He lives in Chicago, plays Dungeons and Dragons, and struggles not to kill his two cats daily. Given its far-north location, Alaska is known for having extraordinarily long nights at certain times of year, and yet, that isnt the case here. Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Red Rock West. A little after that, a lawyer says to Lila, Were you aware of your husbands financial difficulties and this wannabe Phyllis Dietrichsons eyes go all wide and she practically mouths the word Ooops.. The cast is good, the settings are correct and even cinematography. A man enters and asks to be served. And it takes place in Alaska (though filmed in British Columbia), where we open with a triple homicide in a small town diner. and unassuming, she is anything but laid-back if the situation demands it. neo-noir thriller was located in the Appalachian Mountains; however, when Problem with small towns is everybody leaves 'em. to collect her husbands estate and pay him. But screenwriter Russell Dvonch says "there was only one sequence where the 3-D effect really worked, a scene with a lot of. headlights of a car that appears to be tracking her. Jamie M. Dagg's Sweet Virginia combines two of the crime genre's most reliable tropesthe paid killing and the heist gone wrongand invests them with passages of . Some of the films best moments of dread are conversations much too tense for normal folk, but otherwise perfect for a world in which everyone has a motive and everything is connected. I was impressed with Jon Bernthal's blunt emotional performance as well as Christopher Abbot's take on playing a psychopath with a conscience. A guy walks into a bar. Sweet Virginia is a 2017 neo-noir thriller film directed by Jamie M. Dagg, written by Benjamin China and Paul China, and starring Jon Bernthal, Christopher Abbott, Imogen Poots, Rosemarie DeWitt, Odessa Young and Jared Abrahamson. This plays out like a good old fashioned film noir and sadly it does not go very well for all the characters involved. They are all somehow broken inside. 24/10/2018. A slow burn drama, with great cinematography and score. The former Girls star, whose blooming career is still often seen as a response to his brief time on (and tumultuous exit from) that epochal HBO show, has spent the last few years playing one brooding knuckle-dragger after another, like hes trying to rid himself of whatever cooties Lena Dunham may have left behind. Yeah i know i cant spell get over it professor irrelevant. Moving the setting further north to Alaska gives the film a different edge, although it does render the title less meaningful. Show All, 94mins Cons: Directed by Jamie M. Dagg Drama, Thriller R 1h 33m By Jeannette Catsoulis Nov. 16, 2017 A twisty, small-town thriller that blooms in the shadows and shies from the light, "Sweet Virginia". Set in a remote corner of Alaska, this small-town, blue-collar thriller is surprisingly cast, exceptionally well acted (male leads Jon Bernthal and Christopher Abbott might have easily switched roles, though its far more effective in this arrangement), and executed potently enough to leave a lasting impression, like scar tissue after a serious burn. The action in the film is great and you'll be engaged, but you'll be wishing there was more character development to really pull things together. Elwood, who was injured in the struggle with Bernadette, tries sneaking out the next morning but is stopped by Sam who merely wants to say goodbye. Sweet Virginia was a Limited release in 2017 on Friday, November 17, 2017. Later that night, on the way home from Bernadette's house, Lila is followed by Elwood but is able to evade him. And some scenes that should've been done in a quick 30 seconds or one minute tops took 2 or 3 minutes long. Bernthal is great but even his character is a bit flimsy with a lot of unanswered details about his past looming over the viewer. Christopher Abbott essentially has two modes: Intense, and way more intense. You know what is going to happen. Nothing worse than that ott ,,feel this now ,,base obviousness. The bartender says, "We're closed." jon bernthals nose. After the death of their father, two sisters and their mother come together for a week of tears, laughter, and adventure at the lake where they grew up. There were 12 other movies released on the same date, including The Star, Wonder and Zack Snyder's Justice League. This movie is stocked with great actors and great plot ideas that just never come together. two men accompanying his target. Letterboxd Limited. Bernadette (Rosemarie DeWitt) loses her husband of 18 years in the melee, and turns to local motel manager Sam (Jon Bernthal) for solace. Rather, theres a level of subtlety operating here that defies the genre. Best part is ,,you don't see it coming. A former rodeo champ befriends a young man with a propensity for violence.A former rodeo champ befriends a young man with a propensity for violence.A former rodeo champ befriends a young man with a propensity for violence. However, his condition prevents him from throwing a punch and he is then overpowered and left lying in the rain. Pretty predictable. Our aged hero must face his relationships of past and present to come up against this unpredictable predator. When the violence happens, its intense, and the threat hovers over the rest of the movie (by following Elwoods car into town during the opening scene, Dagg is able to create another high-tension set piece around the mere suggestion that the headlights Lila sees in her rearview mirror might be his). even if the sequence doesnt climax with a release of the tension. railroad crossing, the gates come down and a train impedes her progress. