Netflix continually tries to get into the Academy Awards race. They are especially chasing the best picture award, but it has continued to elude them. Before Power of the Dog came out to the public, it was already receiving Oscar buzz, mainly for the performance of Benedict Cumberbatch, AKA Doctor Strange. This film will also probably be nominated for the best picture Oscar as well, but it will not win in that category, so that award will continue to be out of Netflix's grasp, but that is not to say that this is not a good movie, but it is one of the top 15 films of the year.
Power of the Dog is about a ranching family run by two brothers, there is Phil, the leader of the cowpoke, and George, the more business minded and less beloved of the brothers. While out on a cow herding trip, the crew stops in at a local restaurant and inn. The woman running it was a widow. Phil treats her and her son poorly, and the crew joins in because they play off Phil's lead. George goes in to make amends after everyone exits. Shortly after, George and Rose fall in love, and this adds two new members to the ranch, Rose and her son, Peter. Peter was also subject to the poking of fun due to his eccentric personality and awkwardness.
So, the whole dynamic of the ranch gets shook up with their introduction, and Phil does not like it. Although Phil is not particularly nice to George, he resents the addition, and he thinks that Rose is just in the relationship for the money, So Phil sneakily finds a way to get under Rose's skin and his brother's to make his point. This leads to Rose turning more reclusive and into an alcoholic. Rose starts hiding bottles throughout the house, inside and out, so that she can get a drink whenever she wants it. As she starts to spiral, Peter, her son, returns from school. He is immediately opened to the derision of the cowpoke again and Phil, but then something changes in their relationship. Phil starts to train Peter. He shows him how to ride a horse, and he starts to make him a rope. Both actions may seem innocent, but they drove Rose crazy, she could not believe there was not a more malicious intent to them. Peter seemed reluctant at first too, but then Phil started to give Peter a different vibe, one which Peter would use to his advantage. (More spoilery spoilers ahead)
The biggest internal debate I had during the second half of the film was what was the biggest motivation for Phil's actions with Peter. Initially it seems that the goal is to get Peter under his wing to further the contentious relationship between him and Rose. Obviously, Rose would not want there to be any kind of relationship between Peter and Phil. She could not stand to be in the same room as him, so for her son to become a confidant of Phil's and potentially a defender of him would drive her insane. Potentially driving her to drink even more than she already was. Then the tension in the relationship between Phil and Peter really shifted. Instead of a distrust coming from Peter, it morphed into an odd sexual tension. Phil had reverence for a man named Bronco Henry. Bronco was dead at this point, but he earned a mythical status among the men. He became known as one of the best cowboys around, but as the story unravels, Peter learns that Bronco Henry and Phil had a closer relationship than any of the other farm hands knew. So, what initially might have started as a relationship to get Rose upset turned into what Phil thought would be a secretive sexual relationship, and although this might have tempted Peter, his allegiances were to his mother, so he used a cow hide with anthrax to get rid of Phil.
This movie centers largely around the problems of toxic masculinity driving from Phil's character and trickling down to his cronies. From the start it is clear that Phil is in charge, and if anyone tries to stand in his way, he will tear them down. This typically came in the form of verbal insults, at which he was so good that the conflicts never seemed to rise more than verbal altercations. He called George Fatso rather than his name. Thus, emasculating him and always making him feel lesser. When Peter was first introduced, he was subject to insults of being called queer and creep. Then Phil yells at a group of other dinner guests to be quiet, and it makes them all leave. Clearly, he has a strong presence and power over those around him, and he was not afraid to use it. If there were to be anyone who would question his leadership or power he had his gang behind him, and no disrespect would go over well. So, although George typically had the interests of his family and business in the forefront of his mind, since this went against Phil's ideas of what he wanted or thought, he made it hard for his brother to be happy or successful. It would be interesting to see whether George could successfully run the operation without Phil.
This movie was filled with good performances. As previously mentioned, Cumberbatch as Phil will receive a nomination for best actor, but whether he will be capable of beating Will Smith or someone else is still up in the air. His performance is quite good, but in the first half of the movie, his presence is partially fleeting. He makes a copious number of insults and has some intense facial expressions, but the first half seems more about George and Rose's relationship, and the second half is when Cumberbatch really gives a stunning performance when it becomes more about his relationship with Peter. One of the most memorable scenes was between Phil and Bronco Henry's towel, which was something...While in the forefront of the story his display of emotions is stunning. The tension his performance creates is palpable. Kristen Dunst's performance as Rose has also garnered a large amount of positive attention. She gives a very depressing performance. Her presence on the screen comes off as so miserable throughout. It is depressing, especially after her alcoholism kicks in. Jesse Plemons as George was also a good fit. Sadly for him, he has been typecast. It seems like every time he appears in a movie or a TV show, he is playing someone incompetent and disrespected. He has been a policeman a couple times, and now as a ranch owner he gets torn down constantly. Just his appearance on screen almost always draws pity at this point.
The scenery in this movie was also beautiful. It was a western story, but it never specifically mentioned the state. The landscapes were vast, and off in the distance there were massive hills. There was a lack of greenery, due to it being in a more plains setting. One of the cooler visual things they did was show the shadow of a dog up in the hills, and that is probably what the title is referring to, the ability to see the dog in the hills because the only people that could see the dog were Phil and Peter. Oddly enough to get scenery undisturbed by modern society, they had to go to New Zealand to film it, which known for its beauty.
This was one of the better movies of the year, but it could have been bolstered by a more interesting first half. It was a slow burn, but it did build up to a powerful conclusion. The performances also helped pick it up, because if the second half was left to uncappable hands it would not have been a good movie period. The sexual tension is very strong at points, and it almost feels awkward to be peering into their world.
Other Movies This Week:
Becoming Cousteau: "We are not documentary. We are adventure films." Sadly, this was more of a documentary, but one that many people in power can learn from. Cousteau helped find oil deposits in the ocean, and his crew in the early days did some acts that would be frowned up today, but he learned from his mistakes and fought for what is right. Too many people stay entrenched in their ways or just go seeking money.
14 Peaks: An astounding look at an inspiring feat of the human will. An expedition to the top of the highest 14 peaks in the world in less than 7 months. Not only are they the tallest mountains in the world, but they also have deadly reputations. The views at the summit are so dramatic and pristine they are to be rivaled by none. If Jimmy Chin thinks what you are doing is absurd, then it is beyond our mortal understanding. It is also an important document to show the world how incredible the people of Nepal are, and that they demand more respect in the mountaineering world.
Listening to Kenny G: I have not ever really listened to Kenny G, but I found him to be fascinating. It was surprising how polarizing he is. From the music I heard, it just did not seem like it should elicit that strong of a response! This was better than the DMX music box, but it is close to Woodstock 99 and Jagged.
The Rescue: Jimmy Chin and Chai are incredible documentary filmmakers. This is an amazing story about an improbable rescue that is tension packed and an emotional journey. It is in high contention for documentary of the year, but it will be a hot contest between this and 14 Peaks.
Toy Story: This was my favorite movie growing up, and I felt like I needed to give it another watch to see if it held up as an adult, and it did! It blends themes like anxiety, dealing with trauma, overcoming adversity, and found family. It is packed with great lessons that I missed as a kid, but my favorite connection I made while watching was that the carpet in Sid's house on the second floor is also the carpet in The Shining.
New Rankings:
Becoming Cousteau: 3 Stars
14 Peaks: 4.5 Stars
Power of the Dog: 4 Stars
Listening to Kenny G: 4 Stars
The Rescue: 4 Stars
Toy Story: 5 Stars
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