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Writer's pictureJack Aling

The Aeronauts - Review (London Film Festival 2019)

Head in the Clouds. 3.5 / 5



Directed by Tom Harper. In 1862, daredevil balloon pilot Amelia Wren teams up with pioneering meteorologist James Glaisher to advance human knowledge of the weather and fly higher than anyone in history. While breaking records and advancing scientific discovery, their voyage to the very edge of existence helps the unlikely pair find their place in the world they have left far below them.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed The Aeronauts. To be fair it's quite hard to sell a film about a scientist and a pilot attempting to make discoveries about weather reporting in a hot air balloon - but I hope this review helps pique your interest.


I am pleased that this is getting a wide cinema release rather than getting shipped online as it demands to be seen on the big screen. The balloon and storm sequences especially pull you in and make for impressive viewing, arguably worth the admission price alone. I had the privilege to check this out at the Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square and was blown away by how immersive the Dolby Atmos and Vision experience was.


Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones reunite and their chemistry carries over from their last work both giving delightfully British and charismatic performances.


An inspiring exploration of the skies that works best when the two characters are in the midst of their discovery but slows down in generic period set flashbacks. The scattered narrative understandably breaks up the balloon scenes but it removes the tension especially when they play story beats for dramatic effect when you already know the outcome.


It would be a disservice to see this on the small screen and I hope that future advertising does this justice because it is surprisingly energetic and worth your time. Read our latest reviews at: letterboxd.com/TheJackAling

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