Well-done monkey business, but an abrupt, uncentered screenplay, cluttered by unfocused direction, poor music and obligatory romance.
During the 1970s, Dian Fossey journeyed to Africa, where she closely studied the mountain gorilla, work later chronicled in a popular National Geographic television special. In this biopic Weaver portrays the late, controversial Fossey, beginning with her 1963 meeting with anthropologist Louis
Leakey (Cuthbertson). He agrees to let her accompany him to Africa, and that begins her lifelong commitment to the study of gorillas. The film shows how this passion gains her fame but also leads to her fatal obsession with protecting her subjects as she grows increasingly irrational in dealing
with those she feels pose a threat to the gorillas.
Although the film offers no real insights into Fossey's courage and obsessions, Weaver has some riveting moments. But because the screenplay doesn't penetrate the gradual shift Fossey made from animal activist to crank, she's forced to dredge it up from nowhere. There's terrific footage of the
gorillas and the African setting is stunning. But the real star is Baker, who created the gorilla costumes donned by human beings for many scenes. His work is so well done that it is impossible to tell the real gorillas from the guys in the suits. leave a comment