- Director : Rachid Bouchareb
- Actors : Forest Whitaker, Harvey Keitel, Brenda Blethyn, Luis Guzman, Ellen Burstyn
- Studio : Cohen Media Group
- MPAA rating : R (Restricted)
- Media Format : Anamorphic
- Run time : 1 hour and 58 minutes
- Release date : May 17, 2022
- Country of Origin : USA
French filmmaker Rachid Bouchareb
established himself as an international success with his films about historical
violence, including 2006’s WWII drama, Days of Glory, and Outside the
Law, a drama from 2010 based on the Algerian struggle for independence
following that war. He also made a film in London in 2009 about the aftermath
of a series of terrorist attacks in 2005. The blending of fiction with
real-life events served Bouchareb well, but he has discarded this successful
method of filmmaking in his American films, to their overall detriment. Though Two
Men in Town is much better than his American film debut, Just Like a
Woman (2012), there is simply not enough relevance within the story of
these characters and their suffering. It lacks the same ability to integrate
relevance with personal drama that Bouchareb had with his European films,
despite strong performances by the cast in the underdeveloped roles and their
narrative.
Adapted from a
40-year-old French film, Two Men in Town makes appropriate adjustments
to relevantly integrate discussion of American immigration issues, though any
commentary on the topic is quickly forsaken for character drama. This would not
be so disappointing if the screenplay from Olivier Lorelle, Yasmina Khadra and
Bouchareb provided these characters more opportunity for development, but the
minimalism within the plot eventually deteriorates any reason to care,
regardless of how effective many of the cast members are. Forest Whitaker has
the difficult job of carrying the film, with the help of a stellar supporting
cast, filling in the gaps of the screenplay with dedicated performances.
Whitaker stars
as William Garnett, an ex-con who finishes a lengthy prison sentence for
murdering a deputy Sheriff with the hopes of starting his life over. Recently
converted to the Muslim faith, Garnett gets an ordinary job working on a ranch,
meets a local woman (Dolores Heredia), and has hopes of settling down. This
simple lifestyle is quickly disrupted by the events of Garnett’s past, from an
unforgiving town sheriff (Harvey Keitel) to a former criminal accomplice (Luis
Guzman) insistent upon his return to a life of crime.
The one
relationship connected to Garnett’s life of crime which promises to help his
rehabilitation comes in the form of his fair parole officer (Brenda Blethyn).
The casting of this role is spectacular, with Blethyn easily holding her own
amongst the men in this violent world. There has been a great deal of
discussion about the representation of women in film recently, and this is
exactly the type of role that counters the typical Hollywood tendency to only
use older actresses in passive mother-figure roles. If only there was somewhere
for the narrative to take these characters, Two Men in Town would have
been a film to praise simply for the dynamic between Whitaker and Blethyn.
Ellen Burstyn also has a spectacular stand-alone scene as Garnett’s mother,
though it barely fits with the plot of the rest of the film. Her character is
so disconnected from the rest of the plot that the only name she is given
within the credits is “Garnett’s Mother.”
The Blu-ray
offers a high-definition presentation, but it does little for the low budget
quality of the film. Included in the extras is a making-of documentary with
interviews by Bouchareb, who describes his filmmaking methods and inspirations.
Also included are theatrical TV spots.
Entertainment Value:
5.5/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 6.5/10
Historical
Significance: 5/10
Special Features: 5.5/10
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