FilmSnobReviews

Title: The Power of the Dog
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Jane Campion
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons
Runtime: 2 hr 6 mins

What It Is: When two rancher brothers Phil (Cumberbatch) and George (Plemons) Burbank go into town George meets a widow in Rose Gordon (Dunst). When Phil embarrasses her son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee) George apologizes to the woman. This leads to them getting along quite well. George, being a bachelor is smitten with the young mother. Phil disapproves of this relationship and very MUCH disapproves of Peter and the way he’s being raised by his mother to become a man. As emotions flare and demons arise things are certainly not what they appear. All in the shadow of a dog-shaped mountain.

What We Think: This is a stirring, gorgeous-looking film. It’s led by an absolute career piece of work by its principals. Cumberbatch is nuanced in his portrayal of Phil Burbank. Dunst and Smit-McPhee give two of the year’s absolute finest supporting performances. Campion has proven before she’s a master of the slow burn. Through deliberate editing and correct pacing and shot selection, she takes a simple western and makes a film that touches on issues of masculinity, alcoholism, and grief. All wrapped beautifully in one package and executed at the highest level by a master storyteller.

Our Grade: A-, This is perhaps the best-looking tableau at any point once you push the pause button. Once you unpause it you gather the true majesty of Ari Wegner’s cinematography. She has a certain grit to her that ultimately works so very well for the western genre. I’m surprised she hasn’t played in that genre before. Couple this with Zola and you get a DP whose style flows well with the substance of the directors lucky enough to employ her. Check this stunning, beautiful piece out on Netflix.