This film is on just about every movie critic’s top ten list, and some even think it’s the best movie of the year. Written and directed by Academy-Award-winning director Jane Campion, the film is adapted from the 1967 novel of the same name, written by Thomas Savage. It has a 92% Rotten Tomatoes critics score but only a 62% audience score. I agree with the audience on this one. I don’t think it’s a top 10 movie, and neither does my wife or my close friend, Warren.
Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his brother, George (Jesse Plemons), are successful ranchers living in Montana. (The movie was filmed in New Zealand.) They are very close, but Phil is the alpha male who often makes cutting remarks to George and the cowboys on the ranch. The only person Phil seems to like and respect (other than George) is his deceased mentor, Bronco Henry, who taught him how to be a rancher and most of what he has learned about life. Phil idolizes Bronco and nobody can measure up to him. Phil is arrogant, cold, and intimidating, while George is soft-spoken, empathic, and sensitive.
Rose (Kirsten Dunst) is a widow running a lodge/restaurant for ranchers. She has a son, Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee), who would rather be elsewhere, but he feels obligated to help his mother run the business, since his father is deceased. Peter has some effeminate attributes.
George falls for Rose and, within a short time, marries her. This decision wreaks havoc on the previously-stable family dynamics. Phil is enraged about losing George. He also thinks Rose is using George for his money. Phil then launches a sadistic verbal campaign on both Rose and Peter. Other important shifts in the family dynamics comprise the rest of the film.
The family dynamics and characters are interesting, the acting is top-notch, and the scenery spectacular; however, the pace is very slow. There is also an extremely annoying violin soundtrack that struck me as quite pretentious. The film’s resolution left several important unanswered questions (which may or may not have been addressed in the book, since I never read it). There isn’t a trace of humor in the movie, either.
Bottom Line: “The Power of the Dog” didn’t “wag my tail!”
This film is on just about every movie critic's top ten list, and some even think it's the best movie of the year. Written and directed by Academy-Award-winning director Jane Campion, the film is adapted from the 1967 novel of the same name, written by Thomas Savage. It has a 92% Rotten Tomatoes critics score but only a 62% audience score. I agree with the audience on this one. I don't think it's a top 10 movie, and neither does my wife or my close friend, Warren. Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his brother, George (Jesse Plemons), are successful ranchers living in Montana. (The movie was filmed in New Zealand.) They are very close, but Phil is the alpha male who often makes cutting remarks to George and the cowboys on the ranch. The only person Phil seems to like and respect (other than George) is his deceased mentor, Bronco Henry, who taught him how to be a rancher and most of what he has learned about life. Phil idolizes Bronco and nobody can measure up to him. Phil is arrogant, cold, and intimidating, while George is soft-spoken, empathic, and sensitive. Rose (Kirsten Dunst) is a widow running a lodge/restaurant for ranchers. She has a son, Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee), who would rather be elsewhere, but he feels obligated to help his mother run the business, since his father is deceased. Peter has some effeminate attributes. George falls for Rose and, within a short time, marries her. This decision wreaks havoc on the previously-stable family dynamics. Phil is enraged about losing George. He also thinks Rose is using George for his money. Phil then launches a sadistic verbal campaign on both Rose and Peter. Other important shifts in the family dynamics comprise the rest of the film. The family dynamics and characters are interesting, the acting is top-notch, and the scenery spectacular; however, the pace is very slow. There is also an extremely annoying violin soundtrack that struck me as quite pretentious. The film's resolution left several important unanswered questions (which may or may not have been addressed in the book, since I never read it). There isn't a trace of humor in the movie, either. Bottom Line: "The Power of the Dog" didn't "wag my tail!"
The Power of the Dog: All Bark and No Bite
The Power of the Dog: All Bark and No Bite
2021-12-17
David
70
7
Excellent Performances Can't Save It!
Implication Without Clarification!
User Rating : No Ratings Yet !
7
