The stars of this film are classic but polar opposite. Robert Redford his usual elegant self and Nick Nolte, his usual disheveled self. The two seasoned actors join forces in this buddy dramedy based on the true life story of Bill Bryson’s book A WALK IN THE WOODS.
The death of a friend, brings to Bryson (Redford’s) attention that he’s written about places all over the world but never about his own backyard, America. (Sidenote: His book IN A SUNBURNED COUNTRY is a classic.)
He lives in New Hampshire with his wife Catherine (Emma Thompson) and his grandkids. He’s spent the past few years writing ‘forewards’ for other people’s books but as a writer he remains tortured. Or as he says “writers…we either drink ourselves to death or blow our brains out.”
He decides to walk the full length of the Appalachian trail. It’s only 2018 miles, afterall, and will take him away from home for about 6 months. But he needs a friend to join him. Enter Nick Nolte, one of his childhood friends. He’s not in good physical shape though he walks everywhere these days (because the police took his car away) and oh yes, he owes Redford $600 from 40 years ago.
Interesting…as Redford hits his senior years he seems to have a liking to scripts that bring him back to nature. Last one was All is Lost about one man out at sea.
A Walk in the Woods is a slow paced and reflective film. It takes you on the emotional journey more than any mountain trail. The experience serves as reminder of how we often feel little use for childhood friends. Though they sometimes have big use for us. And sometimes that necessity reminds us who are true friends really are.
A lovely coming-of-old-age film not to be missed.