Devil Inside.
138 Mins. Starring: Tom Holland, Bill Skarsgård, Riley Keough, Jason Clarke, Sebastian Stan, Haley Bennett, Eliza Scanlen, Mia Wasikowska & Robert Pattinson. Director: Antonio Campos.
Darkness dwells so much so in Netflix's new nostalgic noir, you'd be forgiven for thinking it's all too much right now. Especially in a year like this. Continue watching? Brimstone braces this American gothic like a fire began by a dirty rag lit in moonshine. You'll have a hell of a time with 'The Devil All The Time' based on the Donald Ray Pollock 'scribe of the same name. As the director of 'Christine' and several episodes of Netflix's 'The Sinner' series and the 'Cold Steel' rancid aluminum episode of Marvel's 'The Punisher' doesn't let us off lightly for our own transgressions. Reflecting a broken mirror of wretched humanity in all its gothic haunted horrors. One no Bible, pulpit or bullet could atone for. No matter how many times you get on your knees. As noir as mined oil, even an all star cast of Hollywood's who's who can't put a spit shine polish on this scuffed bootcut story of traditional America that still leaves footprints on today's land masquerading as hallowed ground. Even the marvelled and eagerly anticipated, airport avenging, reunion fight between Spider-Man and The Winter Soldier from their old 'Civil War' in Germany with a Luger, with a "now there's a Batman" thrown in for good, caped measure can't save this grey day. Even 'Far From Home' with a lead Peter Parker's good friend and 'Nightcrawler' and 'Prisoners' star Jake Gyllenhaal serving as lead executive producer like the orb of his Mysterio made-up, cinematic storytelling. Still, despite the darkness, the streaming service Netflix is still shining a light on original content like 'The Irishman' with hit after hit. Most recently adding Jamie Foxx and Joseph Gordon-Levitt's 'Project Power' to their new roster of superheroes with a more real world, grounded twist like Charlize Theron's 'The Old Guard' assemble that really stuck the landing. Still after their last confusing, experimental piece of existentialism in 'I'm Thinking Of Ending Things', the sobering nature of this whiskey and woe may just make you want to.
Mudbound like Kevin Costner and Woody Harrleson's 'Highwaymen' on the Tommy tail of the untouchable, Bonnie and Clyde, we have our own outlaw pair quick on the draw (but this time when it comes to the photograph), picking up hitchhikers and leaving them without so much as a thumb. 'American Honey', 'Logan Lucky' and Netflix's Japanese 'Earthquake Bird' star Riley Keough's character conflict will shake you to your core. Whilst Jerry West to 'Showtime' Laker be Jason Clarke shows us he's even madder than he was in the whiskey business of 'Lawless' with Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Diane DeHaan, Guy Pearce and Jessica Chastain (but at least in that movie, the modern day Gary Sinise who is in everything characters crazy was kindly). Speaking of that law unto itself, bootleg classic Mia Wasikowska who rode off into the sunset with Shia like an Emmylou Harris 'Cosmonaut' is here too. Although it might be something on the other side of the setting sun that she's taking off to in tow here. As one of the most underrated, greatest actresses of our generation is criminally underused in an all star roster that gives more garbage time to its bench warmers than it does its franchise players. Case in (or IT) point, Pennywise himself Bill Skarsgård is an opening act here. But what an outstanding one, as this fraught and forlorn father teaches his son how to never back down, but back someone up against the wall in a fight that leads to the best bit of revenge you've seen scripted with a pencil since they put down John Wick's dog. But you'll hate what the clown does to his own man's best friend here as Skarsgård scars the rest of this picture with his family influence. It's his beautiful bond with 'The Girl On The Train' and 'The Magnificent Seven' star of that moment Haley Bennett's (who was so good alongside Miles Teller in the war, family torn, 'Thank You For Your Service' pinned dedication) waitress, come wife and her moving mothering that stirs the soul of this mix of stories and stages (she really deserves her due) though. It's all about what they bring into this world.
Friendly neighbourhood, that's because one of those things is Tom Holland himself. Coming of age and stage as the leading man in this epic ensemble. Our Spidey senses know that the 'In The Heart Of The Sea', 'The Lost City Of Z' and 'The Current War' actor is much more than Marvel, like 'The Impossible' beginnings of his career. Just look at his 'Spies In Disguise' and 'Onward' with Starlord himself Chris Pratt, animated double-act. But here he shows exactly how in a white-tee and denim slicked back with a Coca Cola comb look, the Brit born star is as Hollywood hallmark as his American accent but its the depth of his understanding for character that brings so much more gravity to his roles like Spider-Man swinging from the Empire State Building to the sidewalks of Manhattan, New York. Here he gets to face off with two other comic book legends too in a graphic movie by the novel. One being the copped role of Bucky Barnes himself, Sebastian Stan (himself making great ground with films like Nicole Kidman's dark 'Destroyer' and his absolutely abhorrent but amazingly acted character in Margot Robbie's 'I, Tonya'), who may not have his best friend Captain America's shield (but he does get his own Winter Soldier Disney show as a plus with the "I'm the Captain now" Falcon of Anthony Mackie coming soon), but does have a badge. Albeit one with some crooked edges to it, wrapping guns in towels like De Niro's 'Godfather' before pulling over to the side of the road with a broad and a milkshake cup. The other being the new Batman introduced with a handing what's for to someone trailer "vengeance" in Robert Pattinson far from the 'Twilight' of his career, with this and his charisma compelling in the biggest blockbuster of the year in Christopher Nolan's latest game changer 'Tenet' in a time and calendar when movies shouldn't even be coming out right now. Still, Pattinson's puerile preacher will actually have you asking "what the hell are you supposed to be" like his moment under the cowl as he plays pew, pew between the church pews. A far cry to the Lord from Elle Fanning's pure, 'Live By Night' God fearing character. He needs to repent...repent...repent. He without sin cast the first stone, but no man of God would ever thrown the good book just to shield himself. That's a bad apple Adam. But what a great actor. Just like Greta Gerwig's 'Little Women' and Gillian Flynn's adapted 'Sharp Objects' star Eliza Scanlen who scene steals as Tom's troubled sister. If this gets any award, let her name be in the envelope by moonlight for this moonshine movie. Even a stunning standoff shootout in this chapters conclusion can't blast away the buckshot broken hearts she leaves in her wake like falling through the ice. All the time the devil tempts this movie with evil, but when the good souls shine in all this darkness...that's when there will be hell to pay. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Lawless', 'Live By Night', 'Mudbound'.
No comments:
Post a Comment