open ended or up to interpretation and that can be frustrating. But I just can't stop thinking about it. I love those films that just stay with you and make you want to continue u deters ding and wrapping your mind around it.

What the heck did I just watch?

[Justin-354-218379 · 1/10 · 19 September 2015]

An hour and a half into the movie and I am still not entirely sure what is happening. Seriously what the heck am I watching? Terrible movie. Jumps back and forth between the past and future at unrelated points in the story. Dialog is boring. Hard to follow what is going on. Character development is non-existent. The mother discovers she is a mystic healer. The son keeps and trains and keeps predator birds (falcons specifically). The execution of the premise is even more weird and poorly executed than it sounds. This is a really poorly developed story that never should have been made into a movie. Through its entirety the viewer is subjected to bad writing (no range in vocabulary) with a plot that never really happens. The attempt is to masquerade as some deep art piece. It fails. Film was just a crap indie film or a B-Role movie intended to go straight to RedBox. And even it that low bar to shoot for, if the directors hadn't scored Jennifer Connelly in the lead role it wouldn't have even attracted viewership in that subprime outlet. This movie totally relies on viewer recognizing the star on the DVD cover to entice giving the movie a chance. Its not worth the buck you feed into a Redbox machine to rent it. AVOID and spend the hour and a half of your like doing something more worthwhile like try watching paint dry.

Choppy editing almost ruined the film for me

[Sherazade · 7/10 · 15 November 2015]

This was a good watch but there were so many parts that didn't make sense. After watching the film, I came online to read what people had to say and behold! I was right, some key parts were missing from the US theatrical version, at least fifteen minutes of footage was left on the cutting room floor and I feel they should have at least left in the part where grown up Ivan (Cillian Murphy) and the journalist (Mélanie Laurent) had an affair. It would have explained why he suddenly became affectionate towards her (this alone changed the course of the movie without rhyme or reason) in the final quarter of the film as well as made the story come full circle with the issue of abandonment that seemed to plague Ivan's lineage. The main characters were mostly unlikable but the actors behind them were good enough in the roles to keep you interested in what happens next. All in all it was definitely worth the watch and not as bad as it was reviewed.

Aloft is a bit aloof

[Seth_Rogue_One · 5/10 · 14 January 2016]

The acting is fine, Jennifer Connelly is always good as is Cillian Murphy and the kid-actors were fine as well.

Visually it's also a nice looking movie, with limited colours that creates and cold and melancholic feeling which suits the movie just fine, because it is rather melancholic.

The movie though is just good enough not to be bad, but far from great.

Needless to say Jennifer Connelly's character is very spiritual and believes in healing, I believe her character is supposed to be Native American although I am not quite sure about this but a lot of her spiritual beliefs stem from them if nothing else.

So it helps if you have some sort of interest in that or at least an open mind because it's not always very up front and direct in it's approach to tell the story with plenty of metaphors and subtlety more so than direct big orchestrated dramatic scenes.

The blu-ray version (at least the one I watched could possibly differ in some countries) is 97 minutes, and not 112 minutes like it says on IMDb.

From what I've heard the version shown on festivals was indeed 112 minutes but it wasn't received that well so they cut it down to 97 minutes for the blu-ray/DVD market.

And although that caught me off guard initially, I'm not quite sure if it would be able to sustain my interest for 112 minutes so this could be one of those times where the cut down version is actually better, although I of course can't be sure about this.

What was it about?

[Gordon-11 · 2 February 2016]

This film tells the story of a journalist, who sets up a meeting between a young man and his mother who tragically abandoned him twenty years ago in a cold, icy land.

I don't quit know what "Aloft" is about, because of a poor story and a poorly presented story. The non-linear storyline does not help to clear things up, and in fact it confuses and meddles up everything. Central plot ideas are poorly conveyed, for example the first scene seems completely unrelated and even irrelevant to the rest of the film. Motives and actions of characters are poorly explained that most of the time I don't know what they are doing. As a result I don't even know what exactly drove the mother to abandon her son. I understand there was a tragedy, but what exactly happened that linked the tragedy to the abandonment, which was poorly presented that it happened already before I realised that the scene was about abandonment.

I watched it for Jennifer Connelly, but unfortunately "Aloft" is not a high point for Jennifer Connelly's portfolio of work.

A Film's Answer to Speed Reading

[ice ruby red · 4/10 · 6 October 2016]

This movie is like a carcass with no bones... a lovely building with no foundation... music notes without a staff.

The scenery is beautiful, the cast is superb, but so much is left to the audience to figure out on their own, that you are often left scratching your head. You are never given a reason to care about the mother or son... there is little depth to their characters, it's very "surface", like the ice that appears ubiquitously in the movie, and in some cases, in the characters' behavior.. Suddenly the mother seems to be saying goodbye to her son, and you're like "WTF?"