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Marvel Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer, Jurassic Park Movies Ranked By Tomatometer, The Mandalorian Season 3 Premiere Features Sad Bo-Katan, a Bad Baby, and a Pirate Problem, The 5 Most Anticipated Movies of March 2023. After all, what is a retired rodeo hero if not a cowboy who has hung up his spurs? Dagg understands the importance of a thriller not Meanwhile, the central theme of murder and its aftermath is interesting for as far as it goes, but thats not enough to carry the picture home. That one even gets its own dream sequence, but ultimately adds no more to the story than does the scenic mountain backdrop. The only saving grace is the short ninety minute running time. Tap "Sign me up" below to receive our weekly newsletter husband. Film Credits Sweet Virginia (2017) Rated R for violence, some strong sexuality, language, and drug use. Jacob Oller is a writer and film critic whose writing has appeared in The Guardian, Playboy, Roger Ebert, Film School Rejects, Chicagoist, Vague Visages and other publications. Lets face it: Most Coen brothers knockoffs arent very good. TMDb New York City, New York Most Hallmark movies have similar plots or storylines. He checks into Sams hotel under the name of Elwood, and reveals only fragments of himself to others although the film privileges us by eavesdropping on a private moment in which he calls his ailing mother from the hotel room, offering a valuable insight into the torment that fuels his temper (a dimension overlooked in characters like Chigurh, where the less we know, the scarier they seem). Sam befriends Elwood, and they go to a local diner where Sam talks about his health and why he shakes. Their humanity, along with Bernthals, puts the alien strangeness of Abbotts performance into stark relief. Its central performance, by Abbott, is a harrowing, embarrassing adventure in mannerisms. Then, as she approaches a It definitely had moments of surprise, finding out that Lila was guilty and creepiness in general but they were just glimpses of what could have been a great thriller. Gave it 10. Are you serious? This can be interesting with the right story and good execution but that is what's missing here. The series' excellence and futuristic approach didn't end in its casting and storyline. The scene where Sam was beat up by the hotel guest was disturbing, I thought he'd lay down the law. Chris Knight: The central theme of murder and its aftermath is interesting for as far as it goes, but thats not enough to carry the picture home. We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your account. 22 August 2016 - 17 September 2016. Please consider upgrading to a Pro accountfor less than a couple bucks a month, youll get cool additional features like all-time and annual stats pages (example), the ability to select (and filter by) your favorite streaming services, and no ads! Don't listen to the bad reviews. the Terms and Policies, and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes. By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and After a phone call with his mother, Elwood becomes enraged and instigates a fight with two men. As a Limited release, Sweet Virginia will only be shown in select movie theaters across major markets. it holds a lot of power over me like its scary. But for all her calculations, she hadnt foreseen that others would be hurt in the process. A former rodeo star, with a small time life, unknowingly starts a rapport with a young man who is responsible for the violence that has suddenly gripped his small town. They open a ton of threads about all of them in subtle, natural ways, plus relationships between some of them By what name was Sweet Virginia (2017) officially released in India in English? All rights reserved. Imogen Poots is solid but underused. Elwood attempts to get in his car to flee, but Sam shoots and kills him. neo-noir slow burner that is exquisitely filmed, offering you a fine score underlining appropriately smooth imagery and has a decent cast getting their job done. 