It takes a seriously skilled actor to carry an entire movie. And I don’t mean that figuratively, like by playing the central role, no, I mean quite literally. In “All is Lost,” the legendary Robert Redford is the only actor who appears on screen for the entire runtime. Few performers could pull off such a tough task, but Redford managed to anchor a one-man survival thriller in a way that has you completely enthralled from start to finish.
Following the news of Redford’s passing this week (on Tuesday, September 16), my thoughts turned to my favorite movies featuring the Oscar-winning actor, and while the obvious candidates like “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and “The Sting” will spring to many minds, for me “All is Lost” remains an often overlooked highlight of a remarkable career. If you missed it when it sailed into theaters in 2013, I implore you to watch it now.
This intense, but also inspiring, survival thriller, which centers on a sailor attempting to battle every obstacle Mother Nature can throw his way, is currently streaming on Prime Video, but will be removed from the platform in exactly two weeks. Here’s why it’s an essential watch.
What is ‘All is Lost’ about?
In “All is Lost,” Robert Redford plays an unnamed man on a solo voyage across the Indian Ocean. While the movie’s protagonist is clearly an experienced sailor, when he awakes to find his vessel has collided with a floating shipping container and is taking on water, his seaworthy skills are pushed to the limit.
If a gigantic hole in the ship’s hull wasn’t enough of a crisis, rising saltwater disables his radio and navigation gear. Making matters even worse, he’s also sailing directly into the path of a violent storm. Throw in circling sharks, dwindling supplies and seemingly remote odds of rescue, and the man is forced to find the will to survive against all the odds.
‘All is Lost’ is an enthralling exploration of man’s survival instinct
“All is Lost” is a quintessential “man vs nature” story, and Robert Redford is truly spectacular in the leading role.
There are no other actors to bounce off, no flashback scenes to explore the protagonist's past, or even a volleyball with a face drawn on for him to speak to. Yet Redford manages to hold viewers in the palm of his hands just by the determined expression on his face — and, of course, yelling a few curse words at the sky. It’s an award-worthy performance, and Redford deservedly scooped the New York Film Critics Circle Award for his work.
What makes “All is Lost” enthralling is that it authentically displays man’s inherent drive to survive. The nameless man at the center of the movie faces blow after blow, as his situation gets increasingly more precarious, but his commitment to problem-solving doesn’t relent (for the most part, at least). Instead, with each new challenge, he briefly curses his rotten luck and then finds a solution to keep his ship above water for a little while longer.
Director J. C. Chandor mixed fast-paced thrills with some stunning visuals, assisted by cinematography, Frank G. DeMarco, making “All is Lost” a survival drama that showcases nature’s lethal edge, but also how ridiculously stunning our world can be. Even when it’s seemingly trying its very best to send our protagonist overboard into the vast ocean.
I’m far from alone in thinking “All is Lost” is an exceptional movie (it was ranked in my top five for 2023, and I saw more than 100 new releases that year). The movie holds a remarkable 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes. “Anchored by another tremendous performance in a career full of them, All Is Lost offers a moving, eminently worthwhile testament to Robert Redford's ability to hold the screen,” reads RT’s ‘Critics Consensus.’
Robert Redford made so many incredible movies in his time, and his influence on the cinema landscape will be felt for decades to come. Whatever movie you decide to watch to honor his life and legacy will be a worthy choice, but if you’re looking for a recommendation, I implore you to consider “All is Lost.” It’s among his finest ever works, and that’s really saying something.
Watch "All is Lost" on Prime Video until September 30
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