The Life is an early Brian Solano film, and makes very clear it up front it was shot by climbers, about climbers, for climbers.  1999 was the same year Rampage came out, but this is a much different film, made by a few who would become big names, but were still in what I will call “the Sharma Shadow”, names like Dave Graham and Joe Kinder.  Names you should have heard before but aren’t superstar status like Luke Paraday, Mike Auldridge, and Chad Greedy also feature prominently, with cameos by even more notable names.

I can only view this film through the lens I have today, and 2020 is a lot different than 1999. I’m sure some of the athletes captured will cringe at the teen guffawing and snickering, but sadly what made it past the edit makes it the bro-iest film that ever bro-ed. Lots of shouting encouragement that’s fallen out of the vogue (but hey if that motivates your boy, do it). Lots of teen shenanigans that I can’t tell if I find dumb now that I’m in my 30s, or if I’m jealouswistful of the time when “no, dude, hop the fence and jump in the hotel pool” seemed like a perfectly legit way to spend ones time.  I’m not saying I’m a saint in the holy conversation space of a roadtrip, but some of the complaints voiced by Greedy aren’t the sort I’d commit to a mass market film.

The music is bizarre at times, hitting you directly in the face starting with Doggystyle by Nightcore, but later pivoting to solid beats featuring the likes of DJ Slug and Tech N9ne. The filming is a little shakeychoppy in spots, but its shot by friends with the tech of the times and I can forgive the quality. The only other thing I noticed was the constant reminder of which climber we were seeing flashed on screen, but it makes sense when at a distance our main protagonists are brown-haired white dudes with similar builds.

Peel away the not-climbing, and some gems remain.  Anyone on the east coast will take interest in the FAs of China Beach and Livin’ Astro, and laugh at DG paying Mike Sprague (who bolted Astro) $100 for the honor of sniping his freshly bolted line.  It also includes some things I wouldn’t believe existed unless there was footage, like Joe Kinder over a crash pad, Jason Kehl at just below peak weird, and Mike Auldridge with ice axes.  Special hat tip to the Yosemite segment for showing most of the iconic boulders, less Thriller. 

Verdict: Age like Milk. Some movies stand the test of time, but for me this film lacks enough stand-out footage to overcome the rest of its rough content and continual immaturity.  I’d have loved, and attempted to emulate, this film 15 years ago because its what the cool kids were doing at the time.  Now it you’ll excuse me, I have to go chase some boulderers off my lawn.

Luke Paraday

Joe Kinder

Dave Graham

Chad Greedy

Mike Auldridge

Adam Osterhoff

Matt Segal

Robbie D’Anistasio

Jason Kehl

Dave Chancellor

Brian Capps

Theo Merrin

Obe Carrion

Melissa Lacasse

Chris Ryan

Mike Call

T.A.B.D.I.T.O.

The Fly (no send)

The Style That’s Free

China Beach (FA)

Livin’ Astro (FA)

Boulder X

Sloppy Joe

Bruce Willis

Jump Problem

Polish Terrorist

Check Your Head
Blaugh

Nth Power

The Salamandre

So Ill
Running with Scissors
Baby Killer
Jungle Book
Camero

Utah
Breaking the Law FA

Yosemite
Bachar Cracker
Bruce Lee
Yosemite Slab
Blue Suede Shoes
Midnight Lightning

Bishop
Atari
Maze of Death FA

Colorado
Eternia SA
Bush Pilot
White Stripes
Turn that Frown Upsidedown
Black Ice
Minor Threat
Skipper D
Sunspot SA
Left El Jorge