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Sweet Virginia is an uncommonly dark movie. Letterboxd is an independent service created by a small team, and we rely mostly on the support of our members to maintain our site and apps. The writing is naunced ,with little windows being left for each character ,to ask why? Sam leaves Maggie's basketball game to spend the night with Bernadette. Also, Sweet Virginia is not a character in this Alaska-set movie; rather, it is the name of the motel Sam owns and runs and presumably named for sentimental reason. Sam recovers enough to go to Bernadette's home where he learns about the break-in. One of the dead men was married to Lilas They won't be able to see your review if you only submit your rating. Id rather watch Double Indemnity for the 15th time. The movie opens with a brutal killing, as an outsider cruises into town, lurking in his car outside a local bar till well after midnight before bursting in on a friendly card game and murdering all three men in the establishment, taking money from the register practically as an afterthought. Un Jardin a Cythere is inspired by the Greek island of Kythira. Despite his reputation as a man of action, Hearing a noise, Bernadette goes to investigate and is chased by Paul while Elwood breaks into a wall safe. IMDb Just okay. They set up the characters really well. To bylo proputno 17. listopadu 2017, IFC Films. I can usually stick with crime stories that have a sense of humor. More at ', Donnie Yen Called Out John Wick 4 and Rogue One Asian Stereotypes, Got Scripts Changed: Why Is the Name Always Shang or Chang, The True Story Behind 'Cocaine Bear': A 175-Pound Beast, a Dead Drug Smuggler in Gucci Loafers and More, Michael B. Jordan Meets Reporter at 'Creed III' Premiere Who 'Teased Him all the Time' in High School: 'I Was the Corny Kid, Right? Bernadette, ignoring Sam's earlier wish, wakes Sam in the middle of the night for sex to which he obliges. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Rotten Tomatoes news! Film data from TMDb. This could be a romantic setting, if the two characters werent such icy sociopaths. He starts his morning at the motel by reading about the shootings in the paper and then responding to a disturbance in room 128. By creating an account, you agree to the viewer on the edge of his/her seat. 4 / 5 stars 57% 79% . It's still quite low and slow and far from out there. so underdeveloped they might as well not be there at all. 'Sweet Virginia' Sets A Gripping Noir In Remotest Alaska Keith Phipps November 14, 2017 There's not a lot of joy at the Sweet Virginia motel. They discuss whether Tom is in heaven or hell and Sam seems regretful of his relationship with Bernadette. So we know who the killer is as the film switches to Sam (Jon Bernthal) a retired rodeo rider and motel manager, the place where the killer stays. If you watch this film, be sure to have subtitles available because the actors constantly mumble their lines. There's a confounding simplicity to Sweet Virginia, making its characters the load-bearing creeps of the film. . Later that night, Lila receives the threatening voicemail and tries to run away from home, but is attacked by Elwood. Literally. Sweet Virginia is an odd title for a movie set in Alaska. Director Jamie M. Dagg only touches on his plot briefly enough to make us worry about what information were missing, which is the opposite of the classical noir strategy to overwhelm the viewer with misdirection, betrayal and circumstance. So, let's answer the question. The atmosphere is tense and steeped with paranoia. a long fuse and, if it comes to a physical confrontation, he is pretty much But as directed by Jamie M. Dagg, this story moves in fits and starts, with secondary characters (a noisy hotel guest, the town cop, Sams young coworker, etc.) He kills them. An old-soul sadness has seeped into his bones; he can still clearly remember what it was like to have the cocky power of an athlete. Please try again. Lila tells the man she wanted Mitchell dead because he'd been unfaithful. Like any good noir, all comes down to desire and absurd nihilism. Right out of the gate, the China brothers noir-hearted sensibility was being compared to that of fellow film siblings Joel and Ethan Coen, as critics hailed the Australian writer-director duos debut Crawl as a modern-day Blood Simple. On the surface, their 2012 Black List-selected screenplay for Sweet Virginia dives further down that rabbit hole, featuring as it does a wife who hires a guy to bump off her own husband (a gender-flipped twist on the basic Fargo plot) and a hit man whos as cold-blooded as No Country for Old Men killer Anton Chigurh. Sign UpYes, I would like to receive Paste's newsletter, 2023 Paste Media Group. Sometimes you can find an independent film that can be somewhat captivating, I say this because Sweet Virginia without aspiring to be something great has good attributes in its favor: dark story, interesting actors playing equally interesting roles as well as simple but very daring scenes. Just embarrassing. gives a creepy performance. Sweet Virginia would clearly like to stake out some territory on the dark dramatic edges of the