Slow West (2015)

Written and Directed by John Maclean
Starring Kodi Smit-McPhee, Michael Fassbender, Ben Mendelsohn, Caren Pistorius and Rory McCann

A 16-year-old Scottish boy leaves his home and travels through the wild west in order to reconnect with the girl he loves, while accompanied by a mysterious traveler, Silas.

Unlike most westerns, which are flashy and loud, this film takes a more subtle approach. It's subdued themes and characters build an intensity that is often missed in films in which people shoot first and ask questions later. Every action and bullet is meticulously thought over before decisions are made.

Another thing that stood out about this movie is that unlike other westerns where the entirety of the movie is spent on gun fights, this is a genuine character study into the mind of a naive teenage boy and the man using him to get what he wants. An intriguing scenario in which the unlikeliest of a friendship is built.

Michael Fassbender and Kodi Smit-McPhee have this uncomfortableness between them that really adds to the building of their bond. As their relationship develops, so does their chemistry. It is a very fluid feeling, following the two of them.

Ironically, what I believe to be it's biggest strength, others will more than likely see as a weakness. Yes, it would appear as though very little happens throughout most of the movie. But what they fail to realize is this isn't your typical western. This isn't all about gunfights and violence. This is a movie about the characters involved, not their actions. And from that standpoint, it is brilliant.

My Rating: 7/10

Maggie (2015)

Directed by Henry Hobson
Written by John Scott 3
Starring Arnold Schwartzenegger, Abigail Breslin, Joely Richardson and Jodie Moore

A teenage girl in the Midwest becomes infected by an outbreak of a disease that slowly turns the infected into cannibalistic zombies. During her transformation, her loving father stays by her side, refusing to give up hope.

In an unequivocally valiant effort, Arnold Schwartzenegger gives a shot at a straight drama. No over the top action. No ridiculous comedic scenarios. Just straight drama. And as much I was praying that he would showcase some real acting chops, I feel his ambitions were slightly naive.

His performance isn't terrible, mind you. In fact, it's on par with everyone else in the film. The portrayals of people living in a disease infected world are mediocre across the board. No one shows any deep, intense emotions. Live deliveries are weak and unbelievable. And everyone seems to be trying to cry the entire time, without success.

The movie itself isn't bad. The story is interesting. Overplayed, perhaps, but interesting nonetheless. I do feel as though they could have added more development in the beginning. They jump into the plot very quickly and never look back to explain things or enlighten the audience to what has happened beforehand. It's a movie I enjoyed once. But I really think it could have been better with a different cast.

My Rating: 6/10