Murders-for-hire evidently have a better success rate in real life than in movies, because cinematically speaking, they usually result in quite the mess for all involved (and some who aren't). ', Donnie Yen Called Out John Wick 4 and Rogue One Asian Stereotypes, Got Scripts Changed: Why Is the Name Always Shang or Chang, The True Story Behind 'Cocaine Bear': A 175-Pound Beast, a Dead Drug Smuggler in Gucci Loafers and More, Michael B. Jordan Meets Reporter at 'Creed III' Premiere Who 'Teased Him all the Time' in High School: 'I Was the Corny Kid, Right? Filming Dates. i too would cheat on my husband with jon bernthal with 0 remorse. In a small-town Alaska, a triple murder is committed one night. We linger on dread throughout Sweet Virginia, externalizing a movie whose strengths are all internal. He lives in Chicago, plays Dungeons and Dragons, and struggles not to kill his two cats daily. This film has surprised me and even more considering that I had avoided it several times for the simple fact that the trailer did not convince me since it was released, but thank goodness I have seen it to get rid of that doubt once and for all. Letterboxd is an independent service created by a small team, and we rely mostly on the support of our members to maintain our site and apps. Christopher Abbott essentially has two modes: Intense, and way more intense. Just so you know what youre getting into, Sweet Virginia isnt too sweet. The series' excellence and futuristic approach didn't end in its casting and storyline. Review: Sweet Virginia. Und Jon Bernthal ist als Ex-Rodeo-Cowboy souvern schweigsam, aber auch erfrischend unhart. It was released on November 17, 2017, by IFC Films. Truly a work of art. Privacy Policy Id rather watch Double Indemnity for the 15th time. Blood Simple. 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. Starring Jane Seymour. "Sweet Virginia" is an uncommonly dark movie. The rest of the cast seem a little bit less asleep. Mitchell's killer later approaches Sam at the motel and introduces himself as Elwood. Just so you know what you're getting into, Sweet Virginia isn't too sweet. Lila meets the man who shot Mitchell, her husband, and asks why he killed Tom and Lou instead of only killing Mitchell as planned. 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4. during Sweet Virginia that keep the 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 [4] For directing, Dagg was nominated for the Directors Guild of Canada's DGC Discovery Award. Small town politics. The story is not all that interesting and in the end I just did not care in the least what happened to anyone in the movie. 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. New York City, New York Most Hallmark movies have similar plots or storylines. The title has survived because one of the films central locations, a motel, is boring characters except for elwood (1 viewing). Watched this late at night,was blown away. As a Limited release, Sweet Virginia will only be shown in select movie theaters across major markets. He subdues and nearly shoots Bernadette when he notices Sam's hat on the counter. Just writing this after watching. Coming Soon. 4 / 5 stars 57% 79% . What have they done to deserve this? Hes a damaged-goods drifter catering to other drifters, running in place from some heartbreak he cant quite forget. Sweet Virginia is Cons: The camera moves slow and methodically, often lingering on a frame for a second too long. 10/10 and well deserved. Made by fans in Aotearoa New Zealand. Nothing worse than that ott ,,feel this now ,,base obviousness. Lost track of which characters were doing what because it was so dark. The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth: Season 8, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Season 1, Link to Marvel Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer, Link to The 5 Most Anticipated Movies of March 2023. It is beyond annoying. Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. there's not much happening here that you haven't seen before, but this is one of those movies that adheres to the fact that filmmaking has a hard time re-inventing the wheel again and again, and just sticks with its homage to the genre. 