Stillwater 2021
IMDb Ratings: 6.9/10
Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Language: English
Release Year: 2021
Director: Tom McCarthy
Stars Cast: Matt Damon, Camille Cottin, Abigail Breslin
Director: Tom McCarthy
Stars Cast: Matt Damon, Camille Cottin, Abigail Breslin
Stillwater Screenshots
Stillwater Review
Greetings again in the dark. It is understandable if you are taken by a movie trailer showing an unknown father who never stops pursuing his daughter justice (those Liam Neeson references many of me were not trying to please). In fact, the father has some skills: he is an expert in carpentry and electrical, speaks the Oklahoma English version, and owns two (not all of his own) guns. And yes, this film is billed as an exciting crime game, but you should know, we see very little crime, and the fun stuff is gone. Despite all that, I connected with the story, not as a thrill, but as a lesson from the character of a flawed man who tried to do what was right with his daughter and found himself liberated.
Oscar winner Matt Damon plays Bill Baker, a quiet oil worker who has just seen him on the cleaning team after a bad storm. Not long ago, he was on an international plane bound for Marseille to visit his daughter Allison (Abigail Breslin). He was jailed for five years after being found guilty of stabbing and killing his French-Arab girlfriend, Lina. In a widely publicized case, Allison held fast to her claim of innocence, which she still does. Her father visits regularly, bringing supplies and clean supplies. Although they visit when they are visited, there is a definite stream. We later find out that Bill had previously had a drug and alcohol problem and had never received Father of the Year votes. Allison asks her father to deliver a closed letter to her lawyer saying there is new evidence in her case - she heard a boy named Akim bragging about the murder of Lina.
You may have noticed the similarity of Amanda Knox's 2007 case. The difference is that it was Italy, this is France; then it was Amanda living with her, not her boyfriend. In the movie, media attention is drawn to the 'rich' American 'girl' who brutally murdered her lover of several female employees (Hollywood textbook). Allison grew up poor in Oklahoma which was not important to the media.
Damon plays Bill as a stockman, Heartland of America who will do anything for his "little girl". But he is not Jason Bourne. It is a proverb that comes out of the water in these machines. He speaks little French, and it depends on the kindness of local actress Virginie (Camille Cottin, ALLIED, 2016) to be her translator and cultural director in a world she does not understand. Bill soon became acquainted with Virginie's newborn daughter Maya (a feature film by Lilou Siauvaud), and soon a unit of the Platonic family was formed. Bill's prayers often and strange American customs contradict Virginie's French culture and artistic practices. Of course, this ultimately leads to a change in the platonic nature of their relationship.
The film is directed by Tom McCarthy, the Oscar winner of SPOTLIGHT (2015). I highly recommend his two other films, the excellent The VISITOR (2007), and his first unseen self-directed book, THE STATION AGEN (2003). McCarthy co-authored the article with Marcus Hinchey, Thomas Bidegain, and Noe Debre, which explains why the French detail is so obvious. The filmmaker Masanobu Takayanagi brings a brilliant camera job to fit the story's style, and Mychael Danna's music adds depth and depth to the quiet and emotional atmosphere. Damon does one of his best jobs here as a man who is heavily burdened with his future and is gradually realizing the potential for personal and family redemption. Ms. Breslin exploded at the scene in 2006 with the LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, and has changed dramatically from the adult role ... although this role has been shortened, she is still doing a good job at her place with Maya and Virginie.
Bill and Virginie and Maya have good stages together, including Sammi Smith's "Help Me Make it Through the Night" dance. I think the thrilling applause received by the film and actors in Cannes is partly due to its French character, and the depth of character Bill (and Damon’s performance). There are features that seem far-fetched and perhaps even more complex, but which are considered to be one man's story, bring to mind captions on the big screen. And yes, "life is cruel".
Oscar winner Matt Damon plays Bill Baker, a quiet oil worker who has just seen him on the cleaning team after a bad storm. Not long ago, he was on an international plane bound for Marseille to visit his daughter Allison (Abigail Breslin). He was jailed for five years after being found guilty of stabbing and killing his French-Arab girlfriend, Lina. In a widely publicized case, Allison held fast to her claim of innocence, which she still does. Her father visits regularly, bringing supplies and clean supplies. Although they visit when they are visited, there is a definite stream. We later find out that Bill had previously had a drug and alcohol problem and had never received Father of the Year votes. Allison asks her father to deliver a closed letter to her lawyer saying there is new evidence in her case - she heard a boy named Akim bragging about the murder of Lina.
You may have noticed the similarity of Amanda Knox's 2007 case. The difference is that it was Italy, this is France; then it was Amanda living with her, not her boyfriend. In the movie, media attention is drawn to the 'rich' American 'girl' who brutally murdered her lover of several female employees (Hollywood textbook). Allison grew up poor in Oklahoma which was not important to the media.
Damon plays Bill as a stockman, Heartland of America who will do anything for his "little girl". But he is not Jason Bourne. It is a proverb that comes out of the water in these machines. He speaks little French, and it depends on the kindness of local actress Virginie (Camille Cottin, ALLIED, 2016) to be her translator and cultural director in a world she does not understand. Bill soon became acquainted with Virginie's newborn daughter Maya (a feature film by Lilou Siauvaud), and soon a unit of the Platonic family was formed. Bill's prayers often and strange American customs contradict Virginie's French culture and artistic practices. Of course, this ultimately leads to a change in the platonic nature of their relationship.
The film is directed by Tom McCarthy, the Oscar winner of SPOTLIGHT (2015). I highly recommend his two other films, the excellent The VISITOR (2007), and his first unseen self-directed book, THE STATION AGEN (2003). McCarthy co-authored the article with Marcus Hinchey, Thomas Bidegain, and Noe Debre, which explains why the French detail is so obvious. The filmmaker Masanobu Takayanagi brings a brilliant camera job to fit the story's style, and Mychael Danna's music adds depth and depth to the quiet and emotional atmosphere. Damon does one of his best jobs here as a man who is heavily burdened with his future and is gradually realizing the potential for personal and family redemption. Ms. Breslin exploded at the scene in 2006 with the LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, and has changed dramatically from the adult role ... although this role has been shortened, she is still doing a good job at her place with Maya and Virginie.
Bill and Virginie and Maya have good stages together, including Sammi Smith's "Help Me Make it Through the Night" dance. I think the thrilling applause received by the film and actors in Cannes is partly due to its French character, and the depth of character Bill (and Damon’s performance). There are features that seem far-fetched and perhaps even more complex, but which are considered to be one man's story, bring to mind captions on the big screen. And yes, "life is cruel".
