THE POWER OF THE DOG
dir: Jane Campion Netflix 2021
______________________________
What a joy to sit back and watch a film where there is space to breathe, follow characters slowly reveal themselves. No explosions or CGI car chases. Just a cold, expansive landscape and a slow burn psycho-drama that draws you in to care for the characters.
Now. Let's play a game and guess at which point did Sam Elliot watch it and spit out his chewin'tobaccy in hetero-normative disgust? See recent imbroglio.
At the sight of so many cowboys, shirtless but with woolly chaps on? Benedict Cumberbatch "rubbing the knob" of the late, revered Bronco Henry's saddle? The sight of Kodi Smit-McPhee's quivering pillow lips?
A western with a female gaze? Queer gaze?
Nominated for 12 Oscar's, this is a subtle yet powerful film. It has a cumulative power and tension that is sometimes unbearable. Beautifully shot in muted,golden tones. Shot in NZ's South Island, standing in for Montana. The landscape is a character in itself. At one point Cumberbatch challenges Kodi Smit-McPhee to see something in the mountains. The young fella correctly guesses. After about 12 seconds. In that time I actually panicked, scanning the horizon for clues. I felt personally tested by Jane Campion herself..
I saw it. Just in time. You don't want to disappoint the maker of The Piano. My favourite film. Another sexual psychodrama with period setting and quirky, unpredictable characters.
Jonny Greenwood supplies the soundtrack. Not as transcendantally beautiful as Nyman's The Piano score. Effective in ratcheting up suspense and tension. With cello and strings and plaintive piano. And the Banjo scene with the piano duel is breathtaking. Wow. Incredible storytelling without need of a single word.
Plemons and Dunst share a few very warm and tender scenes as they awkwardly come together. My only criticism of the film is we don't see much of their marital life after she moves in. The film then becomes exploring the strange relationship of Cumberbatch and Kodi. After awhile I started to wonder where they had got to. She drinks and he remains stoic. Don't get the Plemons hype. Seems a dead-eyed Schlub. Spose fits the character.
All 4 main actors are nominated. Think only 2 will win. They are both amazing performances. Cumberbatch is macho and mean, but never goes over the top. People are mean in quiet,hushed ways they do in real life. This hot mess of a psychodrama is rooted in reality. It earns every payoff. Your intelligence will not be insulted.
Kodi Smit-McPhee was a great child actor. He has grown into an amazing presence. So subtle. Expressive. A quiet character with amazing inner strength. I want to watch it again just to see his performance with what I know now. Enough said.
The ending of the film. No. I won't spoil it. If you watch only one revisionist western this year, make it this one.
Welcome back Jane.
dir: Jane Campion Netflix 2021
______________________________
What a joy to sit back and watch a film where there is space to breathe, follow characters slowly reveal themselves. No explosions or CGI car chases. Just a cold, expansive landscape and a slow burn psycho-drama that draws you in to care for the characters.
Now. Let's play a game and guess at which point did Sam Elliot watch it and spit out his chewin'tobaccy in hetero-normative disgust? See recent imbroglio.
At the sight of so many cowboys, shirtless but with woolly chaps on? Benedict Cumberbatch "rubbing the knob" of the late, revered Bronco Henry's saddle? The sight of Kodi Smit-McPhee's quivering pillow lips?
A western with a female gaze? Queer gaze?
Nominated for 12 Oscar's, this is a subtle yet powerful film. It has a cumulative power and tension that is sometimes unbearable. Beautifully shot in muted,golden tones. Shot in NZ's South Island, standing in for Montana. The landscape is a character in itself. At one point Cumberbatch challenges Kodi Smit-McPhee to see something in the mountains. The young fella correctly guesses. After about 12 seconds. In that time I actually panicked, scanning the horizon for clues. I felt personally tested by Jane Campion herself..
I saw it. Just in time. You don't want to disappoint the maker of The Piano. My favourite film. Another sexual psychodrama with period setting and quirky, unpredictable characters.
Jonny Greenwood supplies the soundtrack. Not as transcendantally beautiful as Nyman's The Piano score. Effective in ratcheting up suspense and tension. With cello and strings and plaintive piano. And the Banjo scene with the piano duel is breathtaking. Wow. Incredible storytelling without need of a single word.
Plemons and Dunst share a few very warm and tender scenes as they awkwardly come together. My only criticism of the film is we don't see much of their marital life after she moves in. The film then becomes exploring the strange relationship of Cumberbatch and Kodi. After awhile I started to wonder where they had got to. She drinks and he remains stoic. Don't get the Plemons hype. Seems a dead-eyed Schlub. Spose fits the character.
All 4 main actors are nominated. Think only 2 will win. They are both amazing performances. Cumberbatch is macho and mean, but never goes over the top. People are mean in quiet,hushed ways they do in real life. This hot mess of a psychodrama is rooted in reality. It earns every payoff. Your intelligence will not be insulted.
Kodi Smit-McPhee was a great child actor. He has grown into an amazing presence. So subtle. Expressive. A quiet character with amazing inner strength. I want to watch it again just to see his performance with what I know now. Enough said.
The ending of the film. No. I won't spoil it. If you watch only one revisionist western this year, make it this one.
Welcome back Jane.
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