logo
Alec Baldwin's ‘Rust': The only thing that's worth seeing in Western is also the most tragic

Alec Baldwin's ‘Rust': The only thing that's worth seeing in Western is also the most tragic

New York Post01-05-2025

movie review RUST
Running time: 133 minutes. Not rated. In some theaters and on VOD Friday.
The wait is finally over… for a movie nobody was waiting for.
Nearly four years after a prop gun held by Alec Baldwin and mistakenly loaded with a live round went off and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on set, their movie 'Rust' has hit theaters.
And how is the Western? Mediocre and often uncomfortable to watch; forever tainted by tragedy. Completing 'Rust' and releasing it was a massive error of judgement.
8 Alec Baldwin in 'Rust.'
Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office
Lesser films sometimes get shelved by studios for reasons of quality or other corporate drama. But an average picture that resulted in the death of a young mother will be available for everybody to view on Friday. That choice leaves a foul taste, even if the stated rationale is to showcase the woman's work.
How can anybody love this movie?
Answer: They can't.
8 Alec Baldwin in 'Rust.'
AP
8 Alec Baldwin, Patrick Scott McDermott in 'Rust.'
AP
The belated arrival of 'Rust' is the strange culmination of a horrible, horrible story.
First there was the worldwide outpouring of grief when Hutchins died at age 42, leaving behind a little son and a windower. (Director Joel Souza was also shot, but recovered). Then came shock and years of ugly trials against Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, resulting in Baldwin being acquitted and Gutierrez-Reed getting 18 months behind bars.
Now that that press tour from hell is over, the film is here. Well, sort of. 'Rust' is only showing on 100 screens around the country (in New York, just in upstate Wilton and Albany) and drops on VOD the same day.
8 Halyna Hutchins was killed on the set of 'Rust.'
Getty Images for SAGindie
The movie is definitely not worth a 3 1/2-hour drive, or the $14.99 at-home purchase price.
Baldwin, pale and grizzled, plays a notorious outlaw named Harlan Rust. Should you forget, his last name will be spoken over and over and over again.
Nearby cast-iron skillets will be shaking in fear.
Rust stomps in 25 minutes into the movie to spring a 13-year-old boy named Lucas (Patrick Scott McDermott) from the clink after the kid is wrongly accused of murder. That the story bears a resemblance to off-screen reality, is the first element of meta awkwardness.
8 Alec Baldwin on the set of 'Rust.'
Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office
8 Halyna Hutchins was the cinematographer on 'Rust.'
HalynaHutchins/Instagram
The tragedy of Hutchins' death overshadows anything that's good about the film, sadly including her own grand cinematography. Unlike the colorful, cheeseball vision of the West in Kevin Costner's 'Horizon: An American Saga,' Hutchins' depiction of mountains, saloons and forests is drained and sooty.
A cowboy hat, however, is a weird fit on Baldwin. While I bought him as a man haunted by the ghosts of his past, the actor as an 1880s criminal in Kansas is far too big a leap to take.
8 Alec Baldwin filming 'Rust' in April 2023.
via REUTERS
When he earnestly says, in a home-on-the-range brogue, lines like 'What part of 'stay put' don't ya savvy?!' and 'my grandaddy,' it's not unlike when his '30 Rock' character Jack Donaghee visited Stone Mountain, Georgia. The difference is, that was funny. This is a pitch-dark Western that wreaked real-life devastation.
Harlan and Lucas embark on a journey through the wilderness that's perilous, but never to the point of excitement or anticipation. It reminded me of the somewhat better Tom Hanks movie 'News of the World.' Old frontiersman, kid and campfires. Spoiler: At first they duo dislikes each other, but later they like each other a lot. Imagine that.
8 Alec Baldwin on the set of 'Rust.'
Alec Baldwin/Instagram
Even though the scene in which Hutchins died offscreen has been cut — for those keeping score, there's one good decision — whenever Baldwin starts shooting at some rogues, like the bounty hunter who's chasing the pair, the viewer is ripped out of the action. There is a lot of gunfire, and now we know none of it was truly safe.
We experience Baldwin shooting the gun — not Rust.
'I wish I'd never written that damn movie,' Souza recently told the Guardian.
I bet. But nobody forced Souza and Baldwin to finish it.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Josh Allen gushes over marrying ‘best friend' Hailee Steinfeld in heartfelt moment
Josh Allen gushes over marrying ‘best friend' Hailee Steinfeld in heartfelt moment

