In THE WEIGHT Ethan Hawke shows again that no matter what role you throw at him he will make it compelling and layered with emotion. This time around Hawke plays a man ravaged by the 1930’s Depression Era. A decent story and some strong supporting acting make this an action drama worth the watch.
Synopsis: When Samuel (Ethan Hawke) is torn from his daughter and sent to a brutal prison, Warden Clancy (Russell Crowe) offers him a high-stakes proposition: smuggle gold out of a remote mine with a dangerous crew of prisoners and he’ll win his freedom. | 1h 55m | Rated R for language and some violence/bloody images
The first 40-minutes may feel slow but it is important to allow Hawke to prove to us that his character is worth rooting for. Samuel is a strong, quiet man who keeps his head down and gets the job done. Once the plot is in place the film elevates in intensity and action. We aren’t sure who to trust or what the end result will be, but we are in on the journey.
They are a rag tag group with nothing but the hope of early parole if they succeed, and threat of death if they don’t. For most they have nothing to lose either way, but for Samuel it is the means to an end for him and his young family. The rest of the men look to him for leadership. As they meet obstacles along the way Samuel tries to impart wisdom to keep them alive.
The Weight is directed by Padraic McKinley who has a couple of TV shows under his directing belt not not much else. He does well here. The pace of the film which may feel slow is actually an important part. As these men plod through the woods with their heavy packs the weight is both the load and the pressure of survival and success.
Set in the upper north west part of the US, the film is full of lush green landscape as the men make their way through. Don’t look for it on a US map as the movie was filmed in Munich, Bavaria, and Germany. The wilderness is a beautiful backdrop for sure.
Along with Hawke the film stars Austin Amelio, Avi Nash, Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen, and Julia Jones. Russell Crowe is mentioned in the synopsis as well showing up on the poster. He is certainly a screen grab though as his warden character only book ends the film. The Warden Clancy is an intriguing character, fans of Crowe should not to expect to see him very much.
THE WEIGHT got a lot of festival accolades and is a very engaging story. You would be fine to see it in the theater, but a home watch would serve just as well. Either way, I think fans of survival stories will enjoy it well enough.
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