cinematic map, but ends up a little lost. Bernthal is somewhat more relaxed as a one-time tough guy just trying to come into his house justified, but, not to put too fine a point on it, so what. The camera moves slow and methodically, often lingering on a frame for a second too long. Its an aesthetic that practically demands to be seen on the big screen, as few digital home theaters can handle the nuances of such darkness, nor the level of communion between audience and character that the movie demands. Sweet Virginia is A decent thriller drama, the villain in this movie did an exemplary performance, certainly award winning. After calling Lila and leaving her a threatening voicemail, he violently beats the two men before leaving. With a svelte running time of about 90 minutes, this movie hits the sweet spot. The man returns and shoots Lou, Mitchell, and Tom. When Crime goes wrong could be a different title. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. With his dead eyes and awkward mannerisms, the only When she confronts Elwood after the killing, she tells him You were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off, I mean, he was only supposed to kill the one guy, and he explains to her how killing three guys made total sense because it made the whole thing look so random. As the hit man from the opening scene, Abbott comes across as even more of a cipher. The best music, movies, TV, books, comedy and more. A former rodeo champ befriends a young man with a propensity for violence. "Rock 'N' Roll Hotel" originally was filmed in state-of-the-art 3-D. Be the first to contribute. Killer Joe. He has written for a host of other publications and resides in Brooklyn. It was Daggs idea to relocate the movie to Alaska, though he kept the title, turning it into the element that Abbott and Bernthals characters have in common, allowing them to bond where otherwise each would probably keep to himself: Both have roots in Virginia, but have run off to Alaska for their own reasons. Take it away Elwood (no really): I dont talk about it much, but I guess there is. We all act crazy, I guess. An early version of this moody, atmospheric neo-noir thriller was located in the Appalachian Mountains; however, when director Jamie M. Dagg came on board, he moved the setting far to the north. Showing no remorse, he blames her for the circumstances because Mitchell didn't leave the bar as she said he would. Starring Jane Seymour. Excuse my spelling. Smart and well-acted, Sweet Virginia delivers a tense, atmospheric thriller that transcends genre conventions even as it embraces them. Dster, ruhig und intensivierend erzhlt, elegant gefilmt und gut besetzt. This is a great film and the filmmakers are to be watch carefully as this demonstrates a rising talent to watch. neo-noir slow burner that is exquisitely filmed, offering you a fine score underlining appropriately . i too would cheat on my husband with jon bernthal with 0 remorse. Jon Bernthal 7/10 Sex is implied and afer sex, a woman is covered by sheets but as she is moving we see her legs. Take this bit of diner conversation between Sam, a onetime rodeo champ played by Jon Bernthal, and Elwood (no really), a contract killer played by Christopher Abbott. However, Sam notices that Elwood is bleeding and realizes he is the one who robbed Bernadette. Elwood (Abbott), a sinister criminal from out of town, commits a crime that shakes the local community, then hangs around waiting to get paid off for his work. Theres a confounding simplicity to Sweet Virginia, making its characters the load-bearing creeps of the film. Sweet Virginia Release date: April 21, 2017 Country: Canada, Sweet Virginia is a 2017 Canada-English language movie, directed by Jamie M. Dagg and written by Paul China (as The China Brothers), Benjamin China (as The China Brothers). One too many falls. friend, Bernadette (Rosemary DeWitt). Report this film, Jon Bernthal: I'm not sure about this scriptJon Bernthal's agent: ok but what if I get them to write in a scene with you staring angrily into a mirror covered in bloo -Jon Bernthal: I'LL TAKE IT. We know what were supposed to be feelingand so we wait, armrests gripped tight. As for Elwood (okay Ill stop), we learn early on that he was hired by another local wife, Lila, who hated her husband and wanted him dead so she could collect his money WITH WHICH, and heres the rub, she was going to pay Elwood, and then do other things. Production companies: XYZ Films, Automatik, Oddfellows Pictures Distributor: IFC Films Cast: Jon Bernthal, Christopher Abbott, Imogen Poots, Rosemarie DeWitt, Odessa Young, Jonathan Tucker, Joseph. The title has survived because one of the films central locations, a motel, is Bernthal is one of those character actors that deserves these central roles, he tends to be relegated to supporting roles which is okay but not great. