Prince Avalanche (2013)

Two highway road workers spend the summer of 1988 away from their city lives. The isolated landscape becomes a place of misadventure as the men find themselves at odds with each other and the women they left behind.

Director:

David Gordon Green

Writers:

Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson (original story), David Gordon Green (adaptation)

Stars:

Paul Rudd, Emile Hirsch, Lance LeGault

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview:
Paul Rudd	...	Alvin
Emile Hirsch	...	Lance
Lance LeGault	...	Truck Driver
Joyce Payne	...	Lady
Gina Grande	...	Madison
Lynn Shelton	...	Voice of Madison (voice)
Larry Kretschmar	...	Lumberjack
Enoch Moon	...	Lumberjack
David L. Osborne Jr.	...	Lumberjack
Danni Wolcott	...	Lumberjack
Morgan Calderoni	...	Kid
Savanna Porter	...	Kid
Juniper Smith	...	Kid

Storyline

Two highway road workers spend the summer of 1988 away from their city lives. The isolated landscape becomes a place of misadventure as the men find themselves at odds with each other and the women they left behind.

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Plot Keywords:

remake

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexual content.

Details

Official Sites:

Magnolia Pictures [United States] Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 August 2013 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Bastrop, Texas, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Muskat Filmed Properties, Rough House Pictures, Dogfish Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Remake of Á annan veg (2011)

User Reviews

Incredible plot (which plot?) and incredible mini-cast still keeps you interested for the full 90 minutes

I saw this one at the Berlinale 2013 film festival, where it was part of the official Competition. The synopsis left me speculating what interesting things could happen in the given circumstances. Two men all alone in a deserted environment, meeting virtually no one while underway, and having a boring tedious task before them. Would one eventually kill or otherwise harm the other one?? Any attempt to have sex together, perhaps?? Or are they bordering on getting mad and about to make a mess of their job?? The situation could scatter in any direction, so it seemed. Anyway, the direction the story actually took was surprising. It is difficult but also unnecessary to condense the story here. Let me only say that the Dear John letter carried by the younger one (Lance) and addressed to the older one (Alvin), is an essential element in the proceedings.

They encounter some people, but these are only icing on the cake, no more no less. The lorry driver with the home made booze is picturesque in his behavior and his looks, offers some distraction from the story line, but is not essential. The woman in the burnt down cottage, desperately looking for her license as a pilot, left a minor open end when we see her later on with aforementioned lorry driver, though the latter denies having seen any woman around. But this is a trivial detail, not hampering my viewing experience.

All in all, I must say that this movie surprised me much more than I could have imagined after reading the synopsis on the festival website. It can be of no surprise that the Berlinale 2013 International Jury awarded a Silver Bear for best director, deservedly since he made a compelling movie out of barely nothing. The two main characters perform very well, and the desolate décor is perfectly integrated in the end product as presented to us.