When this movie came out all I kept hearing was "dude, Jimmy Chin is a master...Jimmy Chin now has a masterclass, you should take it." So I started watching "Free Solo" under the assumption that a guy named Jimmy Chin would be free-climbing epic mountains. Sort of not true. Jimmy Chin, who I swear became more famous from this movie than Alex Hannold (the actual free solo-er), was the co-director and cinematographer of "Free Solo". Okay, why does this matter? It matters a lot because I like Jimmy Chin - I want to hang out with him. Alex, on the other hand, it's not that I don't want to hang out with him it's more that he wouldn't want to hang out with me (or anyone it seems). Alex' talent, strength and disregard for fear is insane. But did I immediately latch on to him and find myself enthralled in his story and rooting for him? Sadly, no. My lack of connection to him hurt my review of the film. The filming is masterful. The lead up to the big moment is masterful. But once our "hero" starts the climb I was kind of like, "oh...cool...he's gonna make it". Yup. I mean I'm totally underselling the incredible, insane, very cool and gripping part of what he actually did in being the first person to ever free solo El Capitan. You have to see it for yourself, but don't say I didn't warn you if you walk away feeling like you sort of watched a YouTuber trying to get views. I still did like it, okay. It's just different.
