Directed and starring Ben Stiller, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty exhibited some beautiful cinematography, but unfortunately had a tendency to fall a little flat. There were spectacular scenes that almost built up to a climactic event but then it plummeted and it never quite reached that pinnacle. It had a slow start where Walter’s dream sequences felt a little too disjointed and then the office environment did not feel realistic enough to contrast with his imaginary world. The bearded bad guy that entered to take over the office is a bit too much of a caricature, he was a one dimensional character who just seemed ridiculous mostly due to his inane dialogue but mostly because of the fake beard stuck to his face.
However, I do think the film had a great message especially, for the computer age where people think they can experience something through digital images, video games and the internet, but ultimately miss out on what is actually around them and in so doing ignore natural human instincts. Walter would rather connect with a woman he works with over an online dating website rather than in person, clearly demonstrating how people avoid risk taking and feel safest moving within a little bubble.
The beautiful scenery captured on camera was really magnificent and certainly inspired me to travel and see more of the world. One scene particularly resonated with me; Sean Penn plays world famous photographer, Sean O’Connell who has eluded Mitty throughout the film until he is discovered nestled in the Himalayan mountains waiting for a snow leopard. The chance moment occurs for him to take the picture, but he decides he would rather encounter the moment fully, “If I like a moment, for me, personally, I don't like to have the distraction of the camera. I just want to stay in it.” In the digital camera/smart phone age it is extremely difficult to avoid the trigger happy tourist who will quite happily journey on a safari or walk along a mountain track looking at the world through some kind of screen, which never really captures the majesty of such views or the all encompassing sensual experience.
Rating: 7/10
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