Gorillas in the Mist
Gorillas in the Mist
PG-13 | 23 September 1988 (USA)
Gorillas in the Mist Trailers

The story of Dian Fossey, a scientist who came to Africa to study the vanishing mountain gorillas, and later fought to protect them.

Reviews
ThedevilChoose When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.
Merolliv I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.
Cunninghamolga This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.
Cody One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.
Armand the name of Diann Fossey is a symbol. for profound dedication to her work, for the hard war for study and protect the gorillas population. this film is a homage. and, more important, a honest exercise to reflect about a life pillars. the seed of its success - extraordinary performance of Sigourney Weaver. because she has science, courage and force to do not only a credible character but a delicate, precise web from shadow and light. the empathy and the tension, the dedication and the veil of madness, the compassion and the admiration, each of them is used for create not an explanation for a death but to feel the entire pressure of story levels. it is a superb portrait and if, at beginning, it seems be a role for Colleen Dewhurst ( for physical resemblance ) or for chameleon Meryl Streep, Sigourney Weaver demonstrates, scene by scene, not only an impressive artistic potential but a beautiful measure of detail and exploration of subtle nuance.
LeonLouisRicci Only the coldest heart could be unaffected by this story of an endangered species being mutilated for rich men's egos so they can have a gorilla hand ashtray or a severed head to brag about. Yes, the natives who actually do the killing do need to feed their families, but there are other, less brutal and intrusive ways. just because something has always been done or it is the easiest way, certainly does not make it right.So enter a real-life (they are the best kind) martyr, a woman of dubious sanity and complete commitment to a cause, Dian Fossey. She finds herself in a Mystical land studying a very rare and strange, but docile creature, the Mountain Gorilla.The fact that the species is on the verge of extinction, not by natural causes, but by the aforementioned poaching, is at the heart and is the core of her crusade. The Movie is time compressed and some of the motivation, besides just complete compassion, can be seen as thin and some of her more crazy behavior unjustified.But as enlightening and soulful entertainment this is quite engaging. It is inspiring, heartbreaking, and frustrating. It is an excellent work and artistic license aside, can be commanding by all involved and a fine tribute to a noble and troubled Woman. Fortunately, her work and over the top involvement in the mist, was and is an example of One determined fight against all odds and she did succeed, but at such a heavy cost. She probably would think that it was worth it.
Jackson Booth-Millard I saw a few clips of this on a countdown show, and I knew eventually that was not a fictional story, so I was certainly up for it, from Michael Apted (Coal Miner's Daughter, Extreme Measures, The World Is Not Enough). Based on the true story, Dian Fossey (Golden Globe winning, and scar nominated Sigourney Weaver) is the woman from Kentucky fascinated with studying animals, especially with primates, she is particularly inspired by the work of anthropologist Dr. Louis Leakey (Iain Cuthbertson). With the permission of Leakey she travels to deepest Africa to start her work studying these fascinating creatures, living in a Rwandan village with the loyal people who live close to where the primates settle. Soon enough in the jungle Dian and her helpers come across a group of rare mountain gorillas, and she begins to study them in very close proximity, and they do not seem to be bothered or feel threatened, she learns to find communication. But her passion for the safety and protection of the primates seems to preoccupy her, she becomes easily angered by poachers and others who disturb, and she misses out on a romance with National Geographic photographer Bob Campbell (Bryan Brown). Dian complains to the Rwandan government that the poaching is going on because it is the only way for the country to survive, and after they refuse to help she dedicates her time to making poaching illegal and ending possible extinction. Besides starting anti-poaching groups and charities, she also burns down found poachers huts, and does a mock hanging on one of them as a brutal warning, but her good work did do good for her beloved gorillas. In the end though she was mysteriously murdered with a blow to the head by some tool that was identified as belonging to the poachers, the mystery apparently remains unsolved. Also starring Julie Harris as Roz Carr, John Omirah Miluwi as Sembagare, Constantin Alexandrov as Van Vecten, Waigwa Wachira as Mukara, Iain Glen as Brendan, David Lansbury as Larry, Maggie O'Neill as Kim, Konga Mbandu as Rushemba and Michael J. Reynolds as Howard Dowd. Weaver gives a very credible performance as the woman who gets up close with the primates, really bonds with them, and is overly passionate for their well-being, obviously there are the subtle moments that have been fictionalised for excitement and intrigue, whatever, but the story is most worthwhile, the music is really good, and the scenes with Weaver and real gorillas makes for great viewing, a most worthwhile biographical drama. Sigourney Weaver was number 20 on The 100 Greatest Movie Stars. It was nominated the Oscars for Best Film Editing, Best Music for Maurice Jarre, Best Sound and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, it was nominated the BAFTA for Best Cinematography, and it won the Golden Globe for Best Original Score, and it was nominated for Best Motion Picture - Drama. Very good!
freemantle_uk Gorillas are wonderful creatures, highly intelligence and one of man's closest relations. They have also been endangered for years, suffering from the threats of poachers, deforestation and civil war. Gorillas in the Mist tells the story of Dian Fossey who made it her lives work to protect gorillas in Rwanda.Dian Fossey (Sigourney Weaver) was an Occupational Theparist from America when after attending a talk volunteers to study gorillas in Africa. She works for National Geographic and she attempts to study the apes and count their numbers. In Rwanda she ends up becoming very close to one group of gorillas and her research becomes very important to the scientific community. She becomes a celebrity in the wider world and brings publicity to the plight of the apes. She ends up becoming very close an Australian photographer Bob Campbell (Bryan Brown), who films and photographers the gorillas. Dian sets out to protect the gorillas from the massive threat of poachers who kill gorillas both for zoos to have babies, and for traditional African customs. She slowly becomes close off to the world and too attached to the gorillas.Sigourney Weaver offers a very good performance, earning herself a Golden Globel. She is very believable in the role. Other actors were very competent. The director Michael Apted is a decent director, often dealing with character dramas: he also directed in my option the best Pierce Bronsan Bond. He slowly builds up the film and shows what drives Dian. The film does raise a number of issues. The obvious is about the gorillas and conservation. Dian's work was really important for conservation world. But there are other issues involving corrupt government officials in Africa and how could the gorillas benefit the government, poverty and traditional beliefs in Africa and the extent to what poachers would do. If you are an animal lover or an environment you properly know what the world faces.There are problems with the film. The first 2/3rds of the film are a bit too slow and not that much happens. The third act is best when Dian starts to lose her marbles. That was the most interesting part where she becomes to devoted that she becomes blind to everything else. The Second act is okay, but the first was rather dull. The score was cheesy and very 80s. Also the cinematography could have be a lot better, especially with the African landscapes available.Its a 3 out of 5 star film.