The Power of the Dog

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UK Release Date: 19 November 2021
Certification: 12A
Director: Jane Campion
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Jesse Plemons
Rating: 81%
A definite best picture contender. 

Review:
I think the best way to describe The Power of the Dog is that it's an interesting film. A character based psychological thriller that takes a while to really get going but once it does never slows down. The tension created by Jane Campion is excellent and it keeps you guessing throughout the movie as to what is really happening and who is in control. 

The Power of the Dog is full of Oscar worthy performances. Benedict Cumberbatch plays a sadistic cattle rancher, Phil Burbank, who bottles up his feelings in a character study about masculinity. In all honesty, Cumberbatch is a class above the rest, it's easily his best performance to date and I believe, alongside Andrew Garfield, he's the frontrunner for best actor. He portrays so many emotions throughout the course of the movie, you hate him, you love to hate him and you sympathise with him. It's implied that he's gay and once more information is revealed about his past it only heightens the tension and suspense. Kirsten Dunst is also excellent as Rose, she's able to display the sheer desperation and fear of her character leading to her eventual alcoholism. And Kodi Smit-McPhee is so chilling as Peter (Rose's son). You never really know his true intentions until the movie's finale and there are so much depth to his character. Jesse Plemons also did a decent job in The Power of the Dog but compared to the other three he's nowhere near as good.

Jonny Greenwood's score is easily one of the best of the year. '25 Years' is a brilliant western theme and 'The Ravine' and 'Best Friends' to just name a few help intensify the viewing experience. The cinematography by Ari Wegner is beautiful. Almost all shots of the New Zealand landscape are stunning and breathtaking to look at. 

Personally, The Power of the Dog is too long. The movie dragged on a little in the first act and I lost interest, falling asleep (although that was due to tiredness) and fifteen, twenty minutes could easily have been trimmed because after that my attention was captured for the rest of the run time. It's not the typical kind of movie I enjoy but The Power of the Dog is a captivating story about toxic masculinity and homosexuality that has a real shot at awards season. 

Comments

  1. Stuart Glen13 January 2022 at 08:23

    In a poor year, The Power Of The Dog was my favourite film of 2021. A stellar performance from Benedict Cumberbatch.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mackenzie13 January 2022 at 10:42

      I’ll be rooting for Andrew at the Oscars though

      Delete

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