"Slow West" Review

Title: Slow West

Directed by: John M. Maclean

Screenplay by: John M. Maclean

Year: 2015


Reaching their peak in the 1950's and 1960's, westerns are few and far between nowadays, especially within the past two decades. However, once in a while, we will get a reminder that the genre is not dead quite yet, most recently with True Grit (2010) and Django Unchained (2014). With Slow West, we are once again reminded that westerns still exist. Does this film breathe life into the dying genre, or does it prove that the time of the cowboy has long since passed?

Scottish-born Jay Cavendish travels to the American west in search of Maria, the woman he loves, who has left their native country. However, Jay will need the help of the shady and dry traveler by the name of Silas. They soon learn that finding Maria will not be without its difficulties.

Slow West is a unique entry in the western lineup because of how atypical it is. This is very genre bending in that it is more of a romance/drama that happens to take place in the west instead and doesn't rely on common western tropes. This is a western that cannot be compared to any other on several levels.

Kodi Smit-McPhee leads the cast as Jay, a young man who has traveled very far to reunite with Maria. He gives a solid performance as a timid, naive boy who slowly learns of the unkindness of the western frontier. What I find most interesting is that I don't believe we've gotten a character quite like this in a western before. However, it's Michael Fassbender that runs this flick. Fassbender has proven himself to be a versatile and terrific actor, and his role as Silas in Slow West is no exception. He does very well playing a no-nonsense cowboy and fits the western setting well. It would be great if Fassbender returned to the genre, but that seems very unlikely given the lack of westerns and the actor's acting variety. Brooke Williams plays Maria, a female uncommon to the genre. While ultimately a plot MacGuffin, her character is more than just an object for Jay to obtain. In the final showdown, she proves herself very capable with a gun, providing a refreshing take on women in westerns.

The story is very simple. Jay wants to find Maria and he needs Silas to guide him. That's pretty much it. It is simplistic, but does it work? The plot is functional and very streamlined, but that essentially makes Slow West a film all about the journey. Jay and Silas encounter various characters throughout their adventure, and some events are much more interesting than others. An early stop for provisions leads to a very tense scene involving a stick-up, for instance. The way the sequence plays out is very gripping and the way it ends is absolutely gut-wrenching. However, another stop involves Jay and Silas getting drunk along with another traveler they come across. This scene is rather boring and even seems out of place. The film struggles to deliver consistently interesting pit-stops for the characters and instead gives us some good and some bad.

The movie is also inconsistently paced. There are moments of raw intensity that completely capture the audience's attention, but most of the film runs at a more leisurely pace. However, the slower scenes are divided into two types: the engaging ones and the boring ones. The majority of the film is very dialogue heavy. Sometimes this works, like when Jay runs across the wagoner in the middle of nowhere, and other times it doesn't, such as the flashbacks. The story is periodically interrupted with flashbacks of Jay and Maria in Scotland to help fill in some of the plot that was not fully explained. Each of them bring the film's pace to a grinding halt, and often come across as unnecessary. We don't need to be told how much Jay loves Maria. We should be shown by his motivation and determination to find her.

But if there is one thing that Slow West deserves credit for, it is for its cinematography. This film is breathtakingly beautiful. Every shot is crisp, clear, and focused. There is so much color and the scenery is beyond words. It is both shot so well that it looks real, yet so gorgeous it is too good to be true. Robbie Ryan's camerawork is undeniably Oscar worthy and cannot be understated. He has crafted what might just be the most beautiful looking film of the year.

In the end, Slow West is a quaint little entry for 2015. It has a style all its own, with great performances, a few terrific standout moments, and outstanding cinematography. The film has trouble finding its footing in terms of pacing and some scenes seem very out of place or are a downright chore to sit through. The final shootout is well put together if a little long, but it delivers a solid climax to a movie devoid of action. There are also a few moments of implausibility, such as how a man dies from falling on a rock (it is not very convincing) but all in all, this is a very good first film for new writer and director John M. Maclean. He has presented himself as a capable talent and I am genuinely interested in seeing what he will do next.

Grade: B