The Power of the Dog (2021)
Jane Campion has an intriguing and different way of structuring a narrative, with characters shifting in and out of focus with our sympathies moving around as well. While Benedict Cumberbatch’s role as Phil gets most of the focus, all four primary characters have an interesting story told about them during the 2 hours. All struggling with various expectations they don’t feel they can live up to, having to repress big parts of themselves. The most mellow and unspoiled is probably George played by Jesse Plemons. A bit odd to see him in such a sweet role as we are used to seeing him play menacing psychopaths.
It is a very open film that doesn’t demand to be read or interpreted in one specific way. Themes of masculinity and the seismic changes modern civilization brings to the old are front and center, but there is more than just that to unpack. It was Kirsten Dunst’s tragic character development that drew me in the most.
Rating: 3.5