An Exercise In Nonsense

A bit overrated, but still an amazing film

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

One of those movie experiences that is so good it makes you realize you've been grading everything else on a curve.

That my wife and I both enjoyed watching. The scenery is fantastic, and it truly is a fascinating journey and story. But know that the movie presents a rosy picture of the book Tracks which I could not get through as Davidson is really a person not many people would like (nor would she like them). Anyway, see the movie.

It is not an easy feat to make such slow, serious, moody, thoughtful, visually rich but eventwise sparse movies like Tracks. The very story is the real life traveling of a woman named Robyn Davidson, along with her doggie and 4 camels. Australia is a very unfriendly continent with its dire desert, merciless sun, dry arid air, cruel winds, lack of rain and plenty of sand and flies as well as pests in heated air. And yet, people live there and life goes on well there, as well. Mia Wasikowska does a great job as a main hero, and Adam Driver serves very well as a bit awkward but deeply sympathetic photographer. Their duo holds strong, with all the cameo roles and short appearances of numerous actors. One strong word of warning to all those who're going to peruse this film - it is rather slow, moody and deeply dreamy. If you're after fast wild action flicks, stay away from this one. But if you're interested in slower and moodier pieces of cinema, you're for a right track. In fact, this film only made me bewildering more how some brave people can try such dangerous trips alone and in such unfriendly country climatewise. They do, and they prove that a man is strong.

Despite having heard of the movie for years and reading praise from fellow IMDbers I for some reason have never got round to seeing this unique-sounding title.Taking a look for what has been added to Netflix UK,I spotted that the film was being listed for being removed from the site the next day!,which led to me finally following the tracks.The plot-1970's Australia:Remembering the walks that her dad took around Africa, Robyn Davidson decides that she is going to take 4 camels (and a faithful dog) on a 1,677 from the Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean.Gaining the camels from various camel ranches,Davidson decides that she needs some funds in order to survive her adventure. Writing to National Geographic magazine (NG),Davidson is delighted when NG say that they will fund the project,on condition that a photographer comes along.Meeting NG photographer Rick Smolan,Davidson finds herself put off by Smolan's chatty nature.Pushing Smolan's to the side,Davidson gets the camels and the dog,and beings to follow the 1,677 mile tracks.View on the film:Following Davidson on every step she and her animals make,the screenplay by Marion Nelson superbly uses brief flashbacks to give a psychological depth to what Davidson is trekking over,which never over powers the spiritual and personal discover that Davidson is making on the tracks.Largely taking place in the desert, Nelson avoids things drying up by crossing Davidson's solo walk with intersections which take Davidson out of the self-imposed wilderness,as a sweet bond of friendship builds with Smolan,and Davidson learns of a completely different culture from the aboriginals.Bringing Davidson's journey across the screen,director John Curran & cinematographer Mandy Walker make the full weight of each footstep Davidson and the animals take fully felt,as stylish shots across the landscape gives the movie an excellent heft. Floating in Davidson's self-discovery,Curran brings an extraordinary beauty out of the Aus desert,by drinking up lush blue waves and fanning the heat of the desert onto the viewer with dried browns and yellows.Joining Davidson at "stop points" Adam Driver gives a terrific performance as Rick Smolan,whose eagerness to get Davidson talking, Driver gradually trims,as Smolan starts to get caught up in Davidson's spiritual search.Walking into the real shoes of Davidson, Mia Wasikowska gives an excellent performance,thanks to Wasikowska displaying a remarkable delicacy over opening the spiritual side of Davidson,whilst also threading a gritty determination,which grows as Davidson crosses every track.

"Tracks" is based on true event about Robyn Davidson tracks in some desserts in Australia just with some camels and a dog. They walk mile per mile to receive her own ambition, to reach the Sea by foot. This movie is really interesting because it delivers us about some simple reason of human-being's wish-cycle to always finish his or her ambition, no matter what happens, and how to start with really small thing: First walk. Perhaps this was what the director of the movie thinking, this movie is full of some scenic adventurous plots that maybe only real adventurous could understand why this "Tracks" must be finished, in any challenge. For me, "Tracks" is also a family movie because the main character, Robyn Davidson, in some scenes, refer to her family and some memories of family that made a motivation for her to keep moving forward. Besides of that, this movie also gives us some unreasonable reasons to be sad alone and that is sometimes connected to human's limit of hoping and reality. A good movie!