It is a bad sign when, already within the first act, a film jumps randomly between genres, from action‑comedy to action‑drama to rom‑com. This reveals a glaring lack of clarity and conviction about what the filmmaker is trying to achieve and what mood the movie wants to convey to the audience.
A great film by Kelly Reichardt, in which the overall look (costumes, locations, cinematography) and its jazzy soundtrack set the perfect tone for what becomes an excellent first act, culminating in the art‑museum robbery; a strong second act, where we see the immediate consequences of the heist orchestrated by James Blaine “JB” Mooney (Josh O’Connor); and a fantastic resolution in which, as soon as the character does something morally reprehensible (beyond the robbery itself), karma strikes.
While it offers a strong portrayal of the gross hypocrisy of the (although never explicitly stated) presumably Democrat‑leaning American elite, embodied by Jessica Chastain’s character, Jennifer McCarthy, her wealthy family, and the foundation they chair, as well as the San Francisco ballet company and the colleagues encountered by immigrant Fernando Rodríguez (played by Isaac Hernández), the truth is that writer‑director Michel Franco never quite dares to fully explore the political and societal implications of his material.
The story of a father willing to sacrifice anything and everything for the well‑being of his children is undoubtedly touching. The acting also elevates this family’s journey: John Magaro is very good as the father, but it is Molly Belle Wright who truly stands out as the older daughter, Ella.
Jim Jarmusch returns to an episodic, stylised format. Here, the three stories presented are so similar yet so distinct.
