Director: John Maclean
By Alex Watson
Fans of the western genre will no doubt be delighted with director John MacLean's Slow West. Making fine use of the breathtaking scenery, his American Frontier adventure is one that uses both unexpected surprises and wonderful natural humour. The feel of MacLean's movie is not fast moving, but events never once drag. The Scottish former musician turned director now emerges as a future talent who a keen eye for visual flair.
In 1800's Colorado, young man Jay Cavendish (Kodi Smit-McPhee) has abandoned his life in Scotland to come across to America. Here he is searching for his lost love Rose (Caren Pistorius), whom had to abandon him due a set of unfortunate circumstances. But one particular day, outlaw Silas Selleck (Michael Fassbender) arrives to save Jay from bandits. He agrees to be his guide and to aid him in his quest to find Rose. What Jay doesn't know however, is that there is a bounty on his love and Silas is one of many looking to claim it!
What sets Slow West apart from a typical western affair is that Maclean surrounds things with a slightly surreal feel. Jay is a young man literally walking into a world of danger "A jackrabbit in a land of wolves" as Silas' voice-over denotes. His love for Rose in some ways has made him naive and blind to the risks that he faces. When Silas arrives to save him from being shot by a bandit, his reasons for helping appear dubious. But all throughout Maclean's picture, Silas both deceives and shields him from a bitter a truth.
Along the trail, the story line alternates between the real and the slightly strange. One scene sees Jay conversing in French with three Congolese singers. But as the journey deepens, Jay begins to learn some cold hard facts. Strangers are among the dangers that lurk, such as a German anthropologist who speaks truths such as “in a short time this will be a long time ago” then promptly abandons Jay! The story is also fueled by the flashbacks of the past of his time in Scotland. The young man's unfortunate choice to follow his heart has landed him in a world of trouble and as Silas warns, Rose's heart may not exactly be his.
The third act forgoes the drawn out feel and descends into an epic shootout finale. The presence of trouble making gang leader Payne (Ben Mendelsohn) has been felt throughout. But now him and his band of outlaws are one of many descending upon Rose's family. Asides from the multiple bullets flying, both Silas and Jay face tough decisions. What comes next is an affecting but genuine ending which demonstrates just how hard the human heart can be touched. Also it is note worth for a magnificent reverse sequence by Maclean that will stay with viewers for long after the credits.
Michael Fassbender once more demonstrates his versatility with a fine turn as Silas. Although Maclean's characterization does dip below surface level, Silas is still an engrossing figure. Fassbender smartly plays him as man corrupted by time, but still has a conscience glimmering somewhere beneath. Kodi Smit-McPhee is equally excellent as the love struck Jay and gives a heartfelt yet hardened turn. One of the emerging talents of cinema, it will be fascinating how he brings Nightcrawler to life in X-Men: Apocalypse.
John Maclean is a director worth keeping eyes out for and Slow West emerges as a solid entry in the Western genre. On the strength of two leads alone, this is one picture that is well worth your time.
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