About the film (courtesy of Focus Features):
The dramatic killer follows an American oil-rig roughneck (Matt Damon) from Oklahoma who travels to Marseille to visit his estranged daughter (Abigail Breslin), in prison for a murder she claims she did not commit.
Director Tom McCarthy took home an Oscar for Best Writing/Original Screenplay on Spotlight (2015). He was also nominated for the directing of that feature. The biopic about how the Boston Globe discovered a scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese left viewers emotionally taxed. Even though critics and moviegoers seemed to be on a united front in terms of the likeability of this film, it was not really seen as a revenue generating project for that those that care about such things. From the synopsis of what his latest feature, Stillwater, is bringing with it, could we see a carbon copy result?
Matt Damon, channeling an eerie physical resemblance to good friend and fellow actor, Ben Affleck, plays Bill Baker who is a blue collar, no frills kind of guy just looking to get through the next day. Upon visiting his daughter, Allison (Abigail Breslin), his priorities shift when he visits her in France, where she has been incarcerated for murder. The trip abroad sends Bill on a quest to find answers that may ultimately exonerate his little girl. But in the process, he meets several people that assist in forcing Bill to evaluate his own life and the person he as become.
Tom McCarthy puts together a talented cast led by Matt Damon, Abigail Breslin and Camille Cottin. There are multiple layers of events that need untangling before the big picture becomes clearer. These actors, Damon, in particular, have the daunting task of carrying a story that is more interesting on paper than it is when actually plays out on the screen. Stillwater brings with it realism, which doesn’t always play out the best for entertainment purposes. Sometimes news is best served as news and that’s the way parts of this film are.
A positive to Stillwater is that the plot does not necessarily play out in an predictable fashion, but it does seem to have its fair share of moments that drag and a few parts that may infuriate you due to how they’re handled. Then again, if you haven’t been in these situations in real life, who’s to say how one would truly react? The larger issue is that the majority of events that transpire are rather bland, aside from a few key moments that are sure to pull viewers in for a closer look.
Stillwater is a rather long, soul-searching, slow-burn drama that is all about love, redemption and acceptance. Matt Damon gives an emotionally engaging performance on a stage that is not as interesting as it should be. The over-exploration of characters and events brings the pace to a crawl, which decreases the enjoyment potential. Damon gives gives an inspired performance while displaying a more vulnerable side with definite flaws that are being worked on throughout the feature.
I do not believe that Stillwater will do very well for Focus Features because it does not present itself as a film that needs to be experienced right away in theaters. Those that do enjoy a decent drama with deep emotional roots and a moderately interesting backstory, may find enough reason to see this one sooner than later. Either way, you can check this one out only in theaters starting this Friday.
