Rebel Ridge

Just finished watching this movie. Checked out some of the reviews, and as one often sees, a lot of people called this movie boring. There were some very similar themes to Rambo: First Blood. But I thought that this movie was really well done. The character development was really good, and the main character was calm, cool and collected for the majority of the film.

The action was great, not over the top, and very realistic. A younger me would have considered the movie slow and boring, but that's because all I used to want before was ACTION!!! The older me prefers the story and character development. There was some great turns near the end that I didn't expect. All in all, I thought it was a solid film. 7/10 for me.

This is so closely related to the Stephen Lara case in Nevada back in 2021. He was a retired Marine, heading to California to start a new life with his daughters. They left him with nothing on the side of the road. No charges, no arrests. Only a "justifiable" reason to seize his money. So much so, there's exact dialogue in the movie that matches the police body cam footage, such as having receipts for bank transactions, saying it's not illegal to carry cash, how the money was going to be distributed, if he doesn't file a suit he might get his money back, etc. The real victim was robbed of $86k cash by Nevada Highway Patrol. Look it up on YouTube. There's a complete documentary on it.

I completely loved this movie. From the moment I saw the trailer, I knew it was something special, and I couldn't wait to dive in. As soon as it was available, I opened Netflix and started watching it. From start to finish, I was utterly captivated. There wasn't a single moment when I felt the urge to check my phone for notifications, which is incredibly rare for me. The movie held my attention with its gripping storyline and superb execution.

The acting was phenomenal, with each actor bringing depth and authenticity to their roles. The plot was intricately woven, filled with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. The cinematography was stunning, capturing every scene beautifully and enhancing the overall experience. The soundtrack complemented the visuals perfectly, adding emotional weight and resonance to key moments.

Every element of this movie was meticulously crafted, and it shows. It's one of the best movies I've seen in a long time, a true masterpiece in every sense. Whether it's the powerful performances, the compelling narrative, or the breathtaking visuals, everything about this film was exceptional. It's a cinematic experience I would highly recommend to anyone looking for an engaging and memorable watch.

I saw this by chance on Netflix and I was pleasantly surprised. The main character is calm, keeps his head down and only retaliate when it is required. Even though he is mistreated by the law enforcement of a particular small town, he always looks for way to "de-escalate" the situation. There's not much violence or action you might expect, but the story build up very nice. You can feel the suffocation when the system has it out for you. The laws drafted to protect the civilians might be used to push them into a corner. That helplessness weighs you down more than you think.

This is a very decent movie and I would recommend to all.

With each work I watch, I become a bigger and bigger fan of Jeremy Saulnier.

What seemed like a potential for him to be a great director has already come to fruition, and we are witnessing it. Rebel Ridge not only adds another great work to the director's hall, but also shows his versatility.

John Boyega's abandonment of the project may have been a blessing in disguise. Aaron Pierre is magnetic and a force of nature in this film. His presence is felt throughout the story, even in the moments when he is not mentioned.

The film and Aaron perfectly execute this character, rich of complex emotions in a one-man army.

AnnaSophia is not far behind, in a realistic performance of a person driven by a purpose and a true sense of justice, in a work that does not hide from us how the path to truth can be dirty, aggressive and cause destruction.

With a fair length for the story, the film allows itself to breathe, but always progresses accordingly and shows enough flesh in its plot and characters to specify its duration and each character.

I want to congratulate Emory Cohen and Don Johnson for making me despise them from beginning to end in their portrayal of a pair of characters who are the antithesis of everything the protagonists represent, always pushing them to make new difficult decisions.

Overall, it's a great film, with an excellent cast and a story that prioritizes its human narrative over action, but also uses its combat peaks to demonstrate more nuances of each character.