Icy Free Solo Doc ‘THE ALPINIST’ Makes Alex Honnold Look Like a Moderate Risk-Taker

September 2, 2021 by Matt Oakes Posted in Out in Theaters Tagged Alex Honnold, Documentary, Marc-André Leclerc, Nick Rosen, Out in Theaters, Peter Mortimer, Reviews 3 Comments

The crux of Nick Rosen and Peter Mortimer’s (The Dawn Wall) thrilling new climbing documentary The Alpinist is self-described “true dirtbag” Marc-André Leclerc. Leclerc, a 23-year old Canadian alpine free solo enthusiast-turned-pioneer, is in many ways the antithesis of many modern climbers. Seeking fame is not and never has been his purpose, the documentary beginning with Leclerc as more of a mythical easter egg, a whisper within the upper rungs of the climbing community. Much like The Sparks are “your favorite band’s favorite band”, Leclerc is your favorite climbers’ favorite climber. His bonafides are certified early on when climbing rockstar and Free Solo subject Alex Honnold choses Leclerc when asked who in the climbing world impressed him. Read More

15 Things Alex Honnold Thinks You Should Know About ‘FREE SOLO’

October 22, 2018 by Matt Oakes Posted in Interviews Tagged Alex Honnold, Free Solo, Interviews 1 Comment

Alex Honnold is a man like few others. The world-famous free solo climber, the complicated subject for Jimmy Chin and Chai Vassarhelyi’s record-smashing adventure documentary Free Solo, may sound nuts on paper but, turns out, is actually a remarkably normal guy. Quick-witted, personable, and calculated in every word and movement, Alex isn’t the reckless adrenaline junkie that those who hear his story may imagine at first glance. He just is willing to take risks that few of us can even imagine. And the payoff, it turns out, is huge. Read More

Out in Theaters: ‘FREE SOLO’

September 27, 2018 by Matt Oakes Posted in Out in Theaters Tagged Alex Honnold, Documentaries, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Free Solo, Jimmy Chin, National Geographic, Out in Theaters, Reviews 1 Comment

The amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for triggering fear, is a critical component of human evolution. It’s the thing that tells most people not to backflip off a rooftop into a pool. Or warns them not to jump the Grand Canyon on a motorcycle. Or climb the three-thousand-plus face of Yosemite’s El Capitan without a rope. Few people see these death-defying stunts as challenges, testing the utmost limits of man. Many meet their demise in these tournaments with mortality. Read More