"Dirtbag: The Legend of Fred Beckey" is a 2017 documentary film that shares the life story of one of the most renowned and controversial mountaineers of all time; Fred Beckey. The movie is directed by Dave O'Leske and features interviews with Fred Beckey, Conrad Anker, Helmy Beckey, and other notable figures in the mountaineering world.
The film follows Fred Beckey's life from his early days exploring the wilderness in the Pacific Northwest to his later years as a still-rigorous octogenarian. Beckey is considered one of the greatest American mountaineers of all time and has been credited with opening over 1000 new climbing routes throughout his career.
From the first frame, it's clear that the documentary covers many of the different aspects of Fred Beckey's life. The movie explores his eccentric personality, his high-risk climbing style, and his dedication to the sport. Beckey is introduced as an enigmatic figure whose deep passion for mountaineering is often at odds with conventional norms of society.
The movie is a captivating journey that highlights some of Fred Beckey's most legendary climbs. We get to see him ascend many of the most famous peaks in North America, like the Grand Teton in Wyoming, the Mount Waddington in British Columbia, and the Moose's Tooth in Alaska. The directors have incorporated some incredible footage of Beckey's climbs, and viewers can witness the thrilling moments as he scales some of the most challenging rock formations.
The movie goes beyond Beckey's accomplishments on the mountain to showcase his complex persona. Throughout the movie, we get to see the eccentricities of his personality, his stubborn determination, his occasional spats with friends and other noteworthy climbers.
The film also delves into the dirty side of climbing; we get to see how mountaineering culture has developed over the year, how Beckey was criticized as extremely risk-seeking and manipulative at times, and how his achievements often went unrecognized or underappreciated.
The documentary portrays how Fred Beckey has maintained his love for climbing into his later years, creating routes, encouraging the younger generation of climbers, and contributing immensely to the history of American mountaineering. We get to witness how mountaineering, the sport, and Beckey himself have evolved over time.
Overall, the film is an engrossing portrait of an all-time mountaineering pioneer. The movie, which runs for about 95 minutes, balances perfectly between the awe-inspiring moments of Beckey's climbs, his complex personality, and the broader context of mountaineering culture during Beckey's time.
The film doesn't merely celebrate Beckey's successes; it's a gritty exploration of one of the most remarkable climbing careers ever. It's a movie that will appeal to everyone who has an interest in mountaineering and anyone who loves to see a genuinely driven and idiosyncratic personality in their element. "Dirtbag: The Legend of Fred Beckey" tells an inspiring, gritty, and thought-provoking story of a man who lived his life transcending set boundaries and whose daring ventures into the vertical world inspired generations of mountaineers.
Dirtbag: The Legend of Fred Beckey is a 2018 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes.
It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.6.
