“Uncharted” (2022)
The PlayStation crossover that’s as faintly ridiculous as the fun filled console game that spawned it.
The PlayStation crossover that’s as faintly ridiculous as the fun filled console game that spawned it.
Uncharted is the eagerly awaited and latest crossover from gaming console platform to the cinema screen and a “PlayStation Productions” film directed by Ruben Fleischer (Venom, Gangster Squad, Zombieland). For those unaware of the near two decades long gaming franchise and the numerous follow up games and spin offs, picture a male version of Lara Croft in another gaming crossover, Tomb Raider, or perhaps the Saturday afternoon matinee quality of the Raiders of the Lost Ark films. By this film’s third and final Act I exclaimed to my incredibly excited teenage son, and the very definition of the term “demographic”:
“Blimey! It’s now Pirates of the Caribbean in the sky!”
Not two seconds later did one of our cinema heroes proclaim “Hey Jack Sparrow” and quite frankly we looked at each other in utter astonishment before cheering wildly as my silly assertion became an unexpected cinematic truth. As well as the PlayStation game that spawned it, this film clearly takes inspiration from the films noted above and crucially, retains the sense of wonder, silliness and fun that all of these films have in abundance. Yes it’s utterly absurd when two centuries old Spanish Galleons are hoisted high in the sky and used as battering rams between two duelling helicopters. Of course it is. But this ex demographic (and now proud parent of a son who’s eclipsed me and adores these games) kind of liked it.
And what better compliment could you wish for from a curmudgeonly ex gamer?
Uncharted is a film of partners and partnerships, more of which later. It’s also a film of exploration, following your dreams and passions, the complications of family and friendships and the basic staples of this genre: double crossing, back stabbing, duplicity, riddles, trapdoors, puzzles, ancient artefacts and treasure maps. Lots of treasure maps.
The premise is a simple one: A small time petty thief becomes embroiled in a search for hidden Spanish gold that may lead him closer to his lost older brother. To do so, he must partner with more distinguished thieves as a key leads to a jewel encrusted crucifix, which leads onto further clues, maps, trinkets and a host of untrustworthy and duplicitous story tellers.
Here are your principal players:
The central partnership of the film, Mark Wahlberg is too young and well groomed to be the stubbled, moustachioed, gruff, cantankerous and seasoned fortune hunter Victor “Sully” Sullivan, but this is partly rectified in the post credit sting that follows the end of the film and which no doubt sets up the host of sequels sure to follow. The appearance may not chime with the game but Wahlberg’s tart and smart one-liners sure do, as with the Jack Sparrow quote above and the withering look off camera as he laments jokingly that he’s “losing his touch”. Wahlberg is wonderfully committed to the spirit of the role and performs very well. It’s just that he’s not “Sully” Sullivan!
Similarly, Tom Holland is too young for the central role of Nathan “Nate” Drake and the film could and should have utilised more of his Spiderman skills as in the game, Nate is forever climbing, jumping and clinging to impossible crevices. This is certainly embraced here but simply not enough. To Tom Holland’s eternal credit, he embodies the character my son and I have moved around with our PlayStation controllers for so many years brilliantly well, and I hope he’s a must for the numerous sequels.
The second central partnership continues with our main hero Nathan Drake and a vitally important component to both game and film, Chloe Frazer. Chloe is a fortune hunter too but less experienced than Sully and here, Sophia Ali impresses perhaps most of all with her deliberate nods to the original virtual character and her distanced charm, looks and especially so her voice which is pitch perfectly in line with the game. Kudos to Sophia Ali for infusing her character above and beyond those of her more illustrious co-stars.
The third and final pairing of duplicitous actors introduces us to the evil nemesis and fellow fortune hunter Santiago Moncada and his bodyguard/assassin Braddock. It’s simply a selfish joy to see Antonio Banderas again in any role (and he plays the bad guy very well), but his bodyguard outshines him in the guise of Tati Gabrielle and easily on a par with her fellow female star Sophia Ali.
Uncharted is ostensibly a tale of a New York bartender and petty thief with a life’s worth of baggage, regret and unspoken about loss. Partnering with characters with their own selfish goals and needs, this colossal gaming franchise has been spun into an intriguing if formulaic film that will never cater for every fan of the behemoth PlayStation series and certainly not fans such as myself who noted that the iconic theme tune didn’t make an appearance until way into the film (and part of the closing credits), the leading characters not as accurately portrayed as in the original game and a game that is so heavily influenced by climbing, running and avoiding traps and pitfalls had as little of these as it did the guns that proliferate and dominate the game. Aside from the gunfire in the opening minutes of the film, it’s left until late into the film’s last Act before they are truly unleashed.
This is not to say that I didn’t enjoy this as a spectacle and a romp. I did, and whilst I’m loath to give review scores out of 10 as this is a dual review of sorts, I’ll break my own rule as my beautiful son loved the film and gave it a 8/10, whereas I veer lower with a 6/10. Still a recommendation of sorts.
Thanks for reading. There are voluminous amounts of film reviews within my archives and I’ve attached the 3 most recently published articles here:
“The Batman” (2022)
A gothic, dirty, fetishised and stylised “sins of the father” tale that was almost very good indeed.medium.com
“C’mon C’mon” (2021)
And the existential tale that hit far too close to home, and at exactly the wrong time.medium.com
“The Outfit” (2022)
Mark Rylance’s quiet melancholic stoicism can’t save this meandering dramamedium.com