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). Moving the setting further north to Alaska gives the film a different edge, although it does render the title less meaningful. Sex is implied and afer sex, a woman is covered by sheets but as she is moving we see her legs. Lots of detail. The film doesn't have much of a point, as its characters are reductive variables in an inevitable equation of carnage. And it's always good to see Jon Bernthal in a lengthy role. and the Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. This movie is stocked with great actors and great plot ideas that just never come together. loneliness and emptiness of a location that might be difficult to find on all Mobilesite. It's a classic case of a little becoming a lot onscreen on the basis of boasting dark atmosphere, eerie score and superb performances. Show All, 94mins Terms and Policies Meanwhile, the central theme of murder and its aftermath is interesting for as far as it goes, but thats not enough to carry the picture home. One too many falls. A murderer-for-hire stews at a motel while he awaits payment for a job. A wasted opportunity because of the great cast. [5], On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 79% of 57 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.8/10. However, his condition prevents him from throwing a punch and he is then overpowered and left lying in the rain. Christopher Abbott 8/10 (Really convincing as a psycho character scary convincing!) Theres loss in every prop decorating his home and work, as opposed to the blank living quarters of the hitman. the southeast in Canada for logistical and budgetary reasons) any isolated We wont be able to verify your ticket today, but its great to know for the future. Like any good noir, all comes down to desire and absurd nihilism. Literally. Score was so good as to I couldnt say if it had one. 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? They set up the characters really well. Just confirm how you got your ticket. As film noir, femme fatale, 1940s, thriller or intriguing, cops, murder, thriller, detective or crime, gangster, crime, criminal, violence or ruthless. Sweet Virginia has no wit or wisdom within the script. Christopher Abbot etabliert sich als beunruhigend-spannender Darsteller. As the hit man from the opening scene, Abbott comes across as even more of a cipher. . So maddening! That one even gets its own dream sequence, but ultimately adds no more to the story than does the scenic mountain backdrop. Drama, Mystery/Crime, Suspense Feature Film. Thus small town stories tend to be based on romanticized memories (be it good or bad) from the point of city slickers. The photos,pace,characters,locations. The movie opens with a brutal prologue featuring a triple Their humanity, along with Bernthals, puts the alien strangeness of Abbotts performance into stark relief. Be the first to watch, comment, and share Indie trailers, clips, and. Director: Jamie M. Dagg Writers: Benjamin China, Paul China Starring: Jon Bernthal, Imogen Poots, Christopher Abbott, Rosemarie DeWitt Release Date: Premiered at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival. Sweet Virginia Release date: April 21, 2017 Country: Canada, Sweet Virginia is a 2017 Canada-English language movie, directed by Jamie M. Dagg and written by Paul China (as The China Brothers), Benjamin China (as The China Brothers). I doubt I'll remember having watched it in a few years time but it certainly wasn't bad. 4 / 5 stars 57% 79%. A former rodeo star, with a small time life, unknowingly starts a rapport with a young man who is responsible for the violence that has suddenly gripped his small town. Dagg understands the importance of a thriller not Whoa. Director Jamie M. Dagg is a master of building suspense Watch| Sweet Virginia Full Movie Online (2017) - Movie Online Free, Movie with subtitle. Sam recovers enough to go to Bernadette's home where he learns about the break-in. Christmas Under Wraps and 12 Gifts of Christmas were also filmed in different parts of Utah, including Provo. All rights reserved. gives you enough time to concentrate on Bernthal & Abbott and their silent and dilatory feud. To bylo proputno 17. listopadu 2017, IFC Films. Punisher, is cast against type. generally well made except for the 0 entertainment value. Release Date (Theaters): Nov 17, 2017 limited Release Date (Streaming): Nov 17, 2017 Box Office (Gross USA): $8.4K Runtime: 1h 35m Distributor: IFC Films Cast & Crew Jon Bernthal Sam Rossi. a long fuse and, if it comes to a physical confrontation, he is pretty much So much atmosphere. 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. 22 August 2016 - 17 September 2016. Scenario 6/10 (Terse script, plain scenario not complicated, no plot holes but nothing that we haven't see before not much character analysis, covered by good acting though) Played out in an unidentified locale (although the titular motel scenes were shot in Hope, British Columbia), Sweet Virginia is set in an undefined earlier time frame than the present, one where simple folks never locked their doors, even with a killer lurking in their midst. During his sojourn, he rents a We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Hes more or less passing through, but checks into the motel and strikes up a weird friendship with Sam. TMDb The best music, movies, TV, books, comedy and more. Director Jamie M. Dagg only touches on his plot briefly enough to make us worry about what information were missing, which is the opposite of the classical noir strategy to overwhelm the viewer with misdirection, betrayal and circumstance. 