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Slow West - Movie Review

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5 stars

The western genre is familiar territory for a lot of audiences, no matter their location.  From directors like John Ford, Clint Eastwood, and Sergio Leone, the film community has reinforced some of the basic ingredients borrowed from penny books:  the guns, the whores, the whiskey, the lone hero, and those blood red sunsets.  For many people, the iconic image of a cowboy leaning against a barn or a wooden fence is the only symbol of individualism or bravery they need. 

Our love affair with these lone heroes, which began in the mid-twentieth century, continues to this very day and, every once in awhile a western captures our attention.  Enter Slow West, a western bold enough to alter the stereotypical lone hero mold by cracking it just enough to allow a little sunlight in.  John Maclean’s film presents the western genre from a distinctive European point of view and, in doing so, makes it an incredibly rich experience.

Michael Fassbender stars as Silas Selleck, a bounty hunter with a past he’d probably like to leave behind left to choke in the dust.  Silas opens this narrative as a Scottish teenager, Jay Cavendish (Kodi Smit-McPhee), surveys the treacherous territory looking to reunite with his former lover, Rose (Caren Pistorius).  Jay is the moral center in this story; his heart is a youthful one – full of what’s right and what’s wrong.  The distance from where he began his journey back to Rose doesn’t matter.  She has his heart and, in brief flashbacks, we see how their relationship began.  Jay will forge this new land and build a home with her as his bride…if he can get to her in one piece.

Standing in the way of his plans involving the woman he loves is the fierce American landscape, a savage gang of outlaws, and a partnership based on secrets as Silas agrees to help the teen find his way to Rose.  His true purpose; however, is never fully revealed.  Shot in New Zealand by cinematographer Robbie Ryan, Slow West aching burns its way into your head as it loads its iron for a rather clever shoot-out climax.  This landscape is a wild one; it’s beautiful, for sure, but oh so deadly. 

The untamed environment of Slow West is, in fact, a good double for Fassbender’s riveting performance.  He doesn’t say much to Jay but - beneath his blunt movements and brash statements - there is a soul that develops as he fulfills his end of their deal.  Whether this event in the performance comes from the partnership of Fassbender or the director is uncertain but, considering that they have a long history together, the film – which marks Maclean’s feature film debut – is decidedly all the better for it. 

This tightly composed western is steeped in the tragedy Shakespeare penned.  The characters are framed against an Old West backdrop that is roaming free and, while that landscape offers exploration, the 1.66:1 frame of Ryan’s constrained shots keep these characters locked on the mission before them; there can be no exploration.  There is only the path that reunites Jay with Rose, no matter the cost as it closes in on its gritty Sam Peckinpah-like conclusion that has guns going off in every single direction and one shock after another.

Both darkly funny and fierce, the expressively authentic Slow West is a memorable experience for those who venture to ride shotgun alongside it.  Just try to shake this one.  I double-dog dare you. 

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[tab title="Film Details"]

Slow West - Movie Review

MPAA Rating: R for violence and brief language
Runtime:
84 mins
Director
: John Mclean
Writer:
John Mclean
Cast:
Michael Fassbender, Ben Mendelsohn, Rory McCann
Genre
: Western
Tagline:
Wanted dead or dead.
Memorable Movie Quote: "Nobody knows where we are. Nobody knows who we are."
Distributor:
A24
Official Site:
Release Date:
April 16, 2015
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
No details available.
Synopsis: Set in late 19th Century Colorado and centering on a young man’s epic search for the love of his life. The exceptional cast includes Michael Fassbender as Silas Selleck, a mysterious and inscrutable stranger acting as the paid protector to sixteen-year-old Scottish aristocrat Jay Cavendish (Kodi Smit-McPhee), who is on a reckless journey through the American Wild West. Ben Mendelsohn crosses their paths as Payne, the leader of an intimidating posse of outlaws on their journey to find Rose Ross (newcomer Caren Pistorius) the humble farmer’s daughter who fled from Jay’s life.

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[tab title="Blu-ray Review"]

Slow West - Movie Review

Blu-ray

Blu-ray Details:

Available on Blu-ray - July 7, 2015
Screen Formats: 1.66:1
Subtitles
: English, English SDH, Spanish
Audio:
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Discs: 25GB Blu-ray Disc; Single disc (1 BD)
Region Encoding: A

Lionsgate is the winner this week with the one-two punch of Slow West. Gloriously brought to life with this engaging 1080p transfer, presented in the manner Westerns used to be (1.66:1 aspect ratio), Slow West fills the top and bottom edges of the screen with crisp colors and scenic frontiers. Textures are rich and detailed and skin tones are flawless. No detail goes unnoticed in this transfer. Black levels are strong and shadows never lose their edge. The English 5.1 DTS- HD Master Audio track brings life to every gun fired, every lit campfire, and pronounces each step through the wilderness.

Supplements:

Commentary:

  • None

Special Features:

With no commentary, audiences must lean heavily on the supplemental items to tell the story of the filming. In under seven minutes, one featurette is all we get. Full of interviews from cast and crew, the featurette is okay but could have been a lot more in depth for such a marvelous movie. Deleted scenes round out the collection.

  • On Strange Land: Making Slow West (7 min)
  • Deleted Scenes (8 min)

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