IN BRIEF: A Western drama that gets lost in the dust.
JIM'S REVIEW: (MILDLY RECOMMENDED)
Let Him Go is a Western drama about an elderly couple who decide to rescue their grandson from an abusive environment. Set in rural America during the 60's, George and Martha Blackledge are a decent and loving couple and they are living their lives with grace and dignity. He is a retired sheriff and she is a mighty good housewife and baker par none. But ranch life has its share of hardships and tragedy befalls them. A freak accident kills their son and his wife and child grow up under their roof until their daughter-in-law takes another husband who physically abuses them. One night, they secretly move away which sends the Blackledges on their rescue mission. This leads them to a crazy family called the Weboys who give the term "deplorables" a bad name.
The film starts off with an intriguing premise and director/writer Thomas Bezucha creates a tense and engaging drama in the first half of his movie. As a director, he uses his visual eye to intermix images of the country vistas and slowly builds the relationship between the leads most astutely. That he has Kevin Costner and Diane Lane centerstage is his wisest decision. Their performances are totally convincing and their chemistry is in sync. One hopes that this story will build on their dilemma and become a courtroom battle over custody of Little Jimmy. Alas, that is not the case.
Instead, as the screenwriter, Mr. Bezucha makes a terribly wrong detour into a bloody revenge thriller genre and the film lets go of any logic. It's a "them against us" mentality and the movie quickly loses its focus. Leaps of Logic appear outta nowhere. The dinner confrontation scene between the two families with straight-laced British actress Leslie Mann playing a deranged matriarch, Blanche Weboy, remains powerful, even though her menacing brood of good ole boys are so one-note evil, without any character development, that they become walking clichés of wickedness. From that point, the plot becomes more far-fetched and brutal to watch. Of course, the dastardly sheriff sides with the locals and has the obligatory "git outta town " scene, so is it any wonder that it's The Hatefuls versus The Blackledges as George and Margaret are forced to take matters into their own hands!
It's a shame because the actors deserve better material. Mr. Costner brings his measured and stoic persona to his role and Ms. Lane radiates confidence and determination. They are very good. Ms. Manville is also fun to watch in a part that is far away from her stiff upper crust roles and she munches on the scenery with relish. One begins to question if Leatherface is not a distant cousin.
After a promising start, Let Him Go lets go of all reason and falls flat on its face on its journey to Crazytown. (GRADE: C+)
JIM'S REVIEW: (MILDLY RECOMMENDED)
Let Him Go is a Western drama about an elderly couple who decide to rescue their grandson from an abusive environment. Set in rural America during the 60's, George and Martha Blackledge are a decent and loving couple and they are living their lives with grace and dignity. He is a retired sheriff and she is a mighty good housewife and baker par none. But ranch life has its share of hardships and tragedy befalls them. A freak accident kills their son and his wife and child grow up under their roof until their daughter-in-law takes another husband who physically abuses them. One night, they secretly move away which sends the Blackledges on their rescue mission. This leads them to a crazy family called the Weboys who give the term "deplorables" a bad name.
The film starts off with an intriguing premise and director/writer Thomas Bezucha creates a tense and engaging drama in the first half of his movie. As a director, he uses his visual eye to intermix images of the country vistas and slowly builds the relationship between the leads most astutely. That he has Kevin Costner and Diane Lane centerstage is his wisest decision. Their performances are totally convincing and their chemistry is in sync. One hopes that this story will build on their dilemma and become a courtroom battle over custody of Little Jimmy. Alas, that is not the case.
Instead, as the screenwriter, Mr. Bezucha makes a terribly wrong detour into a bloody revenge thriller genre and the film lets go of any logic. It's a "them against us" mentality and the movie quickly loses its focus. Leaps of Logic appear outta nowhere. The dinner confrontation scene between the two families with straight-laced British actress Leslie Mann playing a deranged matriarch, Blanche Weboy, remains powerful, even though her menacing brood of good ole boys are so one-note evil, without any character development, that they become walking clichés of wickedness. From that point, the plot becomes more far-fetched and brutal to watch. Of course, the dastardly sheriff sides with the locals and has the obligatory "git outta town " scene, so is it any wonder that it's The Hatefuls versus The Blackledges as George and Margaret are forced to take matters into their own hands!
It's a shame because the actors deserve better material. Mr. Costner brings his measured and stoic persona to his role and Ms. Lane radiates confidence and determination. They are very good. Ms. Manville is also fun to watch in a part that is far away from her stiff upper crust roles and she munches on the scenery with relish. One begins to question if Leatherface is not a distant cousin.
After a promising start, Let Him Go lets go of all reason and falls flat on its face on its journey to Crazytown. (GRADE: C+)