Latest news with #ThePoweroftheDog
Metro
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Psychological thriller labelled a ‘masterpiece' free to stream on BBC iPlayer
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A 'masterpiece' psychological thriller is making its way to BBC iPlayer. Released in 2021, The Power of the Dog stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Jesse Plemons, and Kirsten Dunst and is based on the 1967 novel of the same name by Thomas Savage. The film follows wealthy ranching brothers Phil (Cumberbatch) and George Burbank (Plemons) who meet widow Rose (Dunst) and her son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee) during a cattle drive. The volatile and brash Phil takes a dislike to Rose, but George strikes up a relationship with her – which eventually leads them to marry – and Rose and Peter to move to the Burbank ranch house. As Phil taunts Rose, he appears to take Peter under his wing, but his intentions don't seem as clear-cut to Rose. For those who didn't catch the award-winning hit, or just want to rewatch, it is now free to stream on BBC iPlayer, as well as Netflix. The Power of the Dog proved an instant hit following its premiere at the 2021 Venice Film Festival, garnering a whopping 12 Oscar nominations and seven Golden Globe nods. It is often cited as one of the best films of 2021, and indeed of the decade as a whole, and was named one of the best films of 2021 by the American Film Institute. It currently holds a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critics' consensus reading: 'Brought to life by a stellar ensemble led by Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog reaffirms writer-director Jane Campion as one of her generation's finest filmmakers.' Metro critic Tori Brazier dubbed the film a 'taut and emotional epic' in her review, adding: 'A rich and detailed character study for each of its excellent four leads – and especially Cumberbatch and Smit-McPhee, who is an admirable scene partner – The Power of the Dog brings everything you'd expect, and hope for, from the writer and director of The Piano. 'The film is like watching a play, so focused is it on the minutiae of seemingly small human actions and emotions, and so nuanced in its storytelling.' The New York Times wrote: 'The Power of the Dog builds tremendous force, gaining its momentum through the harmonious discord of its performances, the nervous rhythms of Jonny Greenwood's score and the grandeur of its visuals.' More Trending USA Today lauded The Power of the Dog a 'picturesque, enthralling exploration of male ego and toxic masculinity, crafted by an extremely talented woman and offering enough nuanced bite to keep it interesting till the very end.' InSession Film said: 'Much has already been said about Jane Campion's western masterpiece, and for good reason. It is indeed truly great. Benedict Cumberbatch gives a career-best performance.' Heaping praise on Cumberbatch, with Ty Burr writing on his Substack: 'How do we know Benedict Cumberbatch is a serious thespian? Because we have no idea who he is offscreen. He's just entirely the role he's playing at any given moment, and those roles change radically.' The Power of the Dog is streaming on BBC iPlayer and Netflix Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Amazon Prime fans rush to binge 'best series ever' that went under the radar MORE: TV fans have days to binge BBC's 'best crime drama' before return MORE: Casualty declares major incident as first look is revealed
Metro
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Psychological thriller labelled a 'masterpiece' coming to BBC iPlayer
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A 'masterpiece' psychological thriller is making its way to BBC iPlayer. Released in 2021, The Power of the Dog stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Jesse Plemons, and Kirsten Dunst and is based on the 1967 novel of the same name by Thomas Savage. The film follows wealthy ranching brothers Phil (Cumberbatch) and George Burbank (Plemons) who meet widow Rose (Dunst) and her son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee) during a cattle drive. The volatile and brash Phil takes a disliking to Rose, but George strikes up a relationship with her, which eventually leads them to marry, and Rose and Peter to move to the Burbank ranch house. As Phil taunts Rose, he appears to take Peter under his wing, but his intentions don't seem as clear-cut to Rose. It is set to arrive on BBC iPlayer on May 30, but if you can't wait that long and need a Bank Holiday watch, The Power of the Dog can be streamed right now on Netflix. The Power of the Dog proved an