Synopsis
“The Aeronauts” is an American British biographical adventure movie released in 2019 and directed by Tom Harper. Set in 1862, it tells the Windy story of a meteorologist, Glaisher, and the breathtaking journey he takes in order to soar past the limits of the sky. As with many historical films, “The Aeronauts” takes liberty with history by changing Glaisher’s co-pilot, Henry Coxwell, into the character Amelia Wren- a fictional balloon pilot. Alongside Wren, Glaisher aims to break the record of the highest balloon ascent in order to further research the atmosphere and improve the science of weather forecasting.
The movie starts off with Glaisher Eddie Redmayne, a struggling scientist in London trying to gain support from his peers in the Royal Society. Wielding unorthodox ideas of weather forecasting, Glaisher’s ideas were ridiculed and classed as pseudoscience(everything a scientist calls and fears old traditions). Glaisher’s self-set mission is to prove his revolutionary idea and claim the scientific observation of the atmosphere can lead to an accurate weather forecast.
He looks for Amelia Wren (Felicity Jones), a bold balloonist who is mourning her husband, Pierre, who passed away in a ballooning accident. Wren, who is bold, beautiful and daring, takes the mission with the aim to prove something to herself and later, to her husband.
During the daring flight, the duo encounters issues with the weather and other psychological challenges. The changes in weather, oxygen levels, and psychological warfare brought along by the never-before ascended altitude are life-threatening to the participants.
The battle capsules for the altitude ascension becomes a rigorous fight between life and life. Wren unique’s takes to the air and out climbs the balloon with the aim of Thawing out the balloon’s icy components of the balloon. She is in the grips of suffocating dangerously. James, on the other hand, succumbs to the effects of high-altitude illnesses.
The Interstellar film integrates the characters’ pasts while simultaneously revealing the characters’ griefs and struggles. Society’s expectations on Amelia’s grief is highlighted along with James’s internal turmoil regarding the acceptance in the scientific community and his father’s deteriorating mental state.
Together the pair achieve their goal and break the record of flying over 36,000 feet amidst almost losing their lives in the process. En route to their perilous crash landing, they have to outsmart death in their desperate bid to survive. Despite the dramatic and perilous nature of their landing, they live to tell the story, although they are battered, exhausted, and forever changed.
The film highlights the spirit of humanity and everlasting adventure while celebrating the undying spirit of human determination and the pure will to pursue scientific knowledge. It is not only a tale of survival, but a story of determination and resilience for individuals who have the audacity to dream beyond the constraints of reality.
Cast & Crew
Main Cast:
Felicity Jones as Amelia Wren
19th Century performers and female balloonists make up the historical basis for Amelia, the character Jones plays. Jones brings charisma, emotional depth, and fragility to Amelia, a character epitomizes strength. She carries the film emotionally and along with Redmayne, their chemistry is joyful to watch.
Eddie Redmayne as James Glaisher
Redmayne’s depiction of the socially awkward, yet determined, scientist blends many different elements seamlessly. He unveils the strong sides of a man hell bent on pursuing a new discovery and simultaneously shows the fragility of a person stepping out for the first time into unfamiliar territory.
Supporting Cast:
Himesh Patel as John Trew – Glaisher’s ally and fellow scientist who constantly supports his undertakings.
Tom Courtenay as Arthur Glaisher – James’s aging father whose personal struggles with mental decline create a new layer of internal conflict.
With Phoebe Fox, Vincent Perez, and Tim McInnerny, the supporting cast includes 19th century British scientists and social figures.
Crew:
Tom Harper as the Director
With works like Wild Rose and Peaky Blinders, Harper is a household name. His direction balances the film’s character development with the aerial scope of the film.
Jack Thorne as the Screenwriter for the film.
While Thorne’s narratives are known to resonate with people emotionally, they tend to stray from historical accuracy. Amelia Wren’s character, who is a well known fictionalized representation, received mixed responses for her historical inaccuracies paired with the fictional praise.
Cinematographer – George Steel
The aerial visuals are breathtaking, drawing the audience into the balloon’s voyage. The immersion created by the combination of balloons, practical effects, and CGI demonstrated extreme altitudes was impressive.
Music: Steven Price
The score particularly elevates the emotional and dramatic elements of the film’s key moments, including the ascent and the near-death experiences.
IMDb Rating & Critical Reception
As of now, The Aeronauts holds an IMDb rating of 6.6 out of 10, with several tens of thousands of reviews. The film was received positively, but there was some controversy surrounding the mixed opinions.
Audience Response:
“It’s a visually stunning adventure,” one reviewer said, echoing the sentiment of many viewers who praised the film for bringing the exhilarating awe of the skies to life. The film was exciting and the balloon scenes, especially the intense moments at high altitudes, added to the viewers’ perception of immersion. The overarching themes of the film were of perseverance, scientific exploration, and equality, all of which the audience valued.
The appeal for many audience members was the chemistry and attraction between Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne, who previously starred together in The Theory of Everything. Their emotional chemistry added to the film’s appeal rather than relying on procedural elements only.
Critical Feedback:
Reviewers had mixed opinions about the film. Critics appreciated the film’s ambitious visual artistry and brisk pacing. Many praised Felicity Jones’s performance in the film, regarding her as one of the highlights and applauding the decision to cast a strong female character in a period narrative.
Some reviewers were unhappy with the historical inaccuracies of the film, particularly the departure of Henry Coxwell, the pilot, and the introduction of a made-up character in his place. While the filmmakers justified the shift as an attempt to embody a strong female character, others felt it was an unnecessary departure from reality.
Some reviewers also thought that the use of flashbacks slowed the film’s pace too much. The reviewers also argued that the flashbacks diminished the tension of the airborne scenes.
Awards and Recognition:
As with many other films, The Aeronauts also failed to win major awards. The film was, however, recognized for its visual effects and sound design. For its unique premise and execution, The Aeronauts was featured in multiple lists of “underappreciated films of 2019.”
Conclusion
A blend of history, fiction, and adventure, The Aeronauts is a visually and emotionally breathtaking film. While it does take a significant amount of historical and scientific liberties, the central theme, which is the pursuit of the desire to uncover new frontiers, is something timeless. The film is vividly Victorian, elevating a period of scientific history into an exhilarating cinematic experience. This is vividly done through the film’s aerial cinematography, alongside a heart-thumping score and stellar performances from Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne.
For viewers in search of some biographical drama combined with high-altitude action, The Aeronauts is the film to watch. It provides a thrilling exploration of new frontiers and beautifully embodies the human desire to keep pushing boundaries.
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