Sam's Blog - The Rover

I'll be completely up front with you. The Rover is a frustrating film. But maybe it will relieve you somewhat when I tell you that this emotion is exactly what it sets out to accomplish.

Writer/director David Michôd tosses us into the near future, after an economic meltdown in Australia leaves society on its knees. People must resort to a more rudimentary way of living, with limited provisions and minimal law enforcement -- causing a steep incline in crime. With this fend-for-yourself mentality in the foreground, we meet our main character: an unnamed man with an unstable presence (played by Guy Pearce) stops at a rundown bar for a drink, only to get his car stolen by three men. He goes after them, and along the way, he meets Rey (Robert Pattinson in easily his best performance), the slow-minded brother of one of the previously mentioned car thieves, who was left behind to die in an incident. He takes Rey as his unwitting hostage, and the two set off, one to get back to his brother, and the other on a dogged mission to get his car back.

Honestly, to tell you any more of their journey would detract from your experience of the film; but suffice it to say, this dark story is best viewed as a mood piece rather than a puzzle to be solved. It will give you answers, but not necessarily ones that you're going to like... and that's the point.

Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson deserve a hell of a nod... the nuances in their performances give more insight into their characters than the story allows -- it is as if Michôd gave the actors the responsibility of telling their characters' stories, while his script focused more on playing with the idea of the economic collapse and what life would be like within it. This collaboration leaves us with a strange, purposely stilted story, only giving you enough details to get you through to the end.

Pearce's character is fascinating, breaking free of all expectations of human decency as the film progresses. The film leaves little clues about what the essence of his character might be, but ultimately, there is a lot left unsaid about him. And perhaps that is the point: the motivation behind his actions is meant to be frustrating, and this frustration is never fully resolved.

And this is what carries the tone of the film: the film is beautifully shot, the acting is impeccable, and the music is jarring and (apart from one strange song choice halfway through the film) adds the perfect atmosphere... but you will still leave the theater with an incredible weight added to your shoulders. The Rover is not meant to give you warm fuzzies, or show you the meaning of life. It is meant to show how screwed up the world and its inhabitants can be sometimes.

Come check out the Rover this week at the Midtown Cinema!