Un debito di sangue

I have seen the featured reviews rating this one a 4. I have to disagree as I reserve 4 (and below) for films which I regard as technically incompetently made or for acting that is far below average. IMHO, that is not true for this film. Direction is adequate as well as the cinematography (in fact, some outdoor scenes are above average). Acting by the lead Orlando Bloom is so-so, but his acting is redeemed by his co-stars. Garrett Dillahunt as a former gang member, now a pastor, is effectively over the top as a pastor. And Andie MacDowell plays against her southern belle type as a vicious mobster who enjoys torture and murder. Finally, newcomer Chapel Oaks is fine as Bloom's niece. The rest of cast is OK as well although I would have liked to have seen more of Brian Geraghty as the Sheriff because I think he is a very good actor. The plot, of course, is predictable for films of this type, with a surfeit of guns and violence for action fans. Therefore, while this definitely not a 10/10, it is a 6/10 film perfect as an entertaining time killer on a rainy day or a 2-hour flight.

Red Right Hand is a suspense/crime/thriller which takes place in rural Kentucky and focuses on the decay of the rural American family due to an inability to scrape a decent living. The most ironic name goes to the main character, Cash (played by Orlando Bloom with a strong performance and a better Southern accent than I could hope to conjure) and his brother Wilder (Garret Dillahunt). Without deviating from the well tread formula that films like this normally take, it adds a few twists now and then.

First, there is the strong performance by the antagonist Big Cat (played by Andie MacDowell (who usually plays in comedies but nonetheless proves her mettle here in a villainous role). She quickly shows that she means business, and yet there is an unspecified history between Big Cat and Cash.

Another strong role is the daughter (played by newcomer Chapel Oaks) who convincingly shows her wisdom beyond that of the two men raising her throughout the film. She gives a strong sense of female independence and like nearly everyone in the film, knows a thing or two about guns.

Speaking of guns, Obama famously complained that rural America clung to its bibles and guns. That's true here too but I would add two more to the list (at least according to this movie): big rigs and farm animals.

Overall, it's an enjoyable story but not one you haven't seen before with a few exceptions.

7/10.

It is one thing to have a very good cast of stars (Bloom, McDowel,Dillahunt) to attracts viewers to your movie. It is another challenge to have a sensible, workable and engaging script that the viewer can follow with intent and delight. It is yet another aspect to have a production, directing and editing crew that ensures an engaging element to the viewing experience

Sadly, in this case, only the first aspect is present - great cast, thus the question : "Oh, Orlando... WHY!" It is heartbreaking to see such talent wasted on this triviality only for the crew to say "we had Mr Bloom in our movie!". Shame on you

It was with painful admission that I could not continue my viewing past the hour mark. It was that unhinged, uninteresting and quite simply BORING. With better directing (and editing) this movie could well have been a great 7.5. It is not about the story (we have seen this too many times) but the senselessness of wasted screen time where just nothing happens.... or the opposite to what humans normally do to be of assistance to family

As for that... if you want Mr Dillahunt to go through bottles of hard tac, then at least GIVE him some real stuff so that he can actually BE drunk and not sometimes appear quite sober after a few shots

It took me a few days to go back to see the second half.... I could not stay for the end.... Perhaps Mr Bloom's agents were a bit over eager to sign him up for this one. I am sure there are much better offers out there who would be able to work with this talented actor

Final statement : rather go watch Sesame Street with your popcorn.

Red Right Hand (2024) is a gritty, violent, somewhat depressing film with enough understated woke elements to distract and leave audiences wondering how much better it could have been.

The film seems almost schizophrenic in attempting realism in a genre that naturally gravitates toward right wing elements. Two graphic scenes depict brutal interrogations, but conducted by the villains. The chief villain is played by a woman with an army of male henchmen and a kinky boytoy. The one good cop on a corrupt force is a black guy. There is a lot of storm-trooper style gunplay and other violence, but much of it is off-camera. A scene involving violence toward a female is handled so obliquely as to leave the audience wondering what, if anything, happened. A young girl is taught to use a rifle and a knife, but the hero often finds himself without a gun or without bullets.

Orlando Bloom is excellent playing a backwoodsman with a lot of conflicts. He delivers a highly credible, nuanced performance. Garret Dillahunt also delivers a very credible performance as the preacher/sidekick. Andie MacDowell plays the antagonist in an over-the-top two-dimensional comic-book mode. None of the male characters seem to have any current romantic partners, although one spends a lot of time pining over his dead wife. What passes as the B-story love angle is the platonic relationship between Cash (Bloom) and his niece, which occupies a lot of screen time without managing to be particularly interesting.

Production values are adequate. Scenery and costumes seem authentic. Overall, the movie is watchable, but not truly satisfying. It's too timid for action fans, but perhaps too gritty for drama fans. The lack of any romantic angles leaves the characters seeming incomplete.

ONCE in a lifetime means I will only watch this movie ONCE in my lifetime. If I could take it back a couple of hours that number would be nonce in a lifetime.

All previous great respect for Andie MacDowell instantly destroyed.

The plot we have seen endlessly The characters (bad guys) were so over the top it seemed like every single one of them was on the high end of the psycho scale, with their tendancies for torture and their delight in the process.

They even throw in the compulsory gum chewing moron.

As we see again and again... a decent storyline ruined by delusions of grandeur from the director(s) It had promise to be a good movie... a bit of subtlety, a bit of realism, a whole lot less manure.