Firewalk with Alaska

Hollywood has probably already bought the rights to his story.

Just need to add some of the following to add depth to this heart-wrenching saga of endurance and redemption:

• His family at a party: self-absorbed, the son in particular: they don't even notice when he says "I think I'll go for a walk."

• his encounter with young free spirits in a van 1/3rd of the way through the film: these youngsters respect the man's vitality, lots of conversation about how society is so much noise, can't it all just be simple, man? Can't we just have some time for ourselves? Obligatory shot of one of the kids bemoaning lack of cell-phone reception. They leave him with another beer before they go.

• Flashbacks of him as a child, wandering alone through the frozen wilderness, looking for his lost dog. These scenes intercut thematically: at the end is the heart-warming scene when he finally finds the puppy: face-licking, sun shining on the snow, etc.;

• Epic winter windstorm 2/3rds of the way through the film: frozen ice, falling branches, a fall down a ravine, wolves watching intently, perhaps a gunshot to try to ward them off for extra drama;

• the crawl out of the ravine: he has hurt his leg: how much can he endure? The last part of the movie he will incorporate a limp for pathos;

• delirious, he encounters the spirit of his father, dressed from the icy Korean War: they -- finally -- have the talk they so missed in real life. His Father is Proud of him! Uplift.

• he is finally found by the rescue party, only to find they aren't needed. His son walks with him the rest of the way.

• a final shot of his younger self, walking home with his found dog.




How could I forget?
Add cryptic scenes of him checking the time on an old pocket-watch. When he encounters the spirit of his father the father is checking the time on his same pocket-watch: "You're late."

Conversation about the nature of time: passing fast, passing slow.

We're going for the Oscar here, people. Maybe we get Tom Hanks as the Father.



Perhaps Scarlett Johannson is one of the free-spirits in the van. Every movie has room for Scarlett Johansson.



Tom Hanks to his young son in flashback: "Son, sometimes dogs get lost." Portent.



Brad Pitt will desperately want the part, but he'll then want a part for Angelina Jolie shoe-horned into the film: NO BRAD PITT.



AND NO JOHNNY DEPP!

Please God, no Johnny Depp.

Because then, inevitably: directed by Tim Burton.

Which means, inevitably: a role for Helena Bonham Carter.

No, no, no.



Mark Wahlberg: there is not an Oscar in your future. Not the part for you.



In the van with Scarlett Johansson? Taylor Swift!

Scarlett Johansson AND Taylor Swift!

And then Taylor Swift could write the winsome opening-credits song: we'll get the kids to come see this film, dammit.

Maybe Johansson and Swift can give off a little 'Thelma and Louise' vibe: they are on the run from SOMETHING, obviously.

It practically writes itself.


I am Laslo.


http://althouse.blogspot.com/2015/02/he-said-if-he-had-to-do-it-all-over.html