Post by sgev1977 on May 18, 2022 17:20:55 GMT
The Power of the Dog (2021)
When it comes to a unique western film like no other, one that turns the whole genre on its head, Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog becomes instantly iconic. Set in Montana during the early 20th century, it uses the power of space and sound to emulate the golden age of the western genre, but it also delivers an intense and unique experience with little to no violence – a western without violence, what’s the point you might be asking? Gun-toting cowboys aren’t the key, you know, because if you can create an atmosphere that is as tough and gritty as those figures of the past, then you know you’re onto a winner. Western films have long been associated with masculinity (that’s an obvious one), and jealousy to an extent, but the sexual implications surrounding these characters have always been up for debate. The Power of the Dog moves everything into the 21st century, by expertly exploring those long-harbored gay feelings that many don’t like to admit were part and parcel of that era. And with that, is an incredibly dark undertone that not only dictates the pacing of the film but also allows for a lot of viewer interpretation. This really is a thinking person’s western; it’s not as black and white as most often are, adding a variety of strings to its already impressive bow. This film could be the watershed moment for the modern-day western, allowing it to become multidimensional, filled to the brim with hidden meaning and themes of a humanistic nature, but it could also benefit from being the only one of its kind, offering people a treat as to what “different” really is.
When it comes to a unique western film like no other, one that turns the whole genre on its head, Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog becomes instantly iconic. Set in Montana during the early 20th century, it uses the power of space and sound to emulate the golden age of the western genre, but it also delivers an intense and unique experience with little to no violence – a western without violence, what’s the point you might be asking? Gun-toting cowboys aren’t the key, you know, because if you can create an atmosphere that is as tough and gritty as those figures of the past, then you know you’re onto a winner. Western films have long been associated with masculinity (that’s an obvious one), and jealousy to an extent, but the sexual implications surrounding these characters have always been up for debate. The Power of the Dog moves everything into the 21st century, by expertly exploring those long-harbored gay feelings that many don’t like to admit were part and parcel of that era. And with that, is an incredibly dark undertone that not only dictates the pacing of the film but also allows for a lot of viewer interpretation. This really is a thinking person’s western; it’s not as black and white as most often are, adding a variety of strings to its already impressive bow. This film could be the watershed moment for the modern-day western, allowing it to become multidimensional, filled to the brim with hidden meaning and themes of a humanistic nature, but it could also benefit from being the only one of its kind, offering people a treat as to what “different” really is.
insessionfilm.com/op-ed-evolution-of-the-modern-western/