Although the film is replete with suspense, it's often at its best when playing the characters on the raft off one another.

Considering we all know the outcome, the levels of tension remain impressive, while an atmosphere of melancholy tempers even the most triumphant moments.

It is beautifully shot and has the same fierce intelligence about it that you find in its producer's other epic "quest" movies.

The historical recreation of the infamous 101 day Kon-Tiki journey wisely jettisons the racism that inspired the original trip, focusing instead on the sense of adventure and isolation among the six men crossing the ocean on an open raft.