Aloft is like a book that someone has randomly torn pages out of. And the anticipated ending/reunion? I blinked and the credits rolled!

This would have been a terrific movie if it had been longer, more fleshed out, and had an ending worthy of putting all the time, money and effort into making a movie to begin with.

Probably the most well acted movie I've ever seen

[socrates99 · 8/10 · 5 June 2016]

An unusual film about a healer and what it cost her to be one, set in Canada's far north. The three adult principals are flawless. The two child actors are flawless too. If nothing else it's worth seeing these performances which should impress even the most hard-hearted of critics.

The story itself is rather slight. A woman is recognized as having the gift by another healer but her own family problems might not withstand her acceptance of her gift. Aside from that it's about relationships between a mother and her two sons, and perhaps also about a loving mother trying to live mostly through her emotions.

The real value of the film is how it seems to represent a breakthrough for all of the actors involved. Cillian Murphy, Jennifer Connelly, and Melanie Laurent are all unforgettably good. The two McGrath brothers are irreplaceable.

Over the top

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 21 September 2015]

"Aloft" is a film from last year written and directed by Claudia Llosa. It was her 3rd full feature film, but first long movie in 5 years after the Oscar-nominated "Milk of Sorrow". It was also her first work with big names from Hollywood such as Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly, Cilian Murphy and Mélanie Laurent. The information on the IMDb page says that this one here runs for over 110 minutes, but the version I saw went roughly 20 minutes shorter.

This film play during two different times. The first would be when Murphy's character is still a little boy and we see how he gets disconnected with his mother, the second playing decades later when Murphy's character meets her again and also meets his love interest played by Laurent. I personally found that this film went mostly for emotion without elaborating convincingly on the characters. The apparently terminal illness of Laurent's character, the falcon shooting, the other boy's actually terminal illness etc. It felt like this film wanted to get the audience to cry at all costs, but forget to deliver in terms of storytelling unfortunately. This is also why overall I cannot really recommend this movie. Quite a shame as the actors are certainly talented.

Terrible, boring, dull

[graham_watkins · 1/10 · 27 February 2019]

It wasn't until I read the synopsis on IMDB did I work out what the story was about. I found the film impossible to concentrate on because it was so dull, there was no story and nothing of an value to watch. Why make this film? It seems a waste of time and effort. Watch something else, you will enjoy it much more.

Brooding attempting enigmatic

[shakercoola · 4/10 · 18 October 2018]

A Spanish-Canadian-French drama; A story about a documentary filmmaker accompanying a falconer who sets out across a frozen landscape to find his mother, a faith healer, whom he hasn't seen in many years. This is a film that never takes flight. Its ethereal meditation and ponderous tone is at the expense of character development. The result is a long-winded, inaccessible drama lacking impetus. It's difficult for the viewer to make an emotional connection with any of the people when the film's plot that catches up later in the film.

Waste Of Exceptional Talent

[mcjensen-05924 · 2/10 · 25 August 2023]

Okay, what's going on here? Is this supposed to be deep, metaphoric or just plain weird. Whatever the intention of the makers, it doesn't work at all. All emotional scenes designed to impact the viewer fall flat because you don't even know what they're going on about. Yeah, the acting is good. So what? The movie doesn't mean anything. It doesn't go anywhere. And it certainly doesn't go out of it's way to clue the viewer in what we are supposed to understand. I don't even know why I gave this 2 stars. Probably for the bird and a few stunning landscape shots. And Jennifer C. Used to be a stunner, but it's tough to recall any film she's been in that was worth cold dog doo doo. I dunno manybe I'm just dense or something but this convolutes disaster only made me irate.

Truly Awful

[guam-73942 · 1/10 · 25 May 2022]

How could such talented actors involve themselves in such complete trash?

What bothers me the most is the reverent tone of this preposterous film.

The film makers were obviously looking for a story involving replacement religion/spiritual experience outside of actual religions and something acceptable to hip international audiences. With the beautiful Jennifer Connelly thrown in as a replacement Jesus.

Looks like it didn't work since no one went to see the film. Don't blame them.

Slow... But worth it.

[senhor-ron · 8/10 · 24 January 2019]

People giving this film a bad review are people who have either no patience or no experience with loss.

There is simply no bad acting. Cillian does what Cillian does best: dark and broody... Wonderful footage, shot with love for the harsh environment and people.

This film is for people who don't mind - or even like - to wait and not having the plot & the solution & the happy ending being presented in the first five minutes.

Take your time, it's worth it.

