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Slow West(2015)
This is the first film directed by Scottish director John Mclean who has formed a new working partnership with the ever reliable Michael Fassbender. The film has a similar feel to it like the Danish Western film the Salvation starring Mads Mikkelson which explore the settlement of Europeans in the United States during the conflicts with Native Americans. Mclean says that the Coen brothers are his biggest inspiration for his career. This is a UK-New Zealand film by Film4 Productions who were also behind 12 years as a Slave(2013).It won the Sundance Institute's World Cinema Jury Prize: Dramatic Winner.
The film embarks on a hapless journey of 16 year old Scotsman Jay(newcomer Kodi Smit-McPhee) to find Rosie Ross(Caren Pistorius-another newcomer but not related to Oscar) who has fled Scotland for Western USA. It is clear from the start how ill prepared Jay is when faced with his first confrontation with the help of Silas (Fassbender). However amongst those heading in a similar direction is gang leader Payne(Ben Mendelsohn of The Dark Knight Rises and Netflix series Bloodline).
The performances are not particularly intense and are more semi comedic like the Coens’ film O Brother where art thou?(2000). There are a number of comical mistakes in gathering resources and trusting one another. The story has a number of interesting characters on the journey such as the musical men from African who speak to Jay in French or a European novel writer. The characters are merely reacting to the circumstances of their time. The film comes across as more of a fable of incivility in the name of trade and survival.
This western is a mere 86 minutes so character development was always going to be limited. There is a one dimensional musical composing like Joe(2013) However the story itself has a lot of originality away from your typical American western of past and present. If you enjoy the Fassbender movie persona the film is definitely for you where this is a western with a twist. .
This is the first film directed by Scottish director John Mclean who has formed a new working partnership with the ever reliable Michael Fassbender. The film has a similar feel to it like the Danish Western film the Salvation starring Mads Mikkelson which explore the settlement of Europeans in the United States during the conflicts with Native Americans. Mclean says that the Coen brothers are his biggest inspiration for his career. This is a UK-New Zealand film by Film4 Productions who were also behind 12 years as a Slave(2013).It won the Sundance Institute's World Cinema Jury Prize: Dramatic Winner.
The film embarks on a hapless journey of 16 year old Scotsman Jay(newcomer Kodi Smit-McPhee) to find Rosie Ross(Caren Pistorius-another newcomer but not related to Oscar) who has fled Scotland for Western USA. It is clear from the start how ill prepared Jay is when faced with his first confrontation with the help of Silas (Fassbender). However amongst those heading in a similar direction is gang leader Payne(Ben Mendelsohn of The Dark Knight Rises and Netflix series Bloodline).
The performances are not particularly intense and are more semi comedic like the Coens’ film O Brother where art thou?(2000). There are a number of comical mistakes in gathering resources and trusting one another. The story has a number of interesting characters on the journey such as the musical men from African who speak to Jay in French or a European novel writer. The characters are merely reacting to the circumstances of their time. The film comes across as more of a fable of incivility in the name of trade and survival.
This western is a mere 86 minutes so character development was always going to be limited. There is a one dimensional musical composing like Joe(2013) However the story itself has a lot of originality away from your typical American western of past and present. If you enjoy the Fassbender movie persona the film is definitely for you where this is a western with a twist. .
Last edited by Nazcar; 03-17-16 at 04:53 AM.
