So what do we think of this new Focus movie? Did you get a chance to watch it for free for the Advance Viewing? Check out our writer’s Let Him Go Review!
Let Him Go Review
I always wanted to go into advertising. I wanted to film commercials and draw ads (and now use my mad Photoshop skills). Why am I telling you this? I’m telling you this because I wished studios would hire me to make their trailers and their posters. Case in point- Let Him Go. I was under the impression that the film was a vengeance pic based on the movie poster and TV commercials. I assumed that Kevin Costner was heading into Liam Neeson’s “Taken” territory. Thomas Bezucha’s Let Him Go (based on the novel by Larry Watson) is a lot of things but it ain’t that. At times it is an art house movie with big, sweeping slow shots of vistas the West. Other times it’s a family drama dealing with loss and power. It’s also a straight up tearjerker (Yeah, I got misty. Don’t judge me. I haven’t slept in day. The election results will NOT stop.) But mostly, it’s a story about consequences. What steps do we take to set other more consequential events in motion?
Leading the choices is Diane Lane as strong-willed Margaret Blackledge. Following her lead is her former lawman husband, George (Kevin Costner). But Margaret and George are really just reacting to the choices of their daughter in law, Lorna (Kayli Carter). Kayli decides to remarry Donnie Weboy (Will Brittain), take her child out of state and take up with Donnie’s criminally insane family headed by the always amusing (in a disarmingly menacing way) Lesley Manville as the Weboy matriarch. Let’s not forget that all of the above choices could affect the innocents in this tale: Jimmy (Bram and Otto Hornung) and Peter Dragswolf (Booboo Stewart).
This movie has a little something for everyone- drama, suspense, beautiful scenery, and VIOLENCE. Lots and lots of violence for those who like that sort of thing. It also had unexpected sentiment. The title Let Him Go works on MANY levels here. You should probably just go see the movie. Don’t take it from me. Speaking of me (obviously my favorite subject), what did Let Him Go have for Movie Myla? It was a beautiful period piece. I’m so old that period pieces are now set in my lifetime! Can we talk about Margaret’s Chevy Station Wagon? OH MY! That cake that Margaret makes? My mom made that EXACT cake. The sets were just one big stroll down memory lane. And in the strange days we’re in, memory lane is gorgeous.
Now playing in theaters!