REVIEWS Ain’t <strong>The</strong>m Bodies Saints An exceptionally beautiful, if a bit fuzzy-headed, romantic Texas outlaw saga that announces a considerable talent in writer-director David Lowery BY TODD MCCARTHY A beautiful, densely textured elegy for outlaw lovers separated by their misdeeds, Ain’t <strong>The</strong>m Bodies Saints will serve most decisively to put director-writer David Lowery on the map as one of the foremost young standard-bearers of the Malick and Altman schools of impressionistic mood-drenched cinema. This poetically told Texas crime saga is deeply and, to be honest, naively sentimental at its core, which creates something of a drain on its seriousness. But it’s a constant pleasure to watch and listen to, and stars Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck both have strong scenes. To be sure, this is an out-and-out art film, one that looks to enjoy a measure of success on the festival circuit and in specialized release. Ruth (Mara) and Bob (Affleck) are separated by Texas lawmen. Saints begins with a messy shootout, after which the criminal team of Bob Muldoon (Affleck) and Ruth Guthrie (Mara) are led off, with Bob destined for prison and the pregnant Ruth let go. Set in the Texas hill country, probably in the very early 1970s based on the models of the cars, the film evokes a number of sympathetic outlaw classics made around that time, specifically Terrence Malick’s Badlands and Robert Altman’s McCabe & Mrs. Miller. Far more attention is given to the couple’s intense bond than to clarifying the nature of what just went down; piecing together tiny snippets of information discreetly released here and there, it would seem that a robbery led to a police raid for which Bob took the rap for a cop actually shot by Ruth. Lowery might parcel out key plot elements with great reluctance, but he manages to keep things interesting and even moderately gripping, partly because of the managed uncertainty over where everyone stands in relation to others. It all inevitably ends in gunplay and a measure of tragedy, but of the kind that literally and figuratively bleeds into the history and mythology of the West. This sort of fate has been idealized, poeticized, beautified and canonized countless times before in all manner of popular art forms, and Lowery buys into its lyric potential wholeheartedly. But that said, and for all its derivative poetics — as many exteriors as possible were shot during or just after magic hour, a la Malick — the film is a lovely thing to experience and possesses a measure of real power. Having played a really, really bad Texas bad guy in <strong>The</strong> Killer Inside Me three years ago, Affleck delivers a milder variation on one here, to stronger effect; one monologue he delivers to himself in a mirror is particularly striking. Pretty quiet through most of the film, Mara has a gravitas that makes her rewarding to watch no matter what, or how little, she’s doing. Critics’ Week Cast Rooney Mara, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster, Keith Carradine Director-screenwriter David Lowery 104 minutes A PRIVATE COMPOUND WITH STELLAR VIEWS Ideal Filming Location with On-Site Accommodations for Cast & Crew! Royal Oaks Ranch 28765 Pine Canyon Rd - Lake Hughes Royal Oaks Ranch, nestled near the spectacular Angeles National Forest, combines outstanding residential comfort with panoramic vistas and more than 1,000 acres of nature's wonders. Ideal for entertaining, this gracious home includes two high-ceilinged great rooms with fireplaces, a music loft, a spacious gourmet kitchen with dual islands and an elegant formal dining room. • More than 1,000 acres of land hosts a diverse natural landscape encompassing a lake, pastures, hills, and valleys, and has proven to be a desirable location for film and television productions. • Perfect retreat just one hour from Los Angeles • Custom-built Tudor-style manor constructed in 1992 and spanning approximately 7,000 square feet • Charming guest dwellings as well as caretaker and rental homes • Breathtaking views of the property and beyond • Ten acres of apple and peach orchards • A total of more than 1,000 acres encompassing a lake, pastures, hills and valleys • Equestrian trails and facilities. Reduced to $5,900,000 CONTACT: Dippy, Sr. Estates Director Dilbeck Real Estate Direct: 661-645-9291 DRE#01860911 25820 <strong>The</strong> Old Rd, Valencia, CA 91587 Lovdeep Kaur China D4 051813.indd 1 5/16/13 2:26 PM
Marina Cordoni, Vice President, Movies t 416.366.6588 x113 e mcordoni@breakthroughentertainment.com www.breakthroughentertainment.com
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