Sundown

At the beginning, say, 20 minutes into the film I, like probably everybody else, kept thinking what an asshole. Right in the middle I made a decision I never want to be really rich or go to Mexico, even on a short holiday. At the end I realized it was the best film about the fear of death I've ever seen.

An incredible character study masterfully played by Tim Roth. SUNDOWN is a slow burn but beautifully shot, regardless of the paradisal surroundings. Those surroundings, ironically become more and more uncomfortable, too, as that burn starts to get hot, but never scalding.

Even though the mystery of Neil increases, there is never that "aha!" moment. That Roth expected diatribe shouting out the why's and wherefores in that incredible London accent of his. Instead, SUNDOWN provides a lazy tale of maddening degeneration, domestic beer, and, just perhaps, true love.

Totally worth watching. And totally entertaining. Totally wish, though, that the resolution was equally compelling.

Well there is way more to it than that. And hopefully you either let my Blockbuster stinger slide by (if you recognized it) or do not care or compare it to Spiderman or anything like that. Because this is as far removed from anything remotely in that big budget category. But if you see the movie, you will get the pun.

Having said that, this drama we have right here is really good. I had no idea what this would be. One of the main reasons was because I watched it at a sneak preview. The other would have been that I don't read about movies I am about to watch anyway. And I was lucky enough to not have to sit through a trailer.

So the beginning of the movie had me guessing as to where this would lead. A family drama? A personal drama? Who is the main character in this? It seems to be one person and than we kind of find out it is another. And as subtle as that shift in focus is - the pace will not change. So if you do not like how this evolves, if you want to call it that, you can figure that out in the first 10 minutes.

Anyone else who sticks with it ... will get a slow burn! No pun intended! And a human that might be relatable to you - depending on how you view the world. Considering what we are about to find out, some will envy him, but at the same time also be happy not to be him. A strange mix, I know - but one that is apt.

Actions also speak louder than words. So while he is saying one thing, he clearly is doing something different. What is his motivation, if any you ask? Well the movie will let you figure that one out yourself. Still it is tough to convey certain things. Or have the movie delier all the answers. The ever so great Tim Roth (who looks great and plays even greater) is as minimal as he can be. Some may feel he is without feelings - but yet there lies passion in him. But minimalistic - he does not seem to care about most things ... which is something that is coming in handy towards the end ... a weird movie that seems to have few to no conflict ... and yet is able to deliver on tension and us wondering what is up next ... and why!

MOVIE REVIEW Sundown R - 4 out of 5 stars

Genre: Drama Year Released: 2021 Runtime: 1h 22m Director: Michel Franco Writer: Michel Franco Cast: Tim Roth, Iazua Larios, Charlotte Gainsbourg Where To Watch: Available to rent on all major VOD apps

I like sharing the official IMDb synopsis whenever reviewing films; I do this because it always intrigues me at the disconnect between the significance of the film itself and the given outline. I'm sure some of that is intentional to avoid spoilers which, as you know, I appreciate! In the case of this film, it may have one of the best examples of a spoiler-free synopsis I've seen. "Neil and Alice Bennett are the core of a wealthy family on vacation in Mexico until a distant emergency cuts their trip short. When one relative disrupts the family's tight-knit order, simmering tensions rise to the fore."

While only having a 6.6 rating on IMDb, I think this was a fantastic film with one of Tim Roth's ("Pulp Fiction," "Planet of the Apes") best performances in recent memory. However, Iazua Larios ("Apocalypto") stole the show. She has such a level of realism to her character on screen that I was wholly sold every time she was on screen. Her interactions with Roth were felt so legitimate that you could get lost in their performances, which made the entire film a delight.

As per my usual attempts, I hadn't seen a trailer for this; all I knew about it was the poster. I prefer it that way as much as possible. In this case, it let me experience the film from a 100% unbiased perspective. I didn't even know who was in the cast until I saw them on screen; if you've read any of my reviews in the past, you'll know that I try to avoid trailers because I've had too many films spoiled for me unintentionally. Sometimes trailers give things away that ruin some of the most impactful moments in the movie.

Clocking in at just an hour and twenty minutes, this film packs a lot into its runtime. The plot is simple, but the story is more profound in reality. It's not a love story; it's not an action film, it's not a slow burn, but yet somehow, it's all of those and more. A well-written script is a powerful tool, and this film is a shining example. While I haven't seen any of director Michel Franco's other films, I'm more than curious now; he directed this and wrote it. I know that not every movie can be nominated for an Oscar, but it bums me when great performances and fantastic direction are overlooked. This just proves why I do the Oscar Death Race each year, I love seeing all of the nominated films, but there's so much more to it. That's just where I start, then I widen my search from there and thankfully end up with so many lesser-known gems like this one.

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I saw Sundown at the London Film Festival having been impressed by the director's "New Order" last year, though both films were made roughly at the same time. Tim Roth gives a magnificent understated performance of a man whose behaviour breaks with expected norms, asking us to imagine his motives. He subtlety of the director gradually and naturally reveals circumstances that may overturn our assumptions. The film has humour, violence, drama, and asks us to imagine what we do ourselves in he same circumstances. On top of these roiling undercurrents there are contrasted the beautiful but exclusive high-end beach resort with the crowded lively (and deadly) beach that the locals inhabit. Excellent supporting performances from Charlotte Gainsbourg and the others round out a thought provoking and well-executed film.