New York Post

time11 minutes ago

  • New York Post

Josh Allen gushes over marrying ‘best friend' Hailee Steinfeld in heartfelt moment

Star Bills quarterback Josh Allen called marrying Hailee Steinfeld 'the most important decision' he made in his life, as he discussed his recent nuptials to the actress/singer for the first time on Tuesday. Allen sported a smile along with a new ring on his finger when he met with reporters in Orchard Park, New York, and jokingly told them that he 'got some hardware now,' pointing to the black wedding band on his ring finger. The Bills QB married Steinfeld on May 31 in a ceremony in Southern California, and he gushed about his new bride when he was asked about the past four months, a span in which he was named NFL MVP in February, signed a $300 million mega deal with the Bills in March and then got married a week and a half ago. Advertisement Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld attend the 14th Annual NFL Honors at Saenger Theatre on February 06, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Getty Images 'They've all been big,' Allen said. 'None other than marrying my best friend. She makes everything easier. I don't really focus on the other stuff, that was the most important decision I'll make in my life, and I made the right one.' Allen remained tight-lipped on details of the couple's wedding, but photos obtained by The Post showed some of the magical moments of the day as the two lovebirds locked lips during the ceremony. Advertisement Other images showed Steinfeld, 28, walking down the aisle in her strapless dress and Allen sporting a traditional black tuxedo. Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld pose for a photo on the red carpet the 14th Annual NFL Honors at Saenger Theatre on February 06, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Getty Images While Allen, 29, didn't talk too much about his wedding, head coach Sean McDermott dished on the special day for his QB, telling reporters it was 'great to see two really special families coming together.' Among those on hand for Allen's wedding were his teammates, along with Hollywood celeb Larry David. Advertisement Allen and Steinfeld have been one of the hottest couples in the NFL, with Allen coming off a season in which he threw for nearly 4,000 yards and led the Bills to the AFC title game, and Steinfeld coming off starring in the hit blockbuster 'Sinners.'

Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom reportedly plan to split after her tour — as relationship breakdown is revealed
Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom reportedly plan to split after her tour — as relationship breakdown is revealed

New York Post

time11 minutes ago

  • New York Post

Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom reportedly plan to split after her tour — as relationship breakdown is revealed

