Ain't Them Bodies Saints (2013)

i must have seen a different film!!

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

Absolutely Fantastic

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

This film begins with a good premise. In the past a filmmaker like Billy Wilder or an actor like Gary Cooper or Lee Remick could make us care about this film. A good writer would also be able to flesh out the details a bit better, but the premise is a good one.And yet, on screen It is hard not to think that I'm looking at flakey people I meet at a trendy downtown bar who listen to trendy music and drink trendy beer. You know, arrested development types who squander the life force of themselves and others; who have no capacity for self-awareness, who only exist. I just didn't see any depth, any character, any conviction which could suspend my disbelief long enough. The style of this film offered nothing other than a showcase for cinematography; and even there the trendy soundtrack and lighting made the entire effort appear to be nothing more than self-indulgence. It was as though the filmmakers made this for the sole purpose of being able to tell their friends, "hey look at what I did" - and the cinematography is its best quality!The soundtrack, the story, and most importantly the monologues are hollow efforts; self-indulgence writ large. The monologues, mercy the monologues! There's no acting in this film. It's a solipsistic exercise. A series of monologues which keep the film plodding from one scene to another. This is a film nihilists put out who cannot fake their lack of empathy even for their own writing and their own characters.The stars are only given for the technical effort. This is a soulless film.

I found this movie to be extremely moving and even watched it a second time to get the full impact of the last scene, the looks Casey delivers and portrays. Casey Affleck is highly underrated and I wish I could see him in more movies. I would even listen to him narrate the dictionary for his narrative and inflections. Rooney is so beautiful I wish I could see more from her as well. And there is Ben Foster, need I say more? Well worth your 93 minutes to see this film, for the performances alone. Not to mention the director!!!!

Ain't Them Bodies Saints is a surrealist painting about love and what one will do to find love, and that includes breaking out of prison and avoiding the authorities. Now this film is not for everyone's taste, but I was enthralled by the film. Not only was the story captivating, the visuals were excellent. And I'm not talking about explosions and CGI. I'm talking about the cinematography and the excellent country shots. This is one of those westerns nobody has ever seen, and it is our jobs to make sure that this great movie is seen.David Lowery's film is about a Texas outlaw couple in the 1970's. After a shootout, Bob Muldoon is sentenced to 25 years in prison. Bob suddenly decides to escape prison to reunite with his wife, Ruth Guthrie and his daughter that he has never met.The acting is excellent. Casey Affleck is in another western after 2007's Robert Ford film, but I think he does better in this film. It's more suitable for his persona. Rooney Mara does an excellent job and she perfectly compliments Affleck. Ben Foster delivers a fine, toned-down performance. Finally, Keith Carradine does a good job as an actual homage to the 70's.Overall, Ain't Them Bodies Saints is a poetic masterpiece that is led by strong acting and mesmerizing visuals. The plot is a little conventional, but it is one of those plots I can enjoy over and over again. It's a shame how the film couldn't even break a million dollars at the box office, because in my opinion this film should have had a couple Academy Awards to its name. But I guess the film is an acquired taste. I rate this film 9/10.

"Every day I wake up thinking today's the day I'm gonna see you. And one of those days, it will be so."David Lowery's Ain't Them Bodies Saints was one of my most anticipated films of 2013 after hearing about it in the Sundance Film Festival, but one I never got around to watching until now. Despite having a predictable story, the film was appealing thanks to the strong cast and beautiful cinematography which helped establish a unique lyrical mood to an otherwise familiar tale of love on the run. The script is also well written despite a slow build up, but it includes poetic moments as well that made this feel like a Terrence Malick film at times. The dialogue blended perfectly with the beautiful photographed scenes in the Texas fields which gave the film a more romantic tone. I enjoyed the slow build up and the poetic moments which never hurt the actual pacing of the film. David Lowery has proved with his work here that he is a director we should keep our eyes on. The film is visually stunning and that is what elevates it from other similar films.The film takes place in the Texas Hill Country during the 70's where we are introduced to a young couple, Bob Muldoon (Casey Affleck) and Ruth Guthrie (Rooney Mara), who are deeply in love. They also happen to be bank robbers who find themselves caught up in the middle of a gunfight with the police. Ruth wounds one of the officer's, Patrick Wheeler (Ben Foster), but Bob takes the blame after they end up surrendering. Bob is sentenced to several years in prison, while Ruth who was pregnant at the time is set free. In prison, Bob writes to Ruth almost at a daily basis worrying about their newborn daughter and promising them that they will soon be reunited. Skerritt (Keith Carradine), the man who had raised Ruth and Bob when they were young kids, gives Ruth a nice house where she can settle and raise her baby. After four years in prison, Bob escapes and tries to return to Ruth to fulfill his promise to her, but the police are searching all over for him. He finds a place to hide out at his friend's, Sweetie's (Nate Parker) bar and writes to Ruth letting her know he will come for her and his daughter, but Skerritt knows that this might endanger the girls lives so he warns Bob to stay away. The question is whether or not the young couple can resist staying away from each other for their daughter's sake.A lot of credit for the success of this film has to be given to the cast. Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck give convincing performances and share a lot of chemistry together. If there was no chemistry between them the entire romantic drama would've fallen flat because much of the story relies on their connection. Their characters are sympathetic and we are drawn to them as an audience. The supporting turn from Ben Foster and Keith Carradine also adds more depth to the film because they all want the best for Ruth and her daughter. The story is told through their emotions more than through their words and that is what makes this film stand out from other romantic dramas with a similar premise. Ain't Them Bodies Saints is a visually satisfying experience with powerful performances and an engaging climax at the end.