We just don’t get good adventure films anymore. There are several films every year that feature adventure and exploration, but none of them are faithful to the sub-genre where a group of people ventures off into an unknown land, on perilous and dangerous, but still exciting, adventures. These kinds of films, such as The African Queen and Raiders of the Lost Ark have become rare, and somewhat of a niche genre that doesn’t really exist in its glory anymore. However, if there was someone I trusted to bring something new to this genre by reviving it, it would be James Gray, one of the most talented but sadly underrated filmmakers working today. He may be an unconventional choice for a film of this nature, but with The Lost City of Z, Gray has created one of the best films of the year and a truly surprising adventure film that is far better than what I expected.

The Lost City of Z is based on the true story of Percy Fawcett, an early twentieth-century explorer who set out into the Amazon jungle in search of the mysterious lost city that he comes to call “Z”, and during his exploration went missing with his son Jack. The film chronicles Fawcett’s adventures as he searches for the city that may or may not exist (and may very likely have been what we consider to be the mythical city of El Dorado), showing the difficulties he and his crew faced, both in the jungle and back home in England, where their search for this city is viewed as nonsensical and a waste of resources, as well as Percy’s struggling family life, where his wife tries to break the shackles of femininity and his children grow up with a father that serves more as a figure of reputation rather than as an actual presence. For Percy, everything must lead to Z, and he pursues the city with the intention of doing his best to find it, even if it kills him and his crewmembers (which it very likely does, as this film is based on a very popular unsolved mystery)

I have to say that I wasn’t fully convinced by The Lost City of Z when I first heard about it – other than it being directed by James Gray, there was nothing else that struck much interest in me. Charlie Hunnam has never been a traditionally good actor in dramatic roles, rather finding his niche with action heroes, whereas Robert Pattinson has shown potential in the past, but not in the kind of role he is given here. The film just seemed to be out of Gray’s wheelhouse, and something that would be difficult to pull off well. I have to say that it is an extraordinary feeling to be proven wrong – not only does Gray pull this ambitious project off, he crafts one of the best films of the years, and The Lost City of Z is a riveting, beautifully-made adventure film that is a great throwback to classics of the genre. It is one of the most surprising films I have seen all year, and it truly blew me away, which was completely unexpected but entirely welcome.

Charlie Hunnam, like I said, was not the most exciting choice for the role. Considering earlier this year he starred in the lead role in Guy Ritchie’s awful King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, he just didn’t seem like the right choice to lead such a prestigious film, especially considering previous names attached included Brad Pitt and Benedict Cumberbatch. At first, I thought Hunnam would be a downgrade for them – until I actually watched the film and realized that this was a star-making turn for an actor who simply hasn’t been given the opportunity to show off his talents sufficiently in a large-scale film like this. Hunnam is truly splendid in this film, and he shows a rare kind of macho complexity very rarely seen in protagonists in these kinds of films. He isn’t portrayed as being the ultimate explorer but rather shown to be an ambitious individual who wants to prove that anything can be done, and show his bravery in attempting to find something that may not even exist. It is a performance that will likely boost Hunnam’s profile as a leading man, and give him offers better than he has been getting these past few years.

Contrasted with Hunnam, there is a rich supporting cast that makes The Lost City of Z a film that relies on a very strong ensemble. Robert Pattinson is almost unrecognizably great as  Henry Costin, Fawcett’s right-hand man and companion throughout most of his journeys. Pattinson has finally started to approach Kristen Stewart in being rid of his Twilight past, moving towards more auteur-driven, prestigious projects that may not offer a large paycheck, but certainly do offer acclaim and professional credibility. Wry, intelligent and fascinating, Costin is a character that serves his purpose as the more logical, measured side of Fawcett, and their friendship is wonderfully complex. Pattinson is wonderful in the role, bringing sensitive humor to the character, making him an endearing and warm figure that is contrasted with some of the more cold and clinical performances, such as Angus MacFayden’s tremendous turn as a cowardly explorer that hides many secrets that could have his reputation spoiled. Sienna Miller also deserves praise for giving one of her finest performances yet as the long-suffering wife of Percy who longs to be as free as her husband.

Putting performances aside, it is vital to look at what exactly makes The Lost City of Z one of the most extraordinary adventure films of our time – most of all, it doesn’t try and focus on any external themes that are unnecessary to the central themes of the film. There are brief touches of romance and family drama, but for the most part, The Lost City of Z manages to be far more focused on showing the exploration of Fawcett and his men, as they venture deeper and deeper into the wilderness, potentially having their lives ended at any moment. There is a solid streak of pure adventure running through this film – it is thrilling and filled with suspense, and create a true sense of excitement in the audience, who go on this journey with these characters as they endeavor to discover something that is almost impossible to find. The ambiguity of the ending just further proves how beautifully complex this film is – it is a riveting adventure film, but also one that contains a massive amount of emotional gravitas and cerebral credibility lurking behind the very thrilling storyline. It is an adventure film that understands its own real-world limitations, and tries to tell this story as realistically as possible, but not in such a way that would serve to be alienating.

There is a certain kind of beauty in the aesthetic of this film, both in terms of the technical aspects as well as the production design. Darius Khondji has shot some of the most visually distinctive films ever made, such as Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Delicatessen and The City of Lost Children, Danny Boyle’s The Beach, Michael Haneke’s Funny Games and Amour, as well as some of Gray’s other films. The Lost City of Z gives Khondji a vast amount to do, as the complicated nature of the screening would mean that he would have to extend further as a cinematographer than he had before. The result is a stunningly beautiful film with some of the most gorgeous moments captured in a film all year. The film as a whole is extraordinary in terms of the visual aesthetic – the production design, such as the replicating of the jungle and Edwardian society in London were almost pitch-perfect and fully engrossed the audience into being a part of this story.

I would definitely suggest anyone who is interested to check out The Lost City of Z – it is a wonderfully-made film with some very impressive performances by a cast that isn’t necessarily known for their solid dramatic work, but they do prove this expectation entirely wrong, as something can easily be solidly considered to be one of the great films in their respective filmographies. The Lost City of Z is a massively entertaining film, and most certainly one of the best films of the year. You would be foolish not to watch this incredible film that remains one of the most glorious surprises I’ve had in a while. Such an amazing film from a filmmaker that can only rise and status, and a group of actors that are certainly going to be put on the map in ways very different from what we expected from them in the past. The Lost City of Z is an amazing film, and undoubtedly will be featured on my best of the year list. A brilliant film.