The last act of this film is so tense, that it is almost hard to describe. The theatre was silent, as all of the audience held their breath, watching in awe as Honnold began his climb.

| Oct 11, 2024

Alex Honnald is as fascinating as he is enigmatic and soaking up his story proves to be a satisfying experience. Yet despite the amount of time we spend with him it’s hard to get into his headspace.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Aug 20, 2022

An exhilarating, immersive achievement. Free Solo is simply the best sports documentary ever made if you had to categorize it.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Aug 17, 2022

Directors Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi provide an incredible amount of tension in every step that is taken and every crevasse that is reached for.

| Original Score: 8/10 | May 29, 2022

This film is a cinematographic achievement, but also an achievement in sound editing and directing, and an achievement of the human spirit.

| Original Score: 7.5/10 | Sep 4, 2021

A candid portrait of a phenomenal athlete, the project highlights Yosemite Valley's stunning beauty...

| Aug 10, 2021

Equal parts anxiety-inducing and affecting, Free Solo is a fascinating examination of an intrepid athlete's determination to achieve his lifelong ambition.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 25, 2021

Nail-biting and terrifying, [Alex] Honnold's ascent to the top of El Capitan is some of the most propulsive and suspenseful sports footage ever documented.

| Original Score: A- | Jan 29, 2021

...you begin to wonder when we'll get to the actual climb. But when we finally do, those 15 minutes or so of footage are as phenomenal as anything you'll see this year...

| Oct 21, 2020

The documentary feels more like a gripping piece of television than a fully fleshed out feature-film narrative. ... Either way, the athletic feat is undeniably impressive and the footage is inherently breathtaking.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 24, 2020

Free Solo ... is a vertiginous puzzle both visually and conceptually.

| Jul 1, 2020

In the end, it feels like a privilege to be a part of his process and experience even a fraction of his journey... from the relative comfort and safety of our seat.

| Jul 1, 2020

About passion and obsession, dealing with fear and striving for grandeur, pushing the boundaries of what's possible.

| Original Score: A | Jun 30, 2020

What type of risks make life worthwhile? And how many times can you say "Oh my god oh my god oh my god" to yourself while watching a movie?

| Original Score: A- | Jun 19, 2020

This awe-inspiring National Geographic documentary is as much a celebration of U.S. parks and wilderness as it is a record of one of the most audacious feats in the history of mountaineering.

| Mar 3, 2020

Free Solo is a breathtaking film that not only delves into Alex's motivations, but the feelings of the people around him.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jan 3, 2020

The film ends with an incredibly captured climbing sequence that is rooted in character.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Aug 2, 2019

Hannold's ultimately selfish act of recklessness is given a hagiographic treatment that feels both irresponsible and emotionally dishonest.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Jun 3, 2019

Free Solo's value relies basically on its technical difficulties, but without obstacles, fear or doubts, the narrative ends up in need of strength. [Full Review in Spanish]

| May 28, 2019

Free Solo is a thrillingly entertaining film, filled with unexpected set-backs and triumphs, as well as an appealing personal portrait of a rare and supremely gifted human being.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 19, 2019