A Walk in the Woods
Release dates:September 2, 2015
Country :United States
Language :English
Cast
Robert Redford as Bill Bryson
Nick Nolte as Stephen Katz
Kristen Schaal as Mary Ellen
Nick Offerman as Rei Dave
Mary Steenburgen as Jeannie
Emma Thompson as Catherine Bryson
Robert Redford as Bill Bryson
Nick Nolte as Stephen Katz
Kristen Schaal as Mary Ellen
Nick Offerman as Rei Dave
Mary Steenburgen as Jeannie
Emma Thompson as Catherine Bryson
Directed by :Ken Kwapis
Produced by :Robert Redford
Bill Holderman
Chip Diggins
Story:A Walk in the Woods is a 2015 American adventure comedy biopic film directed by Ken Kwapis, based on the 1998 book/memoir of the same name by Bill Bryson. The film stars Robert Redford, Nick Nolte, Kristen Schaal, Nick Offerman, Mary Steenburgen and Emma Thompson. The film was released on September 2, 2015, by Broad Green Pictures.
After spending two decades in England, Bill Bryson (Robert Redford) returns to the U.S., where he decides the best way to connect with his homeland is to hike the Appalachian Trail with one of his oldest friends (Nick Nolte). A Walk in the Woods is directed by Ken Kwapis (of He Said She Said, The Beautician and the Beast, Big Miracle, He's Just Not That Into You previously), from a script written by Bill Holderman, based on Bill Bryson's novel. The film first premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, where Ethan reviewed it quite poorly. Broad Green Pictures will release A Walk in the Woods in US theaters starting September 2nd this fall. A few of you may still be interested. For more info, visit the film's Facebook page.
Plot:
The author Bill Bryson (Robert Redford) had lived for two decades in Britain and then returned to New Hampshire, where he lived peacefully the last ten years. He's in his late 50's or early 60's. An interview in a TV show reveals that he had published some popular books and that there are some expectations about new books written by him. But he has no such plans.
He is not an outgoing person, which becomes obvious at a funeral which he attends with his wife. After that, the Appalachian Trail crosses his path when he takes a stroll, and he decides to hike it. His wife (Emma Thompson) objects and presents to him all kinds of reports of accidents and murders that had happened on that trail. Finally, however, she gives in under the condition that he doesn't go alone. He agrees and goes to search for a person among his friends who might be willing to join him. All people he calls decline, some declare him insane. Then he receives a phone call of his former friend Stephen Katz (Nick Nolte) who offers himself as hiking companion. It appears that Stephen is quite worn out, yet claims to be fit to take the challenge.
Bill's wife is again not happy, but lets them go. In the beginning they don't get far, but seeing others pass by more quickly and, after they had been gone already for about half a day, a group of young children is passing by running and laughing makes them not to give up right away. So they move on, day by day, make more or less pleasant acquaintences and reach eventually a section which is only for experienced hikers. On that part Bill slips and pulls Stephen with him down the ravine. They fall about three meters down on a platform which is quite comfortable. But they are incapable to get back up on the trail. Thus they go to sleep, hoping that someone will pass by and help them, which actually happens on the next day.
When they reach a cover while it's pouring, they see a map at the wall that shows the trail and the place where they are. They discover that they have finished about one third of the trail and have already spent months on it.
Eventually they give up and return back home. At the end, Bill goes through his mail and finds a number of post cards written by Stephen on his journey home. The last one says: 'I wonder what's next?' Bill sits down, opens his notebook PC and begins typing: "A WALK IN THE WOODS"
Reception:
A Walk in the Woods has received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a rating of 49%, based on 81 reviews, with an average rating of 5.4/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Amiable yet less compelling than any road trip movie starring Robert Redford and Nick Nolte should be, A Walk in the Woods is ultimately a bit too pedestrian."On Metacritic, the film has a score of 51 out of 100, based on 25 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".
