Romance movies aren’t typically done well, as they often cater to lonely women in their thirties who have nothing better to do than watch the same movie over and over again, with different actors and based on seemingly identical Nicolas Sparks books. So when Hollywood churns out a romance that is not only directed towards drama fans like myself, but stars accomplished actors like Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck, I sit up and take notice. It’s been a while since a really good romance hit theaters, so this definitely intrigued me.
Fortunately, I was not disappointed. Ain’t Them Bodies Saints is the story of Ruth Guthrie (Mara), a poor yet tough-as-nails woman living in 1970s Texas. After her husband Bob Muldoon (Casey Affleck) is arrested for shooting a police officer that, in fact, Ruth shot, she is left alone with a child to take care of while Affleck sits in prison, waiting to get out. This plot has been seen a thousand times over, and the movie doesn’t really do big things with it, but its conventional and straightforward concept is part of its charm. Much like this year’s surprise drama hit, Mud, it has a distinct southern style to it that makes it utterly involving, and the performances drown out most of the plot’s simplicity.
This is the first performance of Rooney Mara’s I have seen, and I must say, I was VERY impressed. Her quiet demeanor conveyed a respectable and strong character study of a capable woman who nonetheless has her life torn asunder by her husband’s absence. She’s petite, meek, but also fiercely intense, and can completely change the feel of a scene merely by glancing at someone. David Lowery’s incredible camerawork works very well with her, as he infuses sepia-toned scenery with startlingly powerful up-close shots. He can bring meaning into any frame of film he wants, which is something that directors these days rarely bother to do.
Casey Affleck is unfortunately the weak part of the film, because as with all of his performances, it’s pretty hard to tell what he’s saying. He kind of mimics Tobey Maguire’s speech pattern, in a way that makes it sound as if he’s ready to burst into tears at any moment. But Lowery fixes this problem masterfully by giving Affleck the perfect part to play-- He’s not some kind of criminal mastermind, or even particularly smart. He’s just an ordinary guy forced into exceedingly uncomfortable situations. He tries to be steadfast and strong for his family, but in reality, Mara is the strongest of the pair. The meekness she portrays on the outside also inhabits the inside of Affleck, and it’s interesting to see just how different the two of them are, yet how alike they can sometimes be.
The movie accomplishes a lot of admirable feats, but the most powerful is how reserved it is. Except for a minor shoot-out at the end, which the audience really should be expecting as the movie built up to it all the way, there isn’t much going on here. There are very few directors or actors these days who can really carry a dialogue-driven movie, since most audiences nowadays crave mind-blowing action sequences and constant shoot-em-ups. Not that those things don’t have merit, but it’s nice to take a break from the CGI onslaughts that Hollywood churns out every summer and watch a quiet, restrained character study like this.
Final Score for Ain’t Them Bodies Saints: 7/10 stars. This movie is not very creative, but it does wonders with its simple premise and stock characters. Even its poetic title, “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints,” speaks to the audience in a way that movies just don’t do anymore. The whole thing is a beautiful experience, and even if you don’t like romances, I’m sure that the strong performances and great cinematography will keep you in your seat. This movie really hearkens back to the movies of the 1960s and 70s, when sweeping epics were hard to come by and directors focused more on the characters and what they could do with the limited possibilities of what they could do with their cameras. So if you’re finished with repetitive action movies, give this a shot. It will end up pleasantly surprising you.
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