instant hit following its premiere at the 2021 Venice Film Festival, garnering a whopping 12 Oscar nominations and seven Golden Globe nods. It is often cited as one of the best films of 2021, and indeed of the decade as a whole, and was named one of the best films of 2021 by the American Film Institute. It currently holds a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critics' consensus reading: 'Brought to life by a stellar ensemble led by Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog reaffirms writer-director Jane Campion as one of her generation's finest filmmakers.' Metro critic Tori Brazier dubbed the film a 'taut and emotional epic' in her review, adding: 'A rich and detailed character study for each of its excellent four leads – and especially Cumberbatch and Smit-McPhee, who is an admirable scene partner – The Power of the Dog brings everything you'd expect, and hope for, from the writer and director of The Piano. 'The film is like watching a play, so focused is it on the minutiae of seemingly small human actions and emotions, and so nuanced in its storytelling.' The New York Times wrote: 'The Power of the Dog builds tremendous force, gaining its momentum through the harmonious discord of its performances, the nervous rhythms of Jonny Greenwood's score and the grandeur of its visuals.' More Trending USA Today lauded The Power of the Dog a 'picturesque, enthralling exploration of male ego and toxic masculinity, crafted by an extremely talented woman and offering enough nuanced bite to keep it interesting till the very end.' InSession Film said: 'Much has already been said about Jane Campion's western masterpiece, and for good reason. It is indeed truly great. Benedict Cumberbatch gives a career-best performance.' Heaping praise on Cumberbatch, with Ty Burr writing on his Substack: 'How do we know Benedict Cumberbatch is a serious thespian? Because we have no idea who he is offscreen. He's just entirely the role he's playing at any given moment, and those roles change radically.' The Power of the Dog comes to BBC iPlayer on May 30. It is available to stream on Netflix now . Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Post-apocalyptic thriller's season 2 finale hailed 'perfect ending' despite crushing fans MORE: BBC quietly adds Australian drama that left fans 'crying their eyes out' MORE: All EastEnders cast returns, exits and new arrivals coming up in 2025
Daily Mirror
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
BBC adding 'masterpiece' Western movie that's perfect for Yellowstone fans
The movie wowed audiences and critics alike upon release An acclaimed Western flick, featuring the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch and Kirsten Dunst, is set to hit screens later this month, reports Surrey Live. The film, which first graced cinemas in 2021, has garnered top-notch reviews from both critics and cinema-goers alike. One glowing critique on Rotten Tomatoes stated: "A deeply symbolic movie presented through the genre of a Western." Another viewer enthused: "This movie may be hard to watch at times but it is worth it." They added: "Great atmosphere, an incredibly compelling story, amazing acting and characters that are genuinely interesting and multidimensional." Meanwhile, another fan described the film as: "The Power of the Dog is a slow-burning masterpiece of tension and repression." They continued: "Benedict Cumberbatch delivers a career-best performance as the menacing yet vulnerable rancher Phil Burbank, while Kirsten Dunst and Kodi Smit-McPhee shine in this haunting psychological drama. "Director Jane Campion crafts a visually stunning, emotionally devastating film that lingers long after the credits roll." BBC iPlayer will be adding The Power of the Dog to its roster at the end of the month, available for viewers at no extra cost. Based on Thomas Savage's 1967 novel, the film promises to be a riveting experience. The plot of The Power of the Dog delves into the tense dynamics between rugged rancher Phil Burbank (Cumberbatch), his sister-in-law Rose Gordon (Dunst), and her son Peter Gordon (Kodi Smit-McPhee). Set in the 1920s on a Montana ranch, the film follows Rose's spiral into alcoholism after being humiliated by her brother-in-law Phil. Phil had previously accused Rose of marrying his brother George Burbank (Plemons) for financial gain, adding fuel to the fire. Viewers are given a glimpse into Phil's past as he forms a connection with Peter, who returns from medical school for the holidays. Despite having previously ridiculed Peter, it seems the two manage to overcome their differences. The Power of the Dog is a blend of Western family drama and psychological thriller. Other members of the cast include Thomasin McKenzie known for The Hobbit, Keith Carradine from Dexter and Madam Secretary, Frances Conroy from Six Feet Under, Peter Carroll from Sleeping Beauty and Alice Englert from Beautiful Creatures and Ginger and Rosa.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Rust' honors the classic Hollywood western, uneasily
