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Alive

year 1993decade 90sdirector Frank Marshallgenre Dramagenre Adventuregenre Biography

125 minutes

Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Ethan Hawke Nando Parrado
Vincent Spano Antonio Balbi
Josh Hamilton Roberto Canessa
Sam Behrens Javier Methol
David Kriegel Gustavo Zerbino
Bruce Ramsay Carlitos Paez
Kevin Breznahan Roy Harley
Jake Carpenter Alberto Antuna
Michael DeLorenzo Rafael Cano
Illeana Douglas Lilliana Methol
Ele Keats Susana Parrado
Christian Meoli Federico Aranda
John Haymes Newton Antonio Tintin Vizintin
Jack Noseworthy Bobby Francois
Danny Nucci Hugo Diaz
Jose Zuniga Fraga
David Cubitt Fito Strauch
Gian DiDonna Eduardo Strauch
John Cassini Daniel Fernandez
Michael Woolson Juan Martino
Chad Willett Pablo Montero
Richard Ian Cox Moncho Sabella
Gordon Currie Coche Inciarte
Josh Lucas Felipe Restano
Silvio Pollio Alex Morales
Nuno Antunes Alvaro Mangino
Michael Tayles Pancho Delgado
Steven Shayler Pedro Algorta
Jason Gaffney Victor Bolarich
Jerry Wasserman Co-pilot
Diana Barrington Sra. Alfonsin
Jan D’Arcy Eugenia Parrado
Seth James Arnett Tomas Alonso
Aurelio DiNunzio Dr. Solana
Fiona Roeske Sra. Solana
Tony Morelli Martinez
Patrick Romano Jorge Armas
John Malkovich Survivor/Narrator

Alive | The Rewatchables

host Bill Simmonshost Chris Ryanhost Craig Horlbeckproducer Craig Horlbeck theme One Word Movie Month
Explore episodeClose episode

Most Rewatchable Scene

Plane crash

In the discussion (22)
Approx. transcript time · 00:24:39Read transcript
  • The plane crash is an extraordinary scene candidate.
  • Other crash scenes considered are Fearless, Cast Away, The Grey and Flight; Sully is qualified as a landing rather than a crash.
  • The turbulence is terrifying.
  • Cast Away remains one preferred crash comparison.
  • The torn-open rear, cuts between pilots and passengers, and compacted seats make the crash harrowing.
  • An initially fake-looking airplane gives way to an impressive crash sequence.
  • Flight, Fearless and Alive are another voice’s three favorite crash scenes.
  • The crash reportedly took nine days to film and required motion-sickness medication for performers.
  • Premiere's account reportedly describes cable-rigged stunt performers being ejected from the rear of the plane.
  • The improvised triage is a strong sequence, including exposed bone, removing metal and treating six months of medical training as enough to lead emergency care.
  • The false rescue celebration and discovery that food is gone are nominated; Antonio's relentless positive spin is admired as a morale strategy.
  • The we-have-to-eat debate is an epic scene candidate, built around whether a departed soul leaves only a carcass and whether necessity overcomes disgust.
  • The avalanche is another strong scene, praised for realistic staging and disaster compounding disaster.
  • Nando and Canessa on the mountain, deciding to send Tintin back and continue west even if they die walking, is another scene candidate.
  • The mountain-top speech turns apparent rescue into the realization of impossibility and resolves to die walking rather than stop.
  • The helicopter rescue is an emotional scene with beautiful music, though hanging outside the open door is recognized as dramatized and physically dubious.
  • Malkovich’s opening monologue is a distinct scene choice because its religious reflection sets the moral dilemma.
  • The opening’s writing is praised, with playwright John Patrick Shanley credited.
  • Malkovich’s unadvertised appearance is admired as a surprise that immediately sets up the moral dilemma.
  • The plane crash receives two final scene choices.
  • Rowdy pre-crash behavior and consequential seat switching strengthen the crash scene.
  • The first hike with Roy is another scene candidate; his actor is recognized from Superbad.

The Great Shot Gordo Award for Most Cinematic Shot

Carrying Roy through the storm; mountain crevice rescue

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:33:14Read transcript
  • Hawke carrying Roy through the storm is the cinematic-shot choice, despite doubts about the physical plausibility.
  • The near-fall into the mountain crevice and rescue receive another cinematic-shot mention; the Michael Rooker comparison is an explicit joke about confusing movies.

What’s Aged the Best?

