I don’t know if
I was more bored or confused by The
Timber, but both were a result of poor filmmaking. The screenplay is too
smart for its own good, leaving the audience in the dark in a pretentious
attempt at forcing them to piece together plot rather than providing
exposition. The direction could also be blamed for failing to convey the story
adequately amidst the purposefully sparse dialogue, with the editing also
easily faulted for the incoherence of the film’s minimal action sequences. This
is a film full of technical shortcomings, which destroy the attempt at
intelligent storytelling.
In a clear
attempt at making modern-day parallels, two brothers must take desperate
actions to save their home from the grasps of a greedy bank. Wyatt (James
Ransone) and Samuel (Josh Peck) set out on a mission to collect the bounty on
an infamous outlaw who also happens to be their father. Abandoned by him at a
young age, neither feels a strong enough connection to adequately raise the stakes
on this situation. None of the characters are developed enough within the
screenplay for the events to resonate, though this isn’t due to lack of time.
Very little happens within the 80-minute running-time, either in terms of
action or adequate dialogue.
There are
aspects of the story which appear to be mirroring Apocalypse Now (and/or Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness”), with
the constant battle against Native Americans leading many to a mental
breakdown. It is also a story that is much more about the hunt for a man than
the outcome of his discovery. In other words, regardless of the action mixed
into the narrative, The Timber is
going for an intellectual approach to the material. Unfortunately, the
technical ability of the filmmaking doesn’t match the ambition of the
narrative. The result is a dull viewing experience which is never quite as
smart as it would like you to believe.
The Blu-ray
release does highlight the admirable visual quality of the film, though it is
much more the location of filming which is impressive than the work in the
cinematography. High definition does nothing to help the inadequacies of the
way that the action is choreographed and shot. Along with behind-the-scenes
footage and interviews with the cast, the special features have a commentary
track with director Anthony O’Brien. There is also a trailer.
Entertainment Value:
3.5/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 4.5/10
Historical
Significance: 2/10
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