'Rust,' Alec Baldwin and Joel Souza's slow-moving, sepia-toned homage to the American western, is the kind of respectable if unremarkable genre exercise that would have come and gone without much notice were it not for the circumstances of its making. In 2021, during rehearsal of a scene, a gun being held by Baldwin — the film's producer and star — discharged. 'Rust's' director of photography, Halyna Hutchins, was shot in the chest and killed. The production's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Charges against Baldwin were dropped. Drenched in such tragedy, 'Rust' is almost impossible to judge on the merits. On its own modest terms, it's a perfectly competent, if inert, throwback: a pastiche of movie characters, gestures and narrative devices that are instantly recognizable to anyone who worships at the altar of John Ford or, more recently, variations like 'The Power of the Dog,' 'The Hateful Eight' and the Coen brothers' remake of 'True Grit.' Baldwin plays Harland Rust, who rides into a small town in 19th-century Wyoming one fateful night and rides away with 13-year-old Lucas Hollister (Patrick Scott McDermott), an orphan who has been tending what's left of the family homestead and caring for his little brother until he butts up against the local authorities. Now on the lam, Harland and Lucas light out to the New Mexico territory, their journey punctuated with metronomic regularity by encounters with various miscreants, malefactors and colorful ne'er-do-wells. Written and directed by Souza, 'Rust' is filmed in monochromatic tones of tea-colored tans and murky browns that announce period-piece seriousness; the interiors are inky to the point of illegibility (Hutchins's duties were taken over by Bianca Cline). But when Harland and Lucas are on the road, the mountain vistas and thundercloud-strewn skies are breathtaking. ('Rust' was filmed in New Mexico and Montana.) Working from a checklist of genre signifiers, Souza ticks them off one by one: In one scene, a bowler-hatted man playing a rinky-tinky piano stops suddenly when things get serious; you could swear it's a cue for Leonardo DiCaprio to walk in from the set-within-a-set of 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.' Varmints, outlaws, scoundrels and bullwhackers — plus a fancy woman or two — populate a world where people don't talk, they 'conversate' in florid swirls of extravagant, self-consciously baroque prose; among the men who are pursuing Harland and Lucas through the scrub are a Bible-quoting bounty hunter and a U.S. marshal in the throes of Dostoyevskian doubt. (They're played with commendable gusto by Travis Fimmel and Josh Hopkins.) Harland may be less verbose ('There's alive, and there's ain't. Try to focus on the former'), but he's no less mannered, as both a speaker and an archetype. As a latter-day Shane, Baldwin makes a dashing man of grizzled mystery, even when it's possible to catch a glimpse of Jack Donaghy behind the graying beard and steely eyes. ('30 Rock' fans will need to be forgiven for occasionally flashing on Jack's classic line: 'What am I, a farmer?' Well …) Newcomer McDermott delivers a sturdy, admirably understated performance as Lucas, a boy still learning what it means to be a man, even when manhood has been ruthlessly thrust upon him. That manhood, of course, is most dramatically tested by way of gunfights, which are plentiful throughout 'Rust,' although Souza wisely excised the scene that was being rehearsed when Hutchins lost her life. Still, the movie traffics in the same ritualized shoot-'em-up violence that is just as much a deliverable as fast horses, Stetson cowboy hats and calico house dresses. In the 1800s, guns weren't considered toys or political totems or testosterone delivery systems: They were tools. It took the movies, including westerns, to turn them into fetish objects. Even as 'Rust' honors and emulates those movies, its own backstory serves as a reminder of the lethal reality behind all the quick-draw posing and macho romance. It's an uneasy space to occupy, but it's one, paradoxically, where 'Rust' might have its most lasting value. Unrated. Starts Friday at select theaters nationwide and on-demand streaming services such as Apple TV+ and Prime Video. Contains thematic material and graphic violence. 133 minutes.