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. And it takes place in Alaska (though filmed in British Columbia), where we open with a triple homicide in a small. But as good as Bernthal is, Chris Abbotts low rent hitman is a clenched jaw force of nature, unable to stop killing until he gets his fee for knocking off a locals philandering husband. Right from the beginning, I could not hear what these actors were saying. Actually I found no important weaknesses in this movie. Und Jon Bernthal ist als Ex-Rodeo-Cowboy souvern schweigsam, aber auch erfrischend unhart. Release Date (Theaters): Nov 17, 2017 limited Release Date (Streaming): Nov 17, 2017 Box Office (Gross USA): $8.4K Runtime: 1h 35m Distributor: IFC Films Cast & Crew Jon Bernthal Sam Rossi. Oddness extends to the films camerawork: Excruciating long takes follow doubtful, fearful drives home as carefully as disturbingly emotionless motel room sex. But this review already risks giving away too much. Upon visiting Mitchell's lawyer, Lila learns that Mitchell was bankrupt, had lied about his life-insurance policies, and was being sued by former business partners. loneliness and emptiness of a location that might be difficult to find on all 2023 National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Coming Soon. Just leave us a message here and we will work on getting you verified. an odd title for a movie set in Alaska. Klassisches Sonntags-Couchkino. Satisfied, he leaves and meets with Paul to enlist his services to do a job to which Paul agrees. This 10-digit number is your confirmation number. Your AMC Ticket Confirmation# can be found in your order confirmation email. So much atmosphere. Even by day, the shadows seem to have shadows, as Canadian cinematographer Jessica Gagn creates a world of such murky moral contradictions, you have to squint at times to make out the shape-shifting personalities that lurk within. Contact Lori, VFO Locations Manager, with the particulars of your shoot. And also, speak up!!! film noir, femme fatale, 1940s, thriller or intriguing cops, murder, thriller, detective or crime robbery, criminal, crime, heist or cops violence, action, guns, cops or killing gangster, crime, criminal, violence or ruthless Sweet Virginia - Movies on Google Play A former rodeo star, with a small time life, unknowingly starts a rapport with a young man who is responsible for the violence that has suddenly gripped. but the most comprehensive of maps. 4 / 5 stars 57% 79%. Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! She is arrested and the final shot is of Bernadette cutting Sam's hair while he thinks about his riding accident. Murders-for-hire evidently have a better success rate in real life than in movies, because cinematically speaking, they usually result in quite the mess for all involved (and some who aren't). The villian is really the one you least expect and sympathy is garnered for the obvious ones. It is currently seeking U.S. distribution. Cinemark You're almost there! murder. Loss and revenge. In his 1956 essay On A Book Entitled Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov recounts both the imaginative origins of his groundbreaking novel and the difficulty he had finding a publisher for it in the United States. Pros: But Sweet Virginia is a dark batch of backwoods whiskey, as Dagg capably distills what works best in other genre movies (not just the Coens, obviously), recognizing atmosphere and psychology as this elixirs most vital ingredients. film noir, femme fatale, 1940s, thriller or intriguing, cops, murder, thriller, detective or crime, gangster, crime, criminal, violence or ruthless. Made by fans in Aotearoa New Zealand. This movie sure was well worth my time. It may be predictable, but it sure isn't boring. Watched this late at night,was blown away. In Lilas case, years of disrespect and misery have pushed her to ordering her husbands murder. It's a mystery, drama that will haunt you at the end. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 21, 2017. I doubt I'll remember having watched it in a few years time but it certainly wasn't bad. The score of the film is great creates the perfect atmosphere, the performances of all the actors individually are very good and it's a very good but very short slow burn. The photo is of a woman and a young girl. Sweet Virginia (2017) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by Jamie M. Dagg Writing Credits Cast (in credits order) Produced by Music by Brooke Blair Will Blair Cinematography by Jessica Lee Gagn Film Editing by Duff Smith Casting By Production Design by Danny Vermette Art Direction by Justin Ludwig So maddening! Thus small town stories tend to be based on romanticized memories (be it good or bad) from the point of city slickers. Hes more or less passing through, but checks into the motel and strikes up a weird friendship with Sam. Elwood decides that its cleaner to remove witnesses, so he kills the Drama, Mystery/Crime, Suspense Feature Film. Was he bored too? for violence, some strong sexuality, language, and drug use.
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