Movies

This is obviously one of the best movies of the year to this point (there've been so few excellent pictures so I don't know if that's faint praise or not, but it's not meant to be). 

I just love the laconic pace of this. This is the OPPOSITE of a studio film in 2016. Letting people just talk to each other, the relationships in this story are given a clear chance to expand and become clear. So lovely. 

The actors are note perfect here. I've never seen Chris Pine this good; perhaps it's the story he's immersed in. He really does a nice job with his character, the "smart" brother of 2 guys that have been backed into a socio-economic corner. They come up with a plan to turn things around. Are they doomed? Watch Ben Foster in this; he's so good in this movie that you have trouble deciding whether Ben truly doesn't care as long as he can get it on (in every which way) or if he envisions a place somewhere in this desolate world for himself to be happy in. Foster is always a fun actor to watch, and he's a joy to watch work with Pine here. 

And here's yet another prime piece of work for Jeff Bridges. It's just another marvelous performance by Bridges here, playing a crotchety bigot talking redneck Texas Ranger and that old war horse about one last case to crack before retiring on his front porch (a bit that's played for laughs AND gripping effect throughout the story). His partner, cherokee detective Gil Birmingham, is quite the foil, having to put up with Bridges' endless string of foul mouthed Cherokee insults. The tension boils, and the places this part of the story goes are riveting. 

Writer/director David Mackenzie? This guy is serious; it's obvious that in a different time and place he'd be an absolute star, an artist of serious note. The movie looks great, shot by Giles Nuttgens. Open vistas that show this great dichotomy of West Texas; at once both beautiful and dangerous. 

I saw this yesterday in Irvine, CA, right by UCI. There were maybe 50-60 people in the theater. The audience was stone silent through this, completely immersed, the only sounds the sudden outburts of laughter whenver a set of brothers would start in on each other with the wisecracks. These are plentiful and entertaining as hell. 

I swear to God, this movie should mean something to somebody out there. But I guess looking at it, there's no Captain America in this blowing stuff up. There's no Dinosaurs, no Ryan Reynolds or Chris Prat to lighten the mood, no 2 hours of green screen. And for all the bleeding hearts out there, this movie is about as white as a sheet, it's obviously a bunch of white guys with their white guy issues at play. So basically I'm saying this movie doesn't stand a chance. It'll be gone soon enough. 

I guess i'd say short it now while you can, while there's still a chance for it to tail off into the sunset, while everyone goes to watch Suicide Squad and whatever other crap there is out there, God help us. 

You know what a tremendous double feature would? This and Lone Star. Wow, what a night at the New Bev or The Egyptian that would be. 

I really enjoyed this. One of the best sits of the year for me. It's immersive. It's going to a home run, and it has several things to say about topics of concern right here right now. 

PS: There are two different sequences here with waittresses; both are absolute keepers. Nicely done.