Wildcat

As I've mentioned in prior reviews, biopics are typically written in very serious and dramatic approaches, but none have been presented in such a dark way as with "Wildcat". However, this film being about an author who, through prejudice and societal fear, this being in 1950, is a woman trying to be taken serious as a writer while having to succumb to lupus. This is a tough hand dealt, but there could've been some light at the end of the tunnel. 

This film invites the audience to weave in and out of celebrated Southern Gothic writer Flannery O'Connor's mind as she ponders the great questions of her writing: Can scandalous art still serve God? Does suffering precede all greatness? In 1950, Flannery (Maya Hawke) visits her mother, Regina (Laura Linney) in Georgia when she is diagnosed with lupus at 24-years-old. Struggling with the same disease that took her father's life when she was a child and desperate to make her mark as a great writer, this crisis pitches her imagination into a feverish exploration of belief. As she dives deeper into her craft, the lines between reality, imagination, and faith begin to blur, allowing Flannery to ultimately come to peace with her situation and deal with a strained relationship with her mother. And all during this time of conflict, her staunch friend Robert 'Cal' Lowell (Philip Ettinger) had been a stalwart friend always having her back when all others were questioning her talent and outlook on life. 

Others to round out the cast are Rafael Casal as O.E. Parker, Cooper Hoffman as Manley Pointer, Christine Dye as Duchess, Liam Neeson as a priest, John E. Brownlee as Porter and Wilson Conkwright as Walter.

This was directed with grit and intensity by Ethan Hawke ("Chelsea Walls" '01, "The Hottest State" '06, "Seymour: An Introduction" '14, "Blaze" '18) plus TV, music videos and a short. Even though Hawke doesn't have a plethora of experience behind the camera, he has a definitive eye for what it means to be an effective filmmaker. His ability to encourage his actors to emit the emotions they projected, especially Maya Hawke (Ethan's daughter), was exemplary. It was interestingly written well by Shelby Gaines and Ethan Hawke ("Before Sunset" '04, "The Hottest State" '06, "Before Midnight" '13, "Blaze" '18) plus TV and shorts. The film is based on the short stories by Flannery O'Connor and these writers were attempting to tie her stories with their screenplay, and although it was an honorable endeavor, it simply didn't come off with clarity and fluidity. There were times when the combination of O'Connor's stories and these writer's screenplay did gel, however, there were other places that the script became choppy and meandered a bit. Considering that Gaines had no theatrical experience, maybe Hawke should've offered another writer to co-write if not simply write the script himself. Trust me, this wasn't a total wash-- the idea behind the screenplay was original and fresh and rewarding to see writers attack this approach, however maybe with another writer other than Hawke would've been warranted.

Certainly, both the acting especially that of Maya Hawke and the directing by her dad Ethan Hawke was consummate and both could possibly see Oscar nods come that time. It's a bit dark, but this writer obviously went through a massive amount of obstacles in her life, and this biopic certainly conveyed that in spades. 

Out of 4 Stars: 2.5                                         Rated: NR                                          108mins.