Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Power of the Dog review and Cyrano review points out award-worthy performances in unusual films.

The Power of the Dog Review

This decidedly off-beat Western marks the return of Oscar winning director Jane Campion (The Piano), after an almost 12 year hiatus. Adapted from Thomas Savage’s bestselling novel of the same name, Campion chose her source material well, and shot her languorous film in her native New Zealand, a seamless and artful stand-in for Montana.

It’s the story of the Burbank brothers, terse, wealthy, hands-on ranchers, who, in 1925, find their personal issues overwhelming their professional ones. Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch, in what could well be an Oscar winning performance), shows remarkable cruelty to those he perceives as weak, in particular a widow (Kirsten Dunst) and her son (Kodi Smit-McPhee), possibly in an effort to hide his own perceived debilities.

George (Jessie Plemons, who will likely get a Best Supporting Actor nod) has the opposite reaction to the widow and her son. He falls in love with her, and brings them both back to the ranch, where their dealings with Phil become extremely complicated.

If it sounds a bit like a cerebral for a cowboy yarn, it definitely is, which is among the film’s strengths and weaknesses. It’s not always easy to follow, and much is open to interpretation. Few viewers will agree on what really appears to have happened, so if you like your movies wrapped up and tied with a bow, this is not your film. On the other hand, if you love deep discussion, and enjoy rolling the film around in your mind for days, you’ve hit the jackpot.

It’s also very long and leisurely paced, so the two hour run time might feel a bit tedious. While the sweeping vistas and lush cinematography can only be done justice on the big screen, many viewers will prefer to watch it on Netflix at home, where they’re not confined to their seats and they can replay important scenes for clarification.

The Power of the Dog is not your typical shoot ’em up Western, by any means. It’s a sophisticated arthouse piece that requires avid thought and attention. It’s probably the opposite of another Netflix high profile Western, The Harder They Fall. Viva la différence!

Rated R

2 Hours 7 Minutes

Cyrano Review

Almost everyone who’s ever seen a movie has seen some adaptation of  Cyrano de Bergerac, a play originally written in 1897 by French poet and dramatist Edmond Rostand. It’s the story of a clever, brave and multi-talented nobleman serving as a soldier, who believes his extremely large nose makes him ultimately unattractive to his true love, Roxanne. When she falls for Christian, a more handsome but less talented suitor, Cyrano, in an effort to make her happy, employs his own talent to help Christian successfully woo her.

It’s a familiar tale, told in some form time and time again, in no fewer than 17 films — three times in 2018 alone. You may remember it in Steve Martin’s Roxanne (1987), the French adaptation with Gérard Depardieu, who was nominated for an Oscar for his performance (1990), or gender switching The Ugly Truth starring Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler, (2009).

Having been adapted for the big screen so many times begs the question, “Do we really need another version of Cyrano de Bergerac?”

My answer would be, “Absolutely not…unless it has some outrageously new and inventive twist.” Unfortunately, talented director Joe Wright’s version does not.

Peter Dinklage, who plays a Cyrano challenged by physical stature rather than the size of his nose, is moving and sublime. But he can’t overcome the film’s other shortcomings, which include a tired plot, banal music and uninspired performances by Haley Bennett as Roxanne, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Christian.

Dinklage will get my nomination for best actor, but that’s about the extent of the awards attention I’ll grant to this latest, unnecessary version of Cyrano.

Rated PG-13

2 Hours 4 Minutes

If this The Power of the Dog review and this Cyrano review somehow inspire you to see them on the big screen, get times and tickets at Fandango.com.

Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Power of the Dog review and Cyrano review points out award-worthy performances in eclectic films.