# 03 : More than a lot : the dumbest & most soporific movie in ages ! (web)

[lamegabyte · 1/10 · 3 June 2019]

I know that Jennifer likes to do unusual movies but this one is her worst choice ever ! My Five First Minutes rule has been right : here, you understand nothing, the place, the characters and you are greatly annoyed by this spoiled brat with the falcon ! So the entire movie is like this : scenes drags painfully to say little, nothing is explained or makes sense, the characters are empty or boring, those cold winter locations are everything but poetic (prefer « Fargo »), Murphy brings his usual lack of charisma, the editing is salvaged by stupid flashbacks, proof that this writer/director can't tell a story ! For one movie that was about hope in distress, my watching was very painful, so much i have to fast forward it with absolutely no surprises, no emotion ! Just awful !

Thought Provoking

[rekjr · 9/10 · 20 August 2016]

I am a serious and intelligent movie watcher of more than 55 years. I look for movies that attempt to say something when selecting an indie. After watching any movie, if it stays on my mind for days or weeks, I count it as a worthwhile film to have watched. Aloft has been on mind for weeks since viewing it.

I suspect that those of us with moderately wretched lives due to personal and family tragedy are prone to be more affected by the effort. You know, those of us who still do not have all of the answers to life even after 60+ years on this rock and years of formal philosophical and literary education.

I recommend that if anything in the trailer, reviews or other sources about the movie appeals to you at all, you should watch the movie with an open mind and make your own decision about its "worth".

Connolly and Laurent (sp?) were compelling.

Captivating on many levels

[cafenatalie · 8/10 · 14 June 2017]

After watching this a second time, I wanted to jot down a word or two or three--especially after reading some critics' reviews.

Films have such a unique effect on each individual that I don't really vibe with the word "review" when reading people's comments. I always view them rather as our opinions, feelings and interpretations of a movie--I know that's not an earth-shattering new thought or anything...

Thank god for films like this. Amongst the world of overly-saturated big-budge moneymakers, I relish these types of films, always have. Sure, this may not be the most forthcoming and understandable film right out the gate; but with an open mind and a desire for unique storytelling, this film can speak volumes to a viewer. The cinematography (esp. close-up shots) and acting alone are some of the finest pieces of art I've seen. I'm also slightly biased as I am a mad fan of all three main cast members; their performances are so incredibly real as they disappear so seamlessly into their characters that I can be truly convinced they are living this story.

Each character is so tragically beautiful and strong, but it's Mélanie's character that I resonate with the most--being young and dealing with an illness, trying to mask it and stay strong to reach whatever goal it is you can possible accomplish to heal yourself. I have lived my own version of this, and she performed it f*cking beautifully.

Yes I had some trouble following along the first time through, but I just went with it--there was something about this film that I was OK doing that, letting the story guide me and not inserting my judgments along the way, which is not always the case with me and other movies. It's hard to explain. Even if it's a challenge to grasp the overarching themes/meaning of a film, identifying with or relating to just one element in a story can be enough to strike a cord and change something about a person, in the way they think or go about life or, etc. That's the beauty of storytelling.

Also, after reading other comments, it sounds like I may have not viewed the director's cut, but a 15-min shorter version, which is a bummer because I was feeling like something wasn't being shown between Cillian's & Mélanie's characters when it seemed like they became incredibly close through their journey together towards the end. I could tell there was probably something going on between them, but the other scenes alluding to this weren't enough for me. Hoping to see a non-US version eventually.

Much better than reviews would lead you to believe

[sswift-30560 · 8/10 · 22 April 2023]

I avoided watching this movie because of such negative reviews but after reading the synopsis, I decided to try it. All three lead actors were phenomenal - such emotional performances! Though the story is a not without flaws, the chosen actors - both adult and child - provide a flow that keeps the movie moving. I'm glad I read about the movie before watching. It bounces between time periods quickly and knowing the story ahead of time, made this easier to navigate. Cillian Murphy's depiction of an adult man dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic childhood is real and raw. Jennifer Connelly's role as a mother who lost one son and abandons another while finding 'fame' as a healer, is both complicated and vulnerable. Give it a chance - the movie has more to it than you might think.

i liked the movie

[estella_ema · 9/10 · 23 September 2015]

i just finished watching the movie.. Didn't know anything about it before...Didn't know what it was about about! i just knew the actors!

in the beginning i couldn't understand what it was about.. i just felt sorrow for that pour mothers dream and hope to save her son! By the middle of the film all my emotion when to the boy the guilt he must have felt and the courage to say what he believed! he didn't want to believe that his mother could heal because if she did then his brother would have lived and the accident would have been more harmful for him! Like a strong boy that he was ...he coped with the loss his own way...as his mother did! who is to blame more ! i am not a mama so for sure i would say the mother...But all this emotion the movie gave me..it was worth the while to see the movie! Not for everyone of course!! but if you are looking to open up your mind in a other way of thinking..perhaps you don't understand..but i enjoyed it!! As the ending left us sort not knowing if the girl was saved or not.. probably both ways hurt! For me...she got saved and the boy forgave his mom and himself for the accident! He was always strong...