Project 52: 'Deadfall'

Posted Friday, March 15, 2013 at 5:01 PM Central

by John Couture

Well, this is the week that I catch up with Project 52. If you recall I started this little exercise one week late into the year, so I was always a week behind.

After this week, I will be all caught up. So, if you're confused later today or tomorrow when another Project 52 story drops, don't worry, it's intentional.

First up this week is a smaller film that made less than $100,000 at the box office, but not for a lack of star talent. This is an important step in the project because I never wanted this to simply become just another series of reviews of bigger films.

Every now and then, I'd like to throw in a sleeper or smaller film because I get a ton of those types of films crossing my desk. But more than that, I think it's important to recognize smaller films and support then whenever possible.

Without independent film, the major studios will dictate art through their influence and that's not good for anyone.

Deadfall

When you have Eric Bana, Olivia Wilde, Kris Kristofferson and Sissy Spacek in a film, you're talking about A-list talent. Kate Mara, Treat Williams and Charlie Hunnam aren't what I'd call chopped liver either.

After watching the film, I'm still wondering why it didn't get a more expanded theatrical release as it's a film that would play well in art houses and with older moviegoers. You know, those who remember when Kris Kristofferson and Sissy Spacek were both A-list talents capable of opening films at the box office all by themselves.

Surprisingly, this is the first time that the two have been paired in a film and when I double-checked this fact, I was floored because I could have sworn that they starred in a bunch of films together. It's a shame, because their chemistry onscreen is perfect for their roles and really adds a touch of sincerity to the film.

Bana and Williams are the alpha males in the film and you know that their confrontation will be the climax of the film. Interestingly, for what you might consider a smaller film, the issues are quite complex.

For instance, they both have women in their life (Bana's sister and Williams' daughter) who are coming into their and after being overshadowed by the men in their life up to this point are starting to create a life for themselves. There's a real nice parallel between Kate Mara and Olivia Wilde's character arcs that sets up a very interesting and satisfying ending that I won't spoil here.

I would say that the two films that immediately sprang to mind while I was watching Deadfall were Reindeer Games with the ex-con trying to do good and casino heist story lines and A Simple Plan for the glorious wintery backdrop.

That's one thing that we don't talk about much in films today, the real talent it takes to create tone and emotion with a film's setting. The isolation from the blizzard matches the desperation that Eric Bana's character starts to feel when he is unable to escape to Canada cleanly.

For me, the clean and contrasting backdrop of snow-drenched long shots are like an artist's canvas. Upon this new canvas, the director is often able to craft a vivid story that packs an extra bit of oomph. For films like this, the contrast of blood's dark red stain to the clean white expanse is as powerful of an image that I think you could ever capture on film.

If there was a bit of a letdown for me, it was at the end when the events transpire in twilight to evening lighting which really wastes all of the great snow. Had they chosen to have the confrontation during the day or even lit it better (full moons happen you know), I think it really could have heightened the emotional impact of the scene.

Beyond that, there were a few places where the story slowed down to a crawl that I think could have been corrected with a tighter edit. Also, most of the film and the ending was pretty predictable, but I didn't notice it bothering me as the story's events unfolded because the actors really chewed up the scenery and made it interesting.

All in all, it was a pretty good film and a great example of a film that might slip through normal streams of awareness, but makes for a delightful film. I was impressed and awarded it a straight.