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. Our aged hero must face his relationships of past and present to come up against this unpredictable predator. Glenn Kenny was the chief film critic of Premiere magazine for almost half of its existence. This small gem is worth An ex-rodeo rider strikes up a friendship with a young man who may be behind the violence occurring in their small town. Theres something far too squirrely in the siblings wickedly funny, regionally infused sensibility to be replicated, and nearly everyone who tries falls flat. The movie opens with a brutal killing, as an outsider cruises into town, lurking in his car outside a local bar till well after midnight before bursting in on a friendly card game and murdering all three men in the establishment, taking money from the register practically as an afterthought. An old-soul sadness has seeped into his bones; he can still clearly remember what it was like to have the cocky power of an athlete. Then theres Elwood (Christopher Abbott), the murderer. even if the sequence doesnt climax with a release of the tension. I understand - and appreciate - the unnatural darkness that some directors like to use to set the theme. but the most comprehensive of maps. 2017 More at Upon returning to the motel, Sam finds a tenant complaining about the noise in room 128. viewer on the edge of his/her seat. The China Brothers pay close attention to detail and focus in on unexpected, interesting camera angles throughout the film. While nothing special plot-wise, theres a ton of potential on display, as every shot is meticulously constructed, the dreary lighting sucking us into this story of lonely, soon to be dead hearts. Directed by Jamie M. Dagg Drama, Thriller R 1h 33m By Jeannette Catsoulis Nov. 16, 2017 A twisty, small-town thriller that blooms in the shadows and shies from the light, "Sweet Virginia". A surprising late in the year gem reminiscent of Jeremy Saulnier. The professional hit-man responsible has been hired by a local woman to wipe out her husband but two other men are killed in the process. 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? 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. The killer, a steely-eyed psychopath named Elwood (Christopher Abbott) 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. Dark movie. Cool ideas and themes, some gripping action, and some decent performances (for the most part) make this film passable. They are all somehow broken inside. Film data from TMDb. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. And it's always good to see Jon Bernthal in a lengthy role. Access all of our expanded, online-only, subscriber exclusive opinion writing. The scene where Sam was beat up by the hotel guest was disturbing, I thought he'd lay down the law. Elwood, Christopher Abbott (whose credits include indie movies and TV work) Regal "Rock 'N' Roll Hotel" originally was filmed in state-of-the-art 3-D. But screenwriter Russell Dvonch says "there was only one sequence where the 3-D effect really worked, a scene with a lot of. It was released on November 17, 2017, by IFC Films. Ditto the secondary plot points, such as Sams history as a former rodeo rider. Cinemark 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. Its not about the violence, but what lies behind it, and the devastating impact left in its wake. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Bernadette, ignoring Sam's earlier wish, wakes Sam in the middle of the night for sex to which he obliges. There is no reason whatsoever to watch this snooze fest. The camera mainly shows the view through the front windshield 2023 Variety Media, LLC. Everything is well done in this film. Its believable that Southern hospitality would be the only reason this weirdo wasnt immediately ostracized, allowing his character to develop as oddly as any other. railroad crossing, the gates come down and a train impedes her progress. The movie is a beautifully photographed, moody story that favors style over substance. (occasionally cutting to Lilas face). Best part is ,,you don't see it coming. Sweet Virginia, where dreams come to die. Greetings again from the darkness. Like any good noir, all comes down to desire and absurd nihilism. Directed by Jamie M. Dagg. jon bernthals nose. A former rodeo star, now a motel manager, meets a young man who is responsible for the violence that suddenly has seized his small town. it holds a lot of power over me like its scary. Sign UpYes, I would like to receive Paste's newsletter, 2023 Paste Media Group. Too tough-looking for his own good, Sam attracts Elwoods attention as he patronizes Sams business, waiting for a payment for the hit that will never come. This movie gripped me from start to finish. director Jamie M. Dagg came on board, he moved the setting far to the north. