Blue Ruin. Such an abstract title, such a direct and uncompromising film.
You hear stories of independent filmmakers struggling to get their lifelong dream financed, fighting to get it seen and produced and distributed. Fighting to get someone to see it. Generally these films are passion projects, ideas that have been stewing in a creative mind for years and years, becoming more rounded and polished in the process. Which is why, when they finally get made, these films can be some of the purest examples of cinema. Blue Ruin is one of those projects.
It's such a simple setup - a man lives homeless after his parents murder, then plans revenge on the fresh-out-of-prison man who did it - but it's so engrossing, the characters so engaging that even the simplest of moment just holds you. There is a sequence towards the end of the film where our protagonist - expertly, perfectly, heartbreakingly played by Macon Blair - sits, in a house, waiting. He scouts, he waits, he plans, he falls asleep. The next morning he wakes, cowering behind a sofa, and waits some more. Obviously that's nowhere near the whole story, or resolution, but it gives a glimpse into how unconventional the narrative is delivered, and how deftly and expertly such simple sequences are put together to hold your interest despite, actually, nothing happening.
Not to say things don't happen. They most definitely, definitely do. But even in it's quieter moments it never loses it's focus, or yours. And when something does happen, it really happens, visceral and surprising. In many ways it does have that very typical indie ideals of few well rounded characters, tight narrative and strong visuals; It stands out for it's quality and tone.
It's best to be seen to be believed. Though it's probably better to describe it as being experienced. By far one of the best films of 2014, and hopefully director Jeremy Saulnier can be given the opportunities fellow recent indie to hollywood graduates like Rupert Wyatt, Colin Trevorrow, Ryan Coogler and Rian Johnson have been given and put his indisputable style into bigger things.
But it will be a hard task to be better.
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Featuring: Macon Blair, Devin Ratray, Amy Hargreaves
