The only saving grace is the short ninety minute running time. Sweet Virginia is a tense small town noir. You gotta love these super genius hit men. Then, as she approaches a It was released on November 17, 2017, by IFC Films. Director Jamie M. Dagg is a master of building suspense After calling Lila and leaving her a threatening voicemail, he violently beats the two men before leaving. As The sort of performances that make you look them up ,watch past movies and look out for future. Sladk Virginie je americko-kanadsk neo-noir krimi-drama thrillerov film rerovan Jamie M. Daggem, napsan Benjaminem China a Paulem China, v hlavnch rolch Jon Bernthal, Christopher Abbott, Imogen Poots, Rosemarie DeWitt, Odessa Young a Jared Abrahamson. To bylo proputno 17. listopadu 2017, IFC Films. ex-rodeo star Sam (Jon Bernthal) hails. Given its far-north location, Alaska is known for having extraordinarily long nights at certain times of year, and yet, that isn't the case here. But as good as Bernthal is, Chris Abbotts low rent hitman is a clenched jaw force of nature, unable to stop killing until he gets his fee for knocking off a locals philandering husband. Sweet Virginia is a tense small town noir. As she Best part is ,,you don't see it coming. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Rotten Tomatoes news! Lila meets the man who shot Mitchell, her husband, and asks why he killed Tom and Lou instead of only killing Mitchell as planned. And yet, going deep is what makes Sweet Virginia great heck, more than great. Bernthal dials things down to play Sam who, despite an impressive physique, has I was impressed with Jon Bernthal's blunt emotional performance as well as Christopher Abbot's take on playing a psychopath with a conscience. Bernthals beard and muscles are intentionally groomed to intimidate and mask the softness he crafts behind them, but its immediately apparent by Sams meek hobble that hes a broken down old bull. Director Jamie M. Dagg Writers Paul China Benjamin China Stars Jon Bernthal Christopher Abbott Imogen Poots See production, box office & company info Watch on AMC+ with Prime Video Channels More watch options Add to Watchlist 101 User reviews 69 Critic reviews 72 Metascore Given its far-north location, Alaska is known for having extraordinarily long nights at certain times of year, and yet, that isnt the case here. murder. A former rodeo champ befriends a young man with a propensity for violence.A former rodeo champ befriends a young man with a propensity for violence.A former rodeo champ befriends a young man with a propensity for violence. Upon returning to the motel, Sam finds a tenant complaining about the noise in room 128. Set in a remote corner of Alaska, this small-town, blue-collar thriller is surprisingly cast, exceptionally well acted (male leads Jon Bernthal and Christopher Abbott might have easily switched roles, though its far more effective in this arrangement), and executed potently enough to leave a lasting impression, like scar tissue after a serious burn. A former rodeo champ befriends a young man with a propensity for violence. she continues to talk to a man while he is kissing her body. I didn't know the killer ,but he is excellent. By creating an account, you agree to the Problem with small towns is everybody leaves 'em. "Sweet Virginia" is an uncommonly dark movie. An ex-rodeo rider strikes up a friendship with a young man who may be behind the violence occurring in their small town. It definitely had moments of surprise, finding out that Lila was guilty and creepiness in general but they were just glimpses of what could have been a great thriller. Literally. Jon Berenthal sleepwalks as if sedated with a massive dose of thorazine. And also, speak up!!! He asks about his payment, and Lila tells him she will have it by the end of the week after she meets with Mitchell's lawyer. The scene where Sam was beat up by the hotel guest was disturbing, I thought he'd lay down the law. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. Overlooked gem, one of the best movies of the year. Dont worry, it wont take long. They open a ton of threads about all of them in subtle, natural ways, plus relationships between some of them By what name was Sweet Virginia (2017) officially released in India in English? But Sweet Virginia is a dark batch of backwoods whiskey, as Dagg capably distills what works best in other genre movies (not just the Coens, obviously), recognizing atmosphere and psychology as this elixirs most vital ingredients. Rather, theres a level of subtlety operating here that defies the genre. A slow burn drama, with great cinematography and score. This narrative strategy can lead to some pretty obvious Chekhovs gunning, but the eventual implosion of the films moving parts is so door-kickingly, window-smashingly, mirror-punchingly satisfying that a motel showdown feels as taut and violently primal as watching a retired bull obliterate one last china shop. viewer on the edge of his/her seat. When Lila enters the diner after riding with Bernadette to get milkshakes, Sam calls her over to the table and introduces her to Elwood. The film stars , , in the pivotal roles. So much atmosphere. As the hit man from the opening scene, Abbott comes across as even more of a cipher. Despite that when it all comes together the end result and overall story just doesn't feel worth it despite the majority of individual components working very well together it just came out a bit average. Watched it again the following day. Coming Soon. Despite his reputation as a man of action, They are all somehow broken inside. A woman is bent over and a man is seen thrusting her. the Terms and Policies, and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes. I might be blinded by my love for Christopher Abbott and Jon Bernthal, but I thought Sweet Virginia was a great thriller. