Power of the Dog

 

Power of the Dog (Netflix)

A friend recommended this movie, I knew nothing about it. It is a Western set in the 1920’s in Montana about two successful brothers who own a large cattle ranch. The brothers are total opposites.

Phil, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, is the stereotypical macho cowboy lean, rough, mean and unwashed. The polar opposite is George his brother, played by Jesse Plemons. George rides horses wearing suit with bowtie, is kind and  bathes. These comparisons appear stark but underly the complexity of the film. The film is in layers which unfold revealing repressed passions and temptations.

Benedict Cumberbatch is magnificent. He embodies Phil. He is an intimidating bully who always seems angry. His anger escalates  when George marries a widow, Rose Gordon, played by Kirsten Dunst. Phil totally despises Rose to the point she seeks refuge in alcoholism. This has to be one of Dunst’s best performances. The dejection on her face and persecution by Phil is palpable. Phil’s cruelties  are shrouded in his insecurities. Rose has a son, Peter played by Kodi Smith-McPhee. His delicate nature complements his willowy physique. His ten gallon hat consumes him. Smith-McPhee’s acting is sublime. Peter is a new target for Phil’s disdain and intimidation. But Peter does not cower and collapse like this mother. This willow has thorns.

The story is rich and complex. As the layers unfold the true nature of the characters emerge. Strong becomes weak and weak becomes strong.

The title of ‘The Power of the Dog’ is a reference to a verse in Psalm 22 of the Book of Psalms, which is a part of the Christian Old Testament as well as the third section of the Hebrew Bible. Since I am not a theologian I will leave interpretations to others.

This amazing movie is for free on Netflix. It cost $30-$39m to produce for a box office of $160,000. Hollywood accounting is arcane, but this suggests the streaming platforms are more concerned with prestige rather than profit. A small box office do not rule out nominations.

 

Judas and the Black Messiah (HBO Max)

 

Judas and the Black Messiah (HBO Max)

This is a powerful and emotional movie. In part it is a violent movie, but the entire story is compelling. The film features some outstanding performances worth watching.  This is a true story of the Black Panther’s Chicago chapter in the 1960’s and its chairman Fred Hampton. The Panthers were a militant organization which were the antithesis of Dr. King’s nonviolent movement. The movie gives a  balanced view of the Panthers displaying their civic initiatives of providing lunches for school children and medical clinics for the local community.  They were also militant and had armed confrontations with police. 

The chairman of the Chicago chapter is Fred Hampton played by Danial Kaluuya (“Get Out” and “Black Panther”). Hampton was confronted with many challenges. Besides organizing the local chapter, he was seeking an alliance with local gangs and his organization was harassed and under surveillance by local authorities and the FBI. Kaluuya gives an impassioned outstanding performance as the Black Messiah. He displays many emotions as a driven revolutionary leader and as a vulnerable young man (he was only 21)  starting a relationship.

Lakeith Stanfield is Bill O’Neil the FBI informant who infiltrated the Panthers. Stanfield’s role is more complicated than Kaluuya’s since to infiltrate the Panthers he has to participate in their activity and at the same time act as an informer. His role is equivocal showing signs of empathy for the Panthers and the self-preservation of a low level hood cooperating with the FBI to stay out of prison.

Jesse Plemons plays Roy Michell the FBI handler of O’Neil.  He is pressured by Edgar Hoover to infiltrate the Panthers. Plemons plays O’Neil as a manipulative FBI agent but shows signs of disdain for the manipulation of O’Neil at the urging  of J. Edgar Hoover.  

Dominique Fishback is Hampton’s girlfriend. She played a strong role as a prostitute in the HBO series the “Duce”. She brings the same high level of acting to this role. She is shy but strong willed and forms a bond with Hampton humanizing his character.

This is a tough movie. It covers important social material of our history. I had no idea the level of carnage the Chicago police and the Panthers engaged in. See it for the history, see it for the acting.