The Big Bend

In the quiet expanse of the backcountry Texas landscape, this indie gem unfolds slowly, revealing layer upon layer of familial complexities and emotional resonance. With each scene, it draws you deeper into its world, until you find yourself holding your breath. The stellar cast breathes life into characters so real, you feel as though you've known them all your life. As the credits roll, you'll find yourself haunted by the echoes of their struggles and triumphs, a testament to the power of Brett Wagner's storytelling abilities that clearly and profoundly illuminate the human experience. It's well worth the $20 😎

We all reach significant turning points in our lives, and we're not always prepared for how to deal with them. Such is the case for four old friends, the Talbotts and the Prices, two married couples experiencing a variety of issues that threaten the future of their families and relationships. They meet for a reunion at the Talbotts' desert homestead on the edge of Big Bend National Park in South Texas, a gathering meant to provide a respite from their problems and an opportunity to enjoy the surrounding gorgeous scenery. But, as the couples find out, they can't escape their troubles completely, that those lingering turning points stubbornly persist, symbolically looming over them like the geography of the region's landscape. And, to confound matters even further, additional new challenges arise that make their time together even more complicated. Unfortunately, as writer-director Brett Wagner's second feature plays out, the complications in this comedy-drama grow a little too thick and far too numerous for the picture's own good. Too many threads run through the narrative, and they don't always seem to head in any kind of readily identifiable direction - that is, until the movie's second half, when things finally begin to congeal a bit more coherently. But, even with that, just when viewers might think that all is said and done, the picture veers off in new directions yet again. The result is a project that frequently feels directionless, despite its fine performances, gorgeous cinematography, moments of inspired comedy and a handful of well-constructed second-half sequences. Yet these attributes aren't enough to yield a satisfying whole. That's disappointing, given that it seems as though the makings of a truly engaging film are present here. However, the picture's failure to overcome its meandering tendencies and the filmmaker's apparent reluctance to "kill his darlings" keep the project from reaching its potential, especially when it comes to addressing something as important as how to cope with life's turning points.

An intriguing and compelling exploration of how mundane pressures can accumulate and strain even seemingly idyllic relationships with family and friends.

The various plot threads, while somewhat simplistic independently, play nicely into one another and add palpable suspense and mystery without oversaturating the plot with convoluted details. Even as the story reaches the climax, the characters never feel indefensible and they all make realistic, understandable choices in response to the stress they face.

Ultimately, while some things are left to the viewer's imagination, the plot generally comes to a satisfying and fair conclusion for all of the characters.

My wife and I reluctantly decided to watch this movie tonight as, truth be told, we weren't enthused with the cover shot (and sometimes superficialities govern our decisions!).. But am I glad we saw it! This is an understated gem of a movie and we were both impressed with the acting, story, and soundtrack for what was in all likelihood a small budget production. Kudos to cast and crew!

In truth, we would prefer smaller productions with a heart and soul like this one as opposed to Big Holywierd!

We were also very saddened to hear of the passing of one of the primary actors in the movie in 2024..Rest in Peace.