Post by Brad Nelson on Jun 23, 2020 6:58:34 GMT -8
This is not an awful movie. But neither is Into the West a good one. If you have children, it’s certainly a safe movie for them to watch. It’s PG.
It aspires to be a mystical, magical tale of warmth and depth set in the countryside and small towns of Ireland. What it actually delivers is about four different stories mixed into one movie, none of them told all that well.
It’s the story of a magical horse. It’s the story of the “Travellers” in Ireland, a Gypsy-like band of people. It’s the story of a father (former Traveller leader) who has lost his way and took to drink because of the death of his wife. It’s the story of two boys — motherless and de facto fatherless — trying to cope. It’s the story of a greedy horse owner who wants to steel the horse. It’s the story of some nasty police who dislike and otherwise abuse the Travellers.
There are some tidily warm moments here and there with the kids and the horse. But it’s a strange movie in that it not only has a lot of different elements it is trying to combine, it’s a mix of serious adult-like themes (the drunken, angry Gabriel Byrne who plays the father) and Disneyesque kids-and-animals picture.
The movie is a thematic mess, the kids themselves have about zero screen charm, and Byrne isn’t particular good as the father. But you’ve got that cool horse and there sure is a lot going on.
Of interest is that it includes David Kelly as the grandfather. His role is small and undefined. But he’s noteworthy for his work in the excellent Waking Ned Devine, a film set in Ireland that is a must-see. Into the West clearly has aspirations of being this kind of warmly immersive small-town film.
It aspires to be a mystical, magical tale of warmth and depth set in the countryside and small towns of Ireland. What it actually delivers is about four different stories mixed into one movie, none of them told all that well.
It’s the story of a magical horse. It’s the story of the “Travellers” in Ireland, a Gypsy-like band of people. It’s the story of a father (former Traveller leader) who has lost his way and took to drink because of the death of his wife. It’s the story of two boys — motherless and de facto fatherless — trying to cope. It’s the story of a greedy horse owner who wants to steel the horse. It’s the story of some nasty police who dislike and otherwise abuse the Travellers.
There are some tidily warm moments here and there with the kids and the horse. But it’s a strange movie in that it not only has a lot of different elements it is trying to combine, it’s a mix of serious adult-like themes (the drunken, angry Gabriel Byrne who plays the father) and Disneyesque kids-and-animals picture.
The movie is a thematic mess, the kids themselves have about zero screen charm, and Byrne isn’t particular good as the father. But you’ve got that cool horse and there sure is a lot going on.
Of interest is that it includes David Kelly as the grandfather. His role is small and undefined. But he’s noteworthy for his work in the excellent Waking Ned Devine, a film set in Ireland that is a must-see. Into the West clearly has aspirations of being this kind of warmly immersive small-town film.
Most reviewers find it a refreshing and offbeat film. Again, I think its aspirations are high and worthy. It’s just the execution of the story that is lacking. Still, given that a majority of movies these days are not just mediocre but are morally cruddy, this is a movie you might want to forgive for its many flaws and just watch it.