Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch (of “Into the Wild“) team up to comprise of what seems like exactly one-half of the total actors in this great movie, “Prince Avalanche.” This somber, humorous, and inspiring movie is about two guys whose job it is to paint stripes on East Texas roads. Alvin, played by Paul Rudd, is a serious camping expert who works hard to support his girlfriend back home in Garland, who just so happens to be his companion’s sister. Lance is a young guy who wants nothing more than to return to the city and escape the daily drudgery of Alvin’s language tapes and persistent work ethic. The movie details the relationship between the two, and explores love, friendship, and loneliness with beautiful montages and a fantastic soundtrack.
What struck me the most about this movie is not only the directing (which won an award), but the gorgeous cinematography–every frame is a work of art. Paul Rudd is a pretty typical Paul Rudd character, and Emile Hirsche is stuck in the wilderness again. However, the two work well together, which is nice because there are only two others characters in the film with any sort of importance. This works well in this film because of how lonely the characters are, and because the audience doesn’t really notice given the captivating camerawork. This film is great for guys who like simple films with heavy nature themes, or if you’re looking for a calm drama on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
