Repeated imagery of Jay, the main character, starring at stars seems to suggest this world, this American West of John Maclean's new western, is no place for dreamers. The film openly plays with audience expectation. From the opening moments, we think we know how this story will play out. One of the film's joys is seeing how things play out differently. This is not revisionist filmmaking but rather a curious filtering of a familiar genre.
Everyone Jay meets turns on him. Even Silas, a great Michael Fassbender, in the end does little to change Jay's fate and maybe ends up with the very resolution that Jay seeks out for the entire film. This cynical viewpoint may be too much if the film weren't equally interested in Jay's earnestness. Much credit should go to Kodi Smit-McPhee for not making the character too cloying. Jay is admirable even if his nature is what makes him prey in this predatory land.
Jay sets out for the American West in search of the girl he loves. Her father and her left England after an accidental murder. Along the way, Jay meets a slew of bounty hunters after his love. They intend of having Jay lead them to their bounty. Silas is at first the same type of hunter but the film plays around with his growing admiration of Jay.
Slow West is gorgeously shot and well acted. The story feels familiar and not particularly effective but the execution is grand. The acting from the entire cast helps to elevate the material into something more meditative about the nature of one's character than simply a thriller about star-crossed lovers.
4/5
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