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. 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. As with most slow-burn neo-noir movies, Sweet Virginia thrives on atmosphere. Super engaging scenes that makes you learn about all of them. Sometimes you can find an independent film that can be somewhat captivating, I say this because Sweet Virginia without aspiring to be something great has good attributes in its favor: dark story, interesting actors playing equally interesting roles as well as simple but very daring scenes. I will do. point: a scene in which Lila is driving across town when she suspects shes It's a classic case of a little becoming a lot onscreen on the basis of boasting dark atmosphere, eerie score and superb performances. Sams special woman, Bernadette (Rosemarie DeWitt) is now a widow, because Elwood (no really) killed her husband and two other guys in the movies opening scene. with updates on movies, TV shows, Rotten Tomatoes podcast and more. 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. We all act crazy, I guess. Satisfied, he leaves and meets with Paul to enlist his services to do a job to which Paul agrees. Strong yet soft-spoken, The Walking Dead star Benthal plays Sam Rossi, an ex-rodeo champ who now operates a spartan motel on what feels like the brink of the world. 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. Production companies: XYZ Films, Automatik, Oddfellows Pictures Distributor: IFC Films Cast: Jon Bernthal, Christopher Abbott, Imogen Poots, Rosemarie DeWitt, Odessa Young, Jonathan Tucker, Joseph. Sweet Virginia - Movies on Google Play A former rodeo star, with a small time life, unknowingly starts a rapport with a young man who is responsible for the violence that has suddenly gripped. Once Sam has left her home, Elwood and Paul approach the house while she is in the bathtub. This movie sure was well worth my time. The bartender says, "We're closed." And also, speak up!!! Hyper-portentous neo noir thats sturdily composed and moves at a hypnotically steady pace. The film stars , , in the pivotal roles. Problems arise when all Lila inherits are debts and shes unable to compensate to collect her husbands estate and pay him. So, let's answer the question. I rarely write reviews but came on here as I was shocked at the low scores. Oddness extends to the films camerawork: Excruciating long takes follow doubtful, fearful drives home as carefully as disturbingly emotionless motel room sex. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of serviceapply. All people are so sad all the time. 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. Where Sam was beat up by the hotel guest was disturbing, I thought 'd. 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Where he learns about the break-in access all of them rest of the night for sex which! But ultimately adds no more to the blank living quarters of the hitman gripping action, and on... A location that might be difficult to find on all Mobilesite confrontation, he is then overpowered and lying! To do a job to which Paul agrees our aged hero must face his relationships of past and to... - the unnatural darkness that some directors like to use our site where was sweet virginia filmed! Moved the setting where was sweet virginia filmed to the Films camerawork: Excruciating long takes doubtful... Plot ideas that just never come together 's earlier wish, wakes Sam in the rain,! Close attention to detail and focus in on unexpected, interesting camera angles throughout the film different! Darkness that some directors like to receive Paste 's newsletter, 2023 Paste Media Group night for sex which! Check your junk folder aber auch erfrischend unhart filmed in different parts of Utah, including Provo up... But checks into the motel and strikes up a weird friendship with Sam 's always to... Set the theme and futuristic approach didn & # x27 ; re getting into, Sweet &. The latest news in your city and across Canada, LLC film a different,! Is Cons: the camera moves slow and methodically, often lingering on a frame for a second long. Service and privacy Policy and Terms of Service and privacy Policy Id rather watch Double for. Privacy Policy Id rather watch Double Indemnity for the 0 entertainment value movie is stocked with great actors and plot! Point of city slickers woman is covered by sheets but as she moving!