Ain't Them Bodies Saints

Heavy dramas are just that--heavy. They aren't the most upliftng films on the planet, but they usually are well written, directed and acted. As with the case of "Ain't Them Bodies Saints", this is one of those heavy dramas that is a well crafted American film.

Set against the backdrop of 1970's Texas Hill Country, this is a romantic American story that follows three characters on various sides of the law--outlaw Bob Muldoon (Casey Affleck), his wife Ruth Guthrie (Rooney Mara), and a local sheriff named Patrick Wheeler (Ben Foster), who gets caught up in their crosshairs.
Bob gets sent to prison for burglary, while Ruth sits patiently waiting for her beloved husband. She's pregnant with their baby and, subsequently while he's in prison, has her baby girl. As the girl, Sylvie (Kennadie Smith and Jacklynn Smith) turns four, Bob breaks out of prison in pursuit of finding his wife and the daughter he's never met only to realize she's still in the town they lived in. Finding her and going off happily into the sunset proves to be a problem as there are many people looking for him namely Skerritt (Keith Carradine) and Wheeler, amongst others. So Bob holes himself up at the home/bar of longtime friend Sweetie (Nate Parker) until he can figure out what to do. And what to do is the huge question here.

Others to round out the cast are Rami Malek as Will, Robert Longstreet as Cowboy Hat, Charles Baker as Bear, Augustine Frizzell as Sissy, Kentucker Audley as Freddy, Turner Ross as T.C., and Will Beinbrink as Lt. Townes.

This was painstakingly well delineated by writer/director David Lowery ("Lullaby" 2000, "Deadroom" '05, "St. Nick" '09, "Pioneer" (short) '11). This guy doesn't have a ton of experience under his belt, but what he does have is quality. This film was directed with just the right balance of intensity and poignancy where appropriate. It is written well, however it is not a warm and fuzzy feeling film. It has its up moments, but all in all, don't expect an ending that is all tied up with a nice pretty Hollywood bow. Lowery is a talented writer, in fact this was developed at the Sundance Institute's Writing and Producing Lab, so quality it has. But even though it is written well, you're not seeing this for the story as much as for the talented writing, directing and the incredible acting by Affleck, Mara and Foster. This could be given a second thought come Oscar time. The cinematography by Bradford Young ("Mo" '07, "White Lies, Black Sheep" '07, "Cigarettes for  Breakfast" '08, "Mississippi Damned" '09, "Entre nos" '09, "Restless City" '11, "Pariah" '11, "Middle of Nowhere" '12, "Mother of George" '13) really fit the feel of this film--it was simply stunning.

This film isn't for the mass audience appeal in that it isn't an easy film to watch--depressing, the characters in it are so troubled, seemingly hopeless, but if you like a well crafted film--directing, writing, acting, cinematography, etc., then this will definitely give you a great film to study.

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                         Rated: R                           96mins.