On Swift Horses. A completely disjointed story with zero depth or character exploration. Will Poulter and Daisy Edgar-Jones do what they can and at times even elevate the performance above the dismal script. Not sure what the point is with this film. It could have been about a lot of things but as thin as it is spread, ended up being about nothing. Don’t bet on this one. The odds of you liking it are low.
Synopsis: Muriel and her husband Lee are about to begin a bright new life, which is upended by the arrival of Lee’s brother. Muriel embarks on a secret life, gambling on racehorses and discovering a love she never thought possible. | Rated R for sexual content, nudity and some language | 1hr 57m
It is engaging at the start as we are quickly introduced to Muriel (Daisy Edgar-Jones), Lee (Will Poulter), and Lee’s brother Julius (Jacob Elordi). Set in the Kansas country in the 1950s. Two brothers with a plan to move out west and start fresh after the war, and in the middle is Lee’s soon to be wife Muriel. Lee is the responsible one while Julius loves to gamble. In life and with cards. From this point on nothing in this film works due to a lack of plot and too many character traits that are never flushed out.
While watching this movie I felt like the three scientist in Jurassic Park as they tour the lab. What about this? Why does this happen? Why is she doing that? wWhere did this come from? Question after question that if answered could have added much, but is never talked about or shown. Once Lee and Muriel go to California – without Julius who is too busy squandering his share of the funds – they quickly decide to buy a home and settle down. Muriel discovers that she has a knack for picking race horses using a tip that in five seconds of dialogue she picked up from Julius. A movie simply about a housewife in the 1950s who makes money gambling on horses in order to free herself of the status quo would have been great all on its own. But we don’t get much other than a few quick scenes of her betting and winning. Then it moves on to another unexplored topic.
There is a lot here too about sexuality and the taboos of the 50s. Julius is gay which plays a large part in his decision making. He is a man without a place to call home. Spoiler alert, he and Muriel are not getting together which is teased in the trailer. This is not a love triangle of housewives and brothers. It is more about finding someone during a time when you were not allowed to color outside the lines. Muriel too is not happy being tied down to American wife standards. She is a free spirit like her mother – so we are told – and wants to carve her own path. Another story line that would have been great on its own.
Too much time is wasted, or not enough time is taken. Either way there is nothing in this film to hold on to. It tries to end with a twist that you will not be surprised by at all. The movie is based on the same named book by author Shannon Pufahl. I have no doubt that the book is able to expound on and dig deep into all of these characters. Sadly it just did not succeed on the screen.
About The Author
