by Jon Partridge
There is a enduring fascination with the old West. A setting often used to tell tales of morality, hope and honor amidst a backdrop where desperation and survival drives the more base aspects of human nature. From The Good the Bad and the Ugly all the way to more recent fare such as the remake of 3:10 to Yuma, their appeal endues even if their popularity does not have the same draw as other genres.
The newest entry to this cherished staple of American cinema is Slow West. Written and directed by John Maclean, formerly of The Beta Band whose sole previous filmmaking credit was Man on a Motorcycle, the film premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival where it was awarded the World Cinema Jury Prize: Dramatic Winner.
Set in the late 1800s, Slow West tells of young Jay Cavendish (Kodi Smit-McPhee) who travels from his home in Scotland to journey across the American frontier in search of his childhood sweetheart Rose. On his travels he encounters Silas (Michael Fassbender), a mysterious stranger who he pays to be his guide and protector in his search. Together they search for Rose and her father, himself a wanted man, and find a band of outlaws following them intent on finding the pair and collecting the bounty on their heads.
Slow West is somewhat true to its name, the first half meandering with its two leads, light on action and dialogue but you can feel the tension building; once the twists in the tale begin and the film hurtles towards its climax it has you hooked. In many ways plays out as a very traditional Western but weaves in elements of a Greek tragedy, peppered with a wry sense of humor. In this respect it’s more reminiscent of The Coen Brothers’ True Grit or No Country for Old Men than any classic Western.
Slow West is a stunning looking film, vivid landscapes with a hint of over-saturation giving it a very vibrant feel. While set in the mid-West the film was actually made in New Zealand which may go some way to explaining the beauty of the production. It is wonderfully shot by cinematographer Robbie Ryan but he never loses sight of the real important focus, the actors.
Smit-McPhee’s Jay is a fish out of water in contrast to the experienced and jaded character Fassbender inhabits, each rubbing off on each other nicely as they travel together. Cynicism overcome by a naive sense of determination and love as well as a growing bond between this odd-couple. It is this pairing that is the main focus of the film and they travel together via multiple scenes that in lesser hands might feel like checking boxes for scenes you’d expect in a Western but instead serve the journey as well as the relationship between the two leads well. A host of supporting actors lend authenticity and grit to proceedings, the standout being Ben Mendelsohn as one of the outlaws on the pair’s tail.
John Maclean delivers a tight, stylish and beautiful debut feature combining moody elements of Leone, comedic hints of the Coen Brothers and at times the comedy of Chaplin. The tone deftly veers from quirky to something more gritty and nihilistic, blackly comedic notes in the face of bleakness and mortality. Another fine pickup for distributors A24 who are building up a rather impressive catalog of films.
THE PACKAGEAs stated above, Slow West is an absolutely gorgeous piece of filmmaking. This transfer shows great detail, is free of artifacts and has vibrant colors. Anything less would have been an affront to the visuals of the film, thankfully it does not disappoint.
Special features include On the Strange Land: Making ‘Slow West’ which has some nice details on the concept behind the film as well as the characters and cast. There are also two deleted scenes included. It is disappointing that no commentary is present as the film is full of so many little moments you can’t help but yearn for some insight into what it was like during filming.
THE BOTTOM LINESlow West nestles nicely into the Western genre but John Maclean works in different cinematic elements that give the film broader and deeper appeal. A more intimate and personal tale of the old West but one that is well told and amongst the most visually stunning films I’ve seen in a long time. Well recommended.
Slow West is available on Blu-ray from July 7th.
