‘Free Solo,’ about Las Vegas climber Alex Honnold, wins Oscar
Alex Honnold atop Lower Cathedral with El Capitan in the background, Yosemite National Park, CA. (National Geographic/Samuel Crossley)
Alex Honnold atop Lower Cathedral with El Capitan in the background, Yosemite National Park, CA. (National Geographic/Samuel Crossley)
Alex Honnold, from left, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin arrive at the 71st annual DGA Awards at the Ray Dolby Ballroom on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, from left, Alex Honnold and Jimmy Chin pose for a portrait at the 91st Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Alex Honnold participates in the "Free Solo" panel during the National Geographic portion of the TCA Winter Press Tour on Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Mikey Schaefer, from left, Alex Honnold and Sanni McCandless participate in the "Free Solo" panel during the National Geographic portion of the TCA Winter Press Tour on Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Alex Honnold at The Gallery at Red Rock Canyon on Monday, Dec. 17, 2018, in Las Vegas. Honnold, arguably the best rock climber in the world, solo climbed El Capitan, a 3,000-foot granite wall in Yosemite National Park last year. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal
In this June 3, 2018 photo provided by Corey Rich, Alex Honnold, right, and Tommy Caldwell pose for a portrait at the top of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, Calif. Days after two of the world's most celebrated rock climbers twice set astonishingly fast records on the biggest wall in Yosemite National Park, they did it again Wednesday, June 6, 2018, breaking a mark compared with track's four-minute mile. (Corey Rich/Reel Rock /Novus Select via AP)
In this June 3, 2018 photo provided by Corey Rich, Alex Honnold, top and Tommy Caldwell climb The Nose of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, Calif. Days after two of the world's most celebrated rock climbers twice set astonishingly fast records on the biggest wall in Yosemite National Park, they did it again Wednesday, June 6, 2018, breaking a mark compared with track's four-minute mile. (Corey Rich/Reel Rock/Novus Select via AP)
Alex Honnold ascends The Gallery at Red Rock Canyon on Monday, Dec. 17, 2018, in Las Vegas. Honnold, arguably the best rock climber in the world, solo climbed El Capitan, a 3,000-foot granite wall in Yosemite National Park in 2017. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal
Alex Honnold at The Gallery at Red Rock Canyon on Monday, Dec. 17, 2018, in Las Vegas. Honnold, arguably the best rock climber in the world, solo climbed El Capitan, a 3,000-foot granite wall in Yosemite National Park in 2017. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal
Alex Honnold, left, and girlfriend Cassandra “Sanni” McCandless prepare to climb at The Gallery at Red Rock Canyon on Monday, Dec. 17, 2018, in Las Vegas. Honnold, arguably the best rock climber in the world, solo climbed El Capitan, a 3,000-foot granite wall in Yosemite National Park in 2017. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal
Alex Honnold points out features of climbing spots at Red Rock Canyon on Monday, Dec. 17, 2018, in Las Vegas. Honnold, arguably the best rock climber in the world, solo climbed El Capitan, a 3,000-foot granite wall in Yosemite National Park in 2017. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal
Alex Honnold ascends The Gallery at Red Rock Canyon on Monday, Dec. 17, 2018, in Las Vegas. Honnold, arguably the best rock climber in the world, solo climbed El Capitan, a 3,000-foot granite wall in Yosemite National Park in 2017. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal
Alex Honnold prepares his gear to climb The Gallery at Red Rock Canyon on Monday, Dec. 17, 2018, in Las Vegas. Honnold, arguably the best rock climber in the world, solo climbed El Capitan, a 3,000-foot granite wall in Yosemite National Park in 2017. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal
Alex Honnold at The Gallery at Red Rock Canyon on Monday, Dec. 17, 2018, in Las Vegas. Honnold, arguably the best rock climber in the world, solo climbed El Capitan, a 3,000-foot granite wall in Yosemite National Park in 2017. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal
Updated February 24, 2019 - 5:48 pm
“Free Solo,” starring Las Vegas climber Alex Honnold, was named best documentary feature at Sunday’s 91st Academy Awards.
The documentary, directed by filmmaker Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and cinematographer and mountaineer Jimmy Chin, chronicles Honnold’s history-making climb as he scales the face of El Capitan, the 3,200-foot vertical rock in Yosemite National Park, without a rope.
“Thank you, Alex Honnold, for giving us courage and teaching us how to believe in the impossible and inspiring us,” Vasarhelyi said in her acceptance speech as the Las Vegan stood on stage nearby.
“Free Solo” defeated fellow nominees “Hale County This Morning, This Evening,” “Minding the Gap,” “Of Fathers and Sons” and “RBG” to take home the Oscar.
The documentary, which has earned $16.4 million at the box office, is scheduled to debut March 3 on National Geographic Channel.
Contact Christopher Lawrence at clawrence@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4567. Follow @life_onthecouch on Twitter.
