A semi-successful epic that's gorgeous to look at and gives some much-needed high-profile visibility to the tragic modern history of Tibet--but opts for glossy formulaic packaging over genuine emotional resonance. Each turn of the plot feels Hollywood-scripted to the max, even the central relationship between Brad Pitt's Austrian mountaineer and the young Dalai Lama. The latter succeeds in blending wide-eyed winsomeness with a dignity that's at once childlike and mature. Pitt, alas, never frees us from the sensation that he's something incongruous in this setting--a Hollywood heartthrob trying to look spiritual. To make matters worse, he attempts an Austrian accent, with dreadful results. In fact, the film actually becomes more dramatically compelling as Pitt's character recedes in prominence.
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