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of serviceapply. The camera moves slow and methodically, often lingering on a frame for a second too long. neo-noir slow burner that is exquisitely filmed, offering you a fine score underlining appropriately smooth imagery and has a decent cast getting their job done. 10/10 and well deserved. It's a classic case of a little becoming a lot onscreen on the basis of boasting dark atmosphere, eerie score and superb performances. It starts with a bang, ends with a bang, and those scenes bookend some solid neo-noir thriller was located in the Appalachian Mountains; however, when Elwood refuses claiming that they are "square", a reference to him letting Bernadette live. By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. Fresh off the 2012 Black List for best unproduced scripts, the screenplay from twin brothers Benjamin China and Paul China offers up a neo-noir with a familiar enough premise in a not-so-familiar setting. Take this bit of diner conversation between Sam, a onetime rodeo champ played by Jon Bernthal, and Elwood (no really), a contract killer played by Christopher Abbott. It was released on November 17, 2017, by IFC Films. Thats the bleak punchline opening Appalachian neo-noir Sweet Virginia, a film which rambles, hidden in the darkness of a town where dawn never seems to break. 7/10 by me. He demands payment, and again she tells him she can get the money. being followed. The movie showed a few different locations but it was ultimately filmed in Payson, Utah, according to Herald Extra . With a svelte running time of about 90 minutes, this movie hits the sweet spot. Its not about the violence, but what lies behind it, and the devastating impact left in its wake. Pros: One rejection suggested that Nabokov recast the novels action in short, strong, realistic sentences; Nabokovs imagined examples still stand as hilarious, sterling examples of what I like to call cornpone clich: He acts crazy. There is violence, there is quite a lot of Drama, but I guess some might think there is a lot more to this or rather, there could be a lot more to this. generally well made except for the 0 entertainment value. Indie crime films tend to be missed by the masses, unlike indie comedy which can garner more interest. He kills them. What have they done to deserve this? two men accompanying his target. Klassisches Sonntags-Couchkino. Upon leaving the next morning, Bernadette picks up the picture Sam laid down. Best Buy, Fable and DAVIDsTEA, to name a few. When she confronts Elwood after the killing, she tells him You were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off, I mean, he was only supposed to kill the one guy, and he explains to her how killing three guys made total sense because it made the whole thing look so random. A man enters and asks to be served. Satisfied, he leaves and meets with Paul to enlist his services to do a job to which Paul agrees. Just embarrassing. Blue Ruin. Contact Lori, VFO Locations Manager, with the particulars of your shoot. The camera mainly shows the view through the front windshield Gave it 10. As translated to screen by director Jamie M. Dagg (whose sure hand and smart changes elevate things considerably), Benjamin and Paul Chinas script yields one of the gnarliest and most unsettling movies were likely to get this year. They discuss whether Tom is in heaven or hell and Sam seems regretful of his relationship with Bernadette. Be the first to contribute. As for Elwood (okay Ill stop), we learn early on that he was hired by another local wife, Lila, who hated her husband and wanted him dead so she could collect his money WITH WHICH, and heres the rub, she was going to pay Elwood, and then do other things. And who is this monster, who brings violence to a community that needs guns only for hunting, changing the entire dynamic of a town so small that everyone (believes he) knows everyones business already? All Rights Reserved. But in this film, the consequences are very negative. The movie is a beautifully photographed, moody story that favors style over substance. 2023 National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Just okay. Sweet Virginia is an uncommonly dark movie. When the violence happens, its intense, and the threat hovers over the rest of the movie (by following Elwoods car into town during the opening scene, Dagg is able to create another high-tension set piece around the mere suggestion that the headlights Lila sees in her rearview mirror might be his). It oozes it from every frame. The killer sets up stall in a motel run by a former rodeo star. He starts his morning at the motel by reading about the shootings in the paper and then responding to a disturbance in room 128. However, Sam notices that Elwood is bleeding and realizes he is the one who robbed Bernadette. Your AMC Ticket Confirmation# can be found in your order confirmation email. A guy walks into a bar. Later that day, Tom's wife, Bernadette, goes on the porch during a gathering for her deceased husband and asks Sam if he can come by to no avail. 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