Trouble in paradise? Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom reportedly plan to break up after the 'Firework' singer finishes her current 'Lifetimes' tour later this year. 'It's over,' a source told Page Six on Tuesday. 'They are waiting till her tour is over before they split.' 7 Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom reportedly plan to break up after the 'Firework' singer finishes her current 'Lifetimes' tour. katyperry/Instagram 7 Perry and Bloom met in 2016 and got engaged in 2019. Getty Images for MTV The 40-year-old pop star's current tour kicked off on April 23 and is scheduled to run until Dec. 7. Other insiders have also claimed that Perry and Bloom, 48, are going through a rough patch and 'spending more and more time' away from one another. 'They have been spending more and more time apart,' another source told Us Weekly this week. 'They've grown apart and aren't living the same lives anymore.' 7 'It's over,' a source told Page Six. 'They are waiting till her tour is over before they split.' Getty Images 'It's an unspoken thing that they are having issues and have for a while now,' a second insider told the outlet. 'Everyone around them knows.' Although Bloom has allegedly been keeping his and Perry's relationship problems 'close to the vest,' he has been 'out and about more often' without his 'Hot N Cold' singer fiancée. 'Katy has been very busy working, and they are apart often,' the second source added. 'That has caused tension.' 7 'It's an unspoken thing that they are having issues and have for a while now,' an insider close to the couple claimed. 'Everyone around them knows.' katyperry/Instagram However, additional insiders have claimed that the tension in Perry and Bloom's relationship started with the pop star's poorly received '143' album upon its release back in Sept. Even though the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' actor was said to be 'understanding' of Perry's frustration, the situation reportedly still caused friction between the pair. 'Katy was deeply frustrated following the reception of her new album,' a source told People on Monday. 'It made her very stressed. Orlando was understanding, but it did cause some tension.' 7 The tension in Perry and Bloom's relationship allegedly started with the pop star's poorly received '143' album upon its release back in September. Getty Images 'She was also disappointed in some of the tour reviews,' they added. 'It's put stress on their relationship.' Insiders close to the 'I Kissed a Girl' singer and 'Troy' actor have also pointed to the fact that the pair have still not tied the knot despite being engaged since 2019 as a serious point of contention. '[Perry and Bloom] never set a date for the wedding or got around to planning anything and Orlando is over it,' a source close to the couple told Us Weekly. 7 The pop star and 'Pirates of the Caribbean' actor welcomed their daughter, Daisy Dove, in August 2020. GC Images 'Things aren't good,' another insider added. The couple first met at a Golden Globes after-party in 2016. Bloom proposed three years later on Valentine's Day, and they welcomed a daughter, Daisy Dove, 4, in August 2020. However, Perry and Bloom split for a year in 2017. 7 Perry and Bloom split up briefly from March 2017 to February Katy Perry The 'Last Friday Night' hitmaker opened up about that breakup in 2024 during an appearance on the popular 'Call Her Daddy' podcast. 'We weren't really in it from day one,' Perry explained at the time. 'He was in a way because he had just done a time of celibacy and he had set intentions.' 'I was fresh out of a relationship,' she added, 'and I was just like, 'I can't do this anymore. I need to swim in a different pond.'' The Post has reached out to Perry and Bloom's reps for comment.

Over 30 Million People Watched Tom Felton's Bad Interview — Here's Why He Should Be Embarrassed
Over 30 Million People Watched Tom Felton's Bad Interview — Here's Why He Should Be Embarrassed

Yahoo

time16 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Over 30 Million People Watched Tom Felton's Bad Interview — Here's Why He Should Be Embarrassed

