Sundown

Excellent, 'show don't tell ' example of movie making. A metaphor. An unreliable narrator.

Tim Roth is understated brilliance personified.

Michel Franco directs with great feeling and symbolism (the pig, upmarket and local Acapulco)

Unusual, interesting film that doesn't fully succeed to be what it is until it ends. That finale causes everything that occurred earlier to make sense, but this will be a slow go for those seeking more immediate answers to the puzzling behavior of the lead character, excellently portrayed by Tim Roth. The entire cast is fine, but it is his show. Ultimately, a touching, intriguing film for the patient.

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.

SUNDOWN is a new psychological mystery drama from director Michel Franco. The story follows a wealthy British family who is vacationing in Acapulco when a distant emergency disrupts their plans. The simmering tensions between the group members come to the fore as they try to figure out what is going on and how to deal with the situation. Tim Roth and Charlotte Gainsbourg give strong performances as the patriarch and matriarch of the family, respectively. The rest of the cast is also excellent. The film is slow-paced and gently suspenseful, with plenty of twists and turns to keep viewers guessing as to what is at the heart of the trouble in this family.

The dialogue in SUNDOWN is sharp and intelligent, with the characters often engaging in heated exchanges that reveal a lot about their relationships. The dialogue is one of the highlights of the film, as it allows the viewer to get a sense of who these people are and what they're going through. There are also some very funny moments, which help to lighten the mood in what is otherwise a tense film.

The cinematography is beautiful, with the sun-drenched Acapulco setting providing a stunning backdrop for the film's events. The use of light and shadow is also excellent, creating an atmosphere of suspense and foreboding that adds to the film's overall impact.

Themes such as family dynamics, secrets, and betrayal are explored in SUNDOWN, making it a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant film. The slow pacing may be a challenge for some, but those who stick with it will be rewarded with a complex and rewarding experience.

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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