Score; smoking; sequential shooting; permission to eat; natural accents; leadership; married couple

In the discussion (15)
Approx. transcript time · 00:37:20Read transcript
  • The score and gorgeous main theme are aged-best choices.
  • The constant cigarette smoking makes the film a classic smoking movie.
  • The apparently inexhaustible cigarette supply across seventy days is questioned, including using cigarettes as birthday candles.
  • Duty-free purchases or cigarette smuggling are speculative explanations for the supply.
  • Smoking at altitude is questioned; hunger suppression and pleasure are proposed explanations.
  • Imagined nicotine withdrawal would make a survivor intolerable, and the film could have done more with cigarette scarcity.
  • Sequential shooting is praised for letting the cast grow thinner and more weathered as the story progresses.
  • Characters sincerely granting permission to eat them are admired as a rare dramatic situation.
  • Avoiding fake Uruguayan accents is an aged-best decision, compared with German characters using British accents and The Hunt for Red October's language transition.
  • The blunt announcement that Alberto is dead is an aged-best detail.
  • The emerging social hierarchy of leaders, healers and lazy people is admired.
  • Antonio demanding recognition as captain raises the difference between sporting authority and crisis leadership; imagined Ringer roles and Yellowjackets illustrate hierarchies changing under pressure.
  • The green-grass vision predicting a successful expedition is admired, with a joke that failed predictions would have no surviving witnesses to dispute them.
  • Nando's gradual persuasion of Canessa to keep walking is an aged-best leadership detail, sometimes using small tricks to make continued progress seem inevitable.
  • The married couple, including Douglas's character, supplies a convincing emotional anchor.

What’s Aged the Worst?

Hawke’s goatee; television presentation; missed nearby supplies; dangerous rugby travel; pre-internet navigation

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 00:48:57Read transcript
  • Hawke reportedly refused a full beard and retained a goatee, an aged-worst continuity issue interpreted as a movie-star differentiation tactic.
  • The film's diminished impact on television compared with wide theatrical images is an aged-worst limitation.
  • A reported 2005 expedition found the apparent road was real, making the survivors’ decision to go the other way an aged-worst choice.
  • The tail’s additional supplies were only three hours away; a counterpoint says the survivors lacked strength and were misled about their location by the pilot.
  • Crossing the Andes for college rugby is questioned.
  • Pre-internet navigation was frightening, illustrated by a family’s uncertain road choice in Acapulco; the danger beyond the turn remains unknown.
  • Whether modern tracking would improve rescue is debated against the continued geographical isolation.

Is There a Better Title for This Movie?

Alive; Miracle of the Andes (disputed)

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 00:55:56Read transcript
  • Miracle of the Andes is a serious alternative; Alive is defended as more visceral.
  • Snow Feast is a joking alternative title.
  • Snowburgers is a joking alternative title.
  • Human Sushi is a joking alternative title.
  • Cannibal Airlines is a joking alternative title.
  • Human Jerky is a joking alternative title.
  • Body Eat is suggested as another title, with Body Meat also heard in the exchange.

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Sports movie; more cannibalism detail; adversity as a test

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 00:57:37Read transcript
  • Alive functions as a sports movie.
  • The film should show more of the cannibalism’s practical unpleasantness; an objection predicts audiences vomiting.
  • An admitted privileged desire to face extreme adversity would test capacities that comfortable modern life never tests.
  • A further hot take wants more discussion of what was eaten, preparation, taste and reactions, while acknowledging the filmmakers' respectful restraint.

The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award

Hawke waking from his coma; Roy; mechanic

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:02:23Read transcript
  • Hawke immediately after waking from the coma is an overacting choice, especially the abrupt shifts when hearing about his mother and sister.
  • Roy is an alternative overacting choice.
  • The mechanic is an alternative overacting choice and seems to belong in another film.

Apex Mountain

Uruguayan rugby movies; Andes film setting

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 01:07:16Read transcript
  • Plane crashes receive a top-three assessment rather than a definitive Apex.
  • Ethan Hawke is rejected for Apex.
  • Survival films lose to Cast Away; The Revenant is also discussed, and a preference for group-survival stories is retained.
  • Cannibalism movies are discussed without a settled Apex, comparing Bones and All, an unclear Cannibal Hall title, Sweeney Todd and Lecter; Alive may be unusual as non-horror.
  • Uruguayan rugby movies receive an affirmative Apex choice.
  • The Andes as a film location receive an affirmative Apex choice.
  • Josh Hamilton is rejected for Apex.
  • Cigarette movies are rejected here in favor of The Verdict, with Mad Men, Goodfellas and The Godfather Part II supplying other screen-smoking peaks.

Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake

Probably untouchable

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:14:56Read transcript
  • The film is considered probably untouchable; an all-Black remake is an absurd hypothetical because even the existing cast speaks American English as Uruguayans, with Majors imagined as Antonio.

Is This Movie Better With…?

Wayne Jenkins

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:15:07Read transcript
  • Wayne Jenkins is proposed through a cannibalism-related imagined monologue, without a specific replacement role yet identified.

Just One Oscar

Score

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:16:17Read transcript
  • Hawke receives one hypothetical Oscar choice.
  • The score receives two hypothetical Oscar choices.

What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie?

Aviator glasses; red sneakers; glass knife

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:21:41Read transcript
  • Aviator glasses are a memorabilia choice.
  • The red sneakers are another memorabilia choice.
  • The improvised glass knife is another memorabilia choice.
  • The urine-filled rugby ball is explicitly rejected as memorabilia.

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson

Act sooner; preserve strength; search for the tail

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:22:02Read transcript
  • Accept the necessary action sooner to preserve strength instead of debating for days.
  • An immediate hike is proposed, then challenged because of winter and possible rescue.
  • Searching for the tail earlier is a hindsight improvement.