Rated: MA15+
Directed by: Taylor Sheridan
Screenplay by: Michael Koryta, Charles Leavitt and Taylor Sheridan
Based on the Book by: Michael Koryta
Produced by: Steven Zaillian, Garrett Basch, p.g.a., Aaron L. Gilbert, Kevin Turen, Taylor Sheridan, p.g.a.
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Finn Little, Jon Bernthal, Aidan Gillen, Nicholas Hoult, Jake Weber, Medina Senghore, Tyler Perry, Boots Southerland, Tory Kittles, James Jordan, Lora Martinez-Cunningham, Howard Ferguson JR., Ryan Jason Cook, Laura Niemi.
“I did the right thing.”
Those Who Wish Me Dead has everything I expected from a Taylor Sheridan film.
The edge-of-your-seat suspense hits from the opening scene: with flashes to black to a parashuter, smokejumper Hannah (Angelina Jolie) falling into the smoke of a raging fire.
Then the layering of story, that impending doom as forensic accountant Owen (Jake Weber) flees with his son Connor (Finn Little) – there’s a directive to kill those who know too much. No survivors. It’s a zero sum game.
So father and son escape to the forests of Montana where Owen’s late wife’s brother lives – Ethan (Jon Bernthal), also a sheriff.
But if the worst happens, Owen gives his son a note with all his secrets, to, ‘Give to someone you can trust.’
When Hannah finds Owen wandering in the forest, is she someone he can trust?
She’s a firefighter, haunted by nightmares of her past. She’s a tough cookie, loved by her team, her fellow firies who see the wild as she drinks, releases a parachute from the back of a truck while still attached.
What they don’t see is her guilt. But Ethan sees her. He’s also her ex.
The small town relationships are intertwined – a delicate balance as two hitmen, (Aidan Gillen, Nicholas Hoult) bring disaster, chasing down survivors. Chasing a young boy who knows too much.
There’s a lot going on in this film but it’s all so well handled and balanced I felt like I was watching this intense story unfold in real time. While gripping the arms of the cinema chair, holding my breath.
As well as the suspense, there some shocks and jumps alongside the well-thought crime thriller.
There’s also the relationships, authentic characters and awe inspiring scenery (director of photography Ben Richardson (Wind River (2017)) – those huge expanses of landscape, the clouds and then the fire storm devouring everything like a monster. Like Hannah’s demons come back to chase her.
But even more than a great story (love a movie based on a book if the screenplay is done right) and cinematic shots and detail like gunfire flashing light in the eye of a killer – every single character was perfectly cast and absolutely believable.
Angelina was made for this role – down to earth, tough, haunted, fighting her way back from guilt by saving this kid.
So there’s a focus on the drama in this film rather than a deep dive into the case the forensic accountant was running away from. And wow, a rarity for me, the finely balanced intricacies of the drama was more compelling than the crime. Very rare.
Yet still – that suspense!
Yeah, I liked this movie. Every bit.