Desperation Road

Whoever directed this movie should never be trusted with making another film. EVER. It's so poorly directed you will want to pull your hair out. It's slow as mollasses, with a horrible backing musical track that will drive you nuts., because it makes the movie seem even slower. It's too bad Mel Gibsom continues to be forced to appear in these "C" pictures. He's got way more talent and it's wasted on garbage like this. He seems to be making a ton of these low budget movies lately. Wish he would do a small, good, picture like "Dragged Across Concrete," which was so good I saw it three times! It's really too bad he's teamed with really bad directors lately.

Man don't listen to critics this was a goooood movie I just finished the movie. It was so nostalgic and made me reminisce of early 2000s movies apparently it's some plot issues since it comes from a book and was shot in only 16 days but I think what Nadine did in those 16 days of shooting with the actors was fantastic. The actors made up for whatever the plot lacked from the book. When it comes to movies like this ignore the critics. And I like that everything from the book was a 100 percent. I understand people who like adaptations and books want them to be spot on but idk this just felt normal to me . Great emotional ride the slow burn isn't too slow . The ending will have you on edge. The characters wasn't too super in depth but just in depth enough and I like that. Like I said it gave me early 2000s nostalgia vibes . Especially since we in this cgi area of movies it was cool watching a nice movie with a nice story .

Easily one of the very best movies I've watched in not just 2023 but in a very long time. Garrett Hedlund, Mel Gibson (no surprise as far as he nails another role), and Willa Fitzgerald are all award-worthy for the parts they play in this never-heard-about (speaking for me at least) beautiful, easy-to-put-yourself-in-each-character shoe drama. It's REAL. I'm not quite sure why Hedlund hasn't been given a big-time lead role in either a Movie or a dramatic-type TV role. Mel as usual just falls right into place with his role and Fitzgerald shows her dramatic chops with her portrayal of a complicated, wanting-to-do-the-right-thing type of person. Sorry for the run-on type review, long story short, it's an easy way to spend a late Fall or early Winter night.

Struggling single mom Maben (Willa Fitzgerald) and her young daughter Annalee return to their home town in the deep south. She tries prostitution at the nearby truck stop when she's picked up by a sheriff deputy. The deputy rapes her and calls for his friends. She manages to steal his gun and shoot him dead. Meanwhile, Russell (Garrett Hedlund) is released from prison and goes home to his father Mitchell (Mel Gibson). I hate that one giant coincidence in the middle of this movie. It could be lessen if he's the one who spots her first. I do love the gritty southern noir style atmosphere. The actors do good work. I'm even fine with Mel in this one. Ryan Hurst is impressively unhinged. The movie is a bit too long at almost two hours and it's stretched too far after the climax. This is very good except for those two issues.

A simple, honest attempt to make a good movie. I loved the overall idea and setup, sort of a countryside atmosphere, the views, the takes on questions of life and religion, the slow burn, thoughts on redemption - whole picture comes well together. Characters felt natural and realistic, plenty likable ones to root for. The cast is perfect. Story is probably the weakest aspect of the movie for me here. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't any clever or mysterios, or entangled (and I really feel like story is usually the most important part in a movie). Just simple straightforward plot with a cheesy twist. It could've been better if another path was chosen, a harder or more complicated one. But then, I guess, this wasn't the point of the movie. It seems that this movie aimed to be what it was. I enjoyed it, I would describe it as simple and wholesome. Cruel, yet honest. Light, yet meaningful. It should leave a warm feeling after watching, if you let it sink in. It might also be a good choice to fall asleep to.