The Dark Divide

This is great. I kept laughing at his novice blunders because they reminded me of my childhood mistakes learning about hiking. I kept saying, "Dude, what are you doing?" And "God, don't do that." He brought back so many memories. And then, the movie conveys his growth in character from his experience and yet still leaves a novice. Unless you're a hiker, you'll miss most of the humor or appreciate the journey the movie conveys.

Environmentalists will love it. The panoramas are terrific, and its (Spotted?) owl scene is unforgettable. A supporting cast, such as the convenience store clerk and logging crew's boss, did a fine job adding substance to what was essentially a one man show.

That one man is this movie's problem. The actor portrayed Bob Pyle as a combination absent-minded professor and Deputy Barney Fife, taking every opportunity to strip down to his skivvy shorts or worse. Add to that an almost perpetual half-snarl, half-befuddled expression, and the result is a lead character who is hard to care about. During the last half hour I was rooting for Bigfoot.

Another problem was the director's choices for employing flashbacks. Several scenes involved quiet hours in the morning, evening, or night, and would have been perfect for flashbacks to when Pyle was with his wife. But Putnam's timing for using them ruined the story's momentum, which was already a challenge to establish given the premise of a butterfly collector wandering along forest trails.

Two stars for the supporting cast, one for wallpaper-class scenery shots, and one for that surprise in the end.

The Dark Divide is a gem of a film with a perfect balance of heartfelt drama and cringe comedy that leaves you feeling very understood in a year of chaos. And in a time where we are all feeling cooped up at home, the film takes us on a cinematic journey through the healing powers of mother nature, reminding us that grief and hope are often intertwined. Both David Cross and Debra Messing portray characters that are wholly unique from past roles, and the noteworthy supporting cast leave bold impressions. Based on the true stories of author and butterfly expert, Dr. Robert Michael Pyle, the movie seeks to find common ground in a thicket of biodiversity (quite relatable right now). Left vulnerable in the wild, human connection boils down to the mysteries of life and the inevitability of death. Oh and it has a pretty rad soundtrack. Yay Avett Brothers and newcomer Samantha Crain.

I had no expectations, but I was hooked immediately. Great movie, based on a true story about nature, life, love and butterflies.

Makes you want to just go into the wild :-). A heartfelt and real story.