Vertical Limit (2000)

A climber must rescue his sister on top of K2, one of the world's biggest mountains.

Director:

Martin Campbell

Writers:

Robert King (story), Robert King (screenplay)

Stars:

Scott Glenn, Chris O'Donnell, Bill Paxton

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chris O'Donnell	...	Peter Garrett
Robin Tunney	...	Annie Garrett
Stuart Wilson	...	Royce Garrett
Augie Davis	...	Aziz
Temuera Morrison	...	Major Rasul
Roshan Seth	...	Colonel Amir Salim
Alejandro Valdes-Rochin	...	Sergeant Asim
Nicholas Lea	...	Tom McLaren
Rod Brown	...	Ali Hasan
Scott Glenn	...	Montgomery Wick
Steve Le Marquand	...	Cyril Bench
Ben Mendelsohn	...	Malcolm Bench
Izabella Scorupco	...	Monique Aubertine
Bill Paxton	...	Elliot Vaughn
Ed Viesturs	...	Himself

Storyline

A high-adrenaline tale of young climber Peter Garrett, who must launch a treacherous and extraordinary rescue effort up K2, the world's second highest peak. Confronting both his own limitations and the awesome power of nature's uncontrollable elements, Peter risks his life to save his sister, Annie, and her summit team in a race against time. The team is trapped in an icy grave at 26,000 feet - a death zone above the vertical limit of endurance where the human body cannot survive for long. Every second counts as Peter enlists the help of a crew of fellow climbers, including eccentric, reclusive mountain man Montgomery Wick, to ascend the chilling might of the world's most feared peak to save her.

---

Plot Keywords:

rescue | k2 | death | die hard scenario | urination | 

---

Taglines:

This December. Fear will Fall. Courage will Rise.

---

Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense life/death situations and brief strong language

Details

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English Urdu

Release Date:

8 December 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Límite vertical

Filming Locations:

Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$75,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$15,507,845, 10 December 2000, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$69,243,859

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$215,663,859

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Global Entertainment Productions GmbH & Company Medien KG, Mountain High Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Bench brothers were based on the Burgess twins, Alan and Adrian, who are two climbers from Yorkshire, England.

---

Goofs

In the helicopter, when Peter is going to the base camp, he and the helicopter pilot shift position during the scene. In the first shot Peter is on the right, in the second he is on the left side.

---

Quotes

Elliot Vaugh: [to Tom McLaren about Annie Garrett's order to dicontinue their climb] I mean, did you really think she was gonna lift up her skirt and pull her panties down? Come on man, don't crap out on me now.

---

Connections

Referenced in Bad Girls: Episode #6.4 (2004)

---

Soundtracks

Only One Woman
Written by Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb and Robin Gibb

User Reviews

Exciting and well-made action adventure film.

I'm surprised by all the hostility shown toward this movie on IMDb. Had I read the reviews here, I would have skipped this well-made and entertaining film. For one thing, it was a pleasure to see an action movie that didn't involve guns and shooting - enough of that nonsense. Instead, this film is full of spectacular scenery, good looking actors and actresses, and some unexpected insights into issues of morality, judgment and sacrifice. As far as the accuracy about details of climbing, I couldn't care less. This is not a how-to movie. And as for the wisdom of transporting nitroglycerin across dangerous terrain, check out Henri-Georges Clouzot's masterpiece, "The Wages of Fear" or its excellent remake by William Friedkin, "Sorcerer." Neither one of these great films was hampered by such a questionable premise. I highly recommend "Vertical Limit" for exciting escapism.