Our Tribeca coverage is wrapping up. Here's Abstew on two new features starring Oscar Isaac and Viggo Mortensen respectively...
Mojave
You have to admire a film that trusts its audience enough to not spell things out for them. Writer/director William Monahan (who won an Oscar for his screenplay for The Departed) allows his film Mojave to unfold like a crazy fever dream as two opposing men in the desert (Garrett Hedlund and Oscar Isaac) wax on poetically about everything from Jesus' temptation to...god only knows what. As a drifter with a gravelly voice and tendency to call everyone brother, Isaac relishes the opportunity to play his unhinged character, making choices that are anything but safe. But Hedlund's straight man is overshadowed by Isaac's wild-eyed stalker, never making them feel evenly matched. And as the film plays out, it starts to feel like perhaps nothing has been spelled out for us because there's nothing actually happening - populated with indie movie eccentrics (Walter Goggins briefly shows up in his tightey whiteys to spout some random thoughts) and a story that can only be described as convoluted...
Motivations are unclear and plot points that seem like they're important to the arch of the story are quickly abandoned. (Hedlund mistakenly shoots a police officer early on, but it seems to be quickly forgotten as if it never happened.) And once we leave the desert, the film seems to want to be a satire on Hollywood as we learn Hedlund's character is a tortured director and Mark Wahlberg makes a cameo as a former drug dealer turned movie producer. Basically nothing makes sense, but somehow the film keeps us engaged perhaps by the sheer oddity of it all.
Far From Men
Based on the short story The Guest by Albert Camus and set in 1950s Algeria just at the dawn of the Algerian War in which they fought for their independence from France, Oscar nominee Viggo Mortensen stars as a rural school teacher named Daru. In addition to feeding their minds, teaching the local Alegerian children geography and French, he literally feeds their bellies as well, giving every child food to take back to their families. Despite his military past, Daru is content to stay out of the brewing conflict and just live in peace. But when he is charged with bringing a local fugitive (Reda Kateb) to the nearest town for trial, suddenly Daru is thrust into the action. Making decisions that test his spirit, Daru comes face to face with former friends that once fought for France and are now at opposition. But the answer of who is right or wrong is not simple, as he questions his loyalties and bonds with his prisoner.
Mortensen, in another expertly executed foreign language performance (this time in French), brings a quiet intensity to Daru. He is a man at conflict with himself, wanting to be left to his own devices, but knowing that neutrality is not a viable option with war so close at hand. He is matched by his strong, frequent scene partner Kateb. He brings a face to the rebellion and the Algerian people, although like Daru, he's not looking for conflict. Daru accuses him of being a coward early on in their journey, but as he gets to know him better, discovers that he's just trying to do what is best for him and his family. The film's gorgeous desert cinematography and haunting score from Nick Cave and Warren Ellis add rich texture and atmosphere to this simple story that is profoundly told.