Note: This new short film is currently in movie theaters paired with another short film from director Pedro Almodóvar, The Human Voice (2020).
Michael's Movie Grade: A-
A wonderful short film from one of the best living filmmakers.
I admit I am biased when it comes to this film, as Pedro Almodóvar is one of my favorite filmmakers and I love westerns. In this his first western, he both embraces and subverts (after all there is a homosexual romance at the heart of this film) the conventions of the genre. The result is a movie that is both purely western and an Almodóvar film. The focus of this movie is not on the gunfights or action but rather the complex relationship between the two main characters. These are two cowboys who are seeing each other for the first time in 25 years and soon find their lives once again intertwined. While the romantic tension between them is very prevalent, it is anything but a happy reunion as the circumstances revolving around their reunion is anything but happy (I dare not give away much more about the story here). This is a very dialogue heavy film and perhaps what is most impressive is just how great this dialogue is. For only this filmmaker's second film in English, his knack for great dialogue translates perfectly to this language. In fact, the dialogue here is incredibly smart and thought provoking. It is also incredibly natural and never once sounds pretentious. This great dialogue is truly enhanced by incredible performances from Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal. Both of them bring a real humanity to their roles. Despite the sheer amount of dialogue, this movie is also a pure visual treat. There are plenty of moments of great visual storytelling especially in the flashback scene. Also the visuals in this movie recall some of the all-time great westerns and Pedro Almodóvar's fondness for the genre and the great filmmakers who worked in it are obvious just for some of the very cinematic shots in this movie. This film perfectly captures the wonderful visual beauty that can be achieved in a western setting, yet the visuals always feel in service to the story.
This is a real cinematic treat and another great example of why Pedro Almodóvar is one of the best living filmmakers.
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