A gorgeous character study
Film Critic Jason Evans is on a mission to tell you everything you need to know about movies in less time than it takes a cowboy to hog tie a wild steer. Jason’s reviews are exactly 100 words (not 99, not 101). This is his 100 word review of The Power of the Dog.
The Premise – Set in the gorgeous, sprawling countryside
that was 1920s Montana, director Jane Campion (The Piano, Bright Star) tells
the story of brothers Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch) and George Burbank (Jesse Plemons).
They run a large ranch where Phil has embraced the cowboy life while George is more interested in staying indoors and reading books. On
a trip into town, George falls in love with a local widow, Rose
(Kristen Dunst), marrying her despite Phil’s disapproval. Soon, George, Rose,
and Phil are living together and the tension in the house goes from
a slow burn to a full inferno. The film also stars Kodi Smit-McPhee as Rose’s son who, like his mother, really does not fit in on the ranch.
The 100 Words – Easily among the most beautiful films of the
year, this is more a character study than a conventionally plotted film. There is
no central thread other than, “can these people get along,” and I have to admit
that parts of it are slow and sometimes frustrating. But the acting is
brilliant and Campion fills the lens with lush imagery. It is a crime against
filmmaking that many will only see this on a small Netflix screen. You really
need to let the landscape wash over you to truly appreciate the excellence on
display. What I saw will linger with me.
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