Note: This post is an Op-Ed and shares the author's personal views. Tom Felton is facing a ton of backlash right now, but I actually think it's fully deserved, so let's get into it. Warner Bros. Pictures, Jenny Anderson / Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions If you don't know, Tom played Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies, and he's about to return as Draco again for his Broadway debut in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the end of this year. However, while attending the Tony Awards on Sunday, he was asked about J.K. Rowling's disgusting anti-trans comments over the years. (For reference, she also just launched an organization to help fund anti-trans legislation, which is described as a "legal fighting fund for women protecting their sex-based rights.") Tom was specifically questioned about how Rowling's controversies and anti-trans views have impacted him and his work. The full question was: "Does the sort of Twitterverse controversy around J.K. Rowling's views impact you at all or impact your work on the world at all?" And his answer now has over 30 million views on Twitter. He immediately responded by saying no, declaring that he hasn't paid attention to Rowling's statements: "No, I can't say it does. I'm not really that attuned to it." He continued, "The only thing that I always remind myself is that I've been lucky enough to travel the world – here I am in New York – and I have not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter. And she's responsible for that, so I'm incredibly grateful." Variety / Twitter: @Variety Related: Dan Rather's Defense Of A Gay Rights Icon Against Pete Hegseth Is Going Viral First of all, it's incredible how bad that response is. It's even more embarrassing when you realize that a PR rep probably prepared it for him. Like, he's had years of media training and should have anticipated that every interviewer's first question would be about J.K. Rowling. And if this response ~wasn't~ prepped, then, well, double shame on him. Anyway, Tom has expressed similar sentiments over the years, like in 2022 when he claimed to "not know enough about the specifics" in reference to Rowling's constant blows against trans people. He continued by saying, "My dog takes up far too much time for me to go into such matters," as if that was a valid excuse. He then backtracked a little, saying, 'I mean, the obvious things to say are that I'm pro-choice, pro-discussion, pro-human rights across the board, and pro-love. And anything that is not those things, I don't really have much time for." However, in that same interview, Tom also talked about how it's okay for people to have differing opinions and that he doesn't "take any pleasure in putting crosshairs on people that may have said things that we disagree with." The issue I have with this, though, is that basic human rights do not warrant differing opinions. It's disheartening for him to suggest otherwise. Like, we can disagree about favorite colors and movies and foods, but not about the existence and support of trans people. Tom's response is a verrrrry different tune from his Harry Potter co-stars. For example, Daniel Radcliffe wrote an op-ed back in 2020 where he correctly stated that trans women are women. He also called out J.K. Rowling specifically, saying, "Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I." Related: 9 Gay Movies And TV Shows That Are So Criminally Underrated, I Guarantee You've Never Seen Any Of Them Before Emma Watson has done the same, sharing her support for the trans community in 2020. She also tweeted directly to her trans fans and followers, saying, "I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are." And Rupert Grint has also followed suit, declaring that he "firmly stands with the trans community and echoes the sentiments expressed by many of my peers." All three of these actors' 2020 comments were in response to J.K. Rowling's lengthy essay about trans issues that she published during Pride Month that same year. Since then, Rowling has taken aim at all three Harry Potter stars for speaking out against her. She also "jokingly" implied that Dan, Emma, and Rupert are three actors who instantly ruin any movie for her when they appear in it. And this is why Tom Felton's refusal to acknowledge J.K. Rowling's comments is so gross and disappointing. To me, it says that he won't speak out against bigotry or injustice simply because it benefits him. After all, in addition to starring in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway, Tom also implied that he'll have a part in HBO's new Harry Potter TV show. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he said, "I'll definitely be sneaking into a background shot as an extra." There's also speculation that he'll have a larger behind-the-scenes role on the production side of the series as well. Many veteran actors who've been cast in this new HBO show have also been asked about Rowling's anti-trans views. For example, Nick Frost, who was recently cast as Hagrid, said, "She's allowed her opinion and I'm allowed mine, they just don't align in any way, shape or form." And John Lithgow, who was literally nominated for an Oscar for portraying a trans woman in the 1982 movie The World According to Garp, said he never expected any criticism after accepting the role of Albus Dumbledore. Then, when asked if that backlash made him question his choice, he exclaimed, 'Oh, heavens no.' In case you're curious, Lox Pratt has been cast as Draco Malfoy, the role Tom Felton originated, and Johnny Flynn has been cast as Lucius Malfoy, Draco's dad (aka the role some people thought Tom might play, as he's now 37 years old). Now, my personal relationship with Harry Potter has changed over the years, especially as a queer person. I'm a fan of the series, and though I sometimes struggle with the notion of separating art from the artist, I've distanced myself more and more from the franchise due to Rowling's comments (which is unfortunate because so many people have found a home in it!). Spencer Althouse I do believe the world of Harry Potter is bigger than Rowling herself, which is why I can understand when some of the stars publicly share praise for what she's built, especially since it helped launch their careers. However, it's possible (and necessary) to stand up for what's right and draw the line between criticism and blind loyalty. That's exactly what Daniel Radcliffe did in 2024, saying: "Jo [Rowling], obviously Harry Potter would not have happened without her, so nothing in my life would have probably happened the way it is without that person. But that doesn't mean that you owe the things you truly believe to someone else for your entire life." Tom Felton, however, is actively choosing to ignore the elephant in the room. It's disingenuous to pretend that Rowling's statements don't affect him, especially since her very comments endanger the lives of people in the trans and queer community, many of whom are his fans. To me, this implies that Tom cares more about collecting a paycheck than standing up for trans rights, which are human rights, and I desperately need him to do better. Looking for more LGBTQ+ or Pride content? Check out all of BuzzFeed's posts celebrating Pride 2025. Also in LGBT: In An Apparent Attempt To Scrub "Gay" Content From The Department Of Defense, The Trump Administration Got Rid Of The Straightest Content Ever

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store