Washington Post
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
‘Rust' honors the classic Hollywood western, uneasily
'Rust,' Alec Baldwin and Joel Souza's slow-moving, sepia-toned homage to the American western, is the kind of respectable if unremarkable genre exercise that would have come and gone without much notice were it not for the circumstances of its making. In 2021, during rehearsal of a scene, a gun being held by Baldwin — the film's producer and star — discharged. 'Rust's' director of photography, Halyna Hutchins, was shot in the chest and killed. The production's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Charges against Baldwin were dropped. Drenched in such tragedy, 'Rust' is almost impossible to judge on the merits. On its own modest terms, it's a perfectly competent, if inert, throwback: a pastiche of movie characters, gestures and narrative devices that are instantly recognizable to anyone who worships at the altar of John Ford or, more recently, variations like 'The Power of the Dog,' 'The Hateful Eight' and the Coen brothers' remake of 'True Grit.' Baldwin plays Harland Rust, who rides into a small town in 19th-century Wyoming one fateful night and rides away with 13-year-old Lucas Hollister (Patrick Scott McDermott), an orphan who has been tending what's left of the family homestead and caring for his little brother until he butts up against the local authorities. Now on the lam, Harland and Lucas light out to the New Mexico territory, their journey punctuated with metronomic regularity by encounters with various miscreants, malefactors and colorful ne'er-do-wells. Written and directed by Souza, 'Rust' is filmed in monochromatic tones of tea-colored tans and murky browns that announce period-piece seriousness; the interiors are inky to the point of illegibility (Hutchins's duties were taken over by Bianca Cline). But when Harland and Lucas are on the road, the mountain vistas and thundercloud-strewn skies are breathtaking. ('Rust' was filmed in New Mexico and Montana.) Working from a checklist of genre signifiers, Souza ticks them off one by one: In one scene, a bowler-hatted man playing a rinky-tinky piano stops suddenly when things get serious; you could swear it's a cue for Leonardo DiCaprio to walk in from the set-within-a-set of 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.' Varmints, outlaws, scoundrels and bullwhackers — plus a fancy woman or two — populate a world where people don't talk, they 'conversate' in florid swirls of extravagant, self-consciously baroque prose; among the men who are pursuing Harland and Lucas through the scrub are a Bible-quoting bounty hunter and a U.S. marshal in the throes of Dostoyevskian doubt. (They're played with commendable gusto by Travis Fimmel and Josh Hopkins.) Harland may be less verbose ('There's alive, and there's ain't. Try to focus on the former'), but he's no less mannered, as both a speaker and an archetype. As a latter-day Shane, Baldwin makes a dashing man of grizzled mystery, even when it's possible to catch a glimpse of Jack Donaghy behind the graying beard and steely eyes. ('30 Rock' fans will need to be forgiven for occasionally flashing on Jack's classic line: 'What am I, a farmer?' Well …) Newcomer McDermott delivers a sturdy, admirably understated performance as Lucas, a boy still learning what it means to be a man, even when manhood has been ruthlessly thrust upon him. That manhood, of course, is most dramatically tested by way of gunfights, which are plentiful throughout 'Rust,' although Souza wisely excised the scene that was being rehearsed when Hutchins lost her life. Still, the movie traffics in the same ritualized shoot-'em-up violence that is just as much a deliverable as fast horses, Stetson cowboy hats and calico house dresses. In the 1800s, guns weren't considered toys or political totems or testosterone delivery systems: They were tools. It took the movies, including westerns, to turn them into fetish objects. Even as 'Rust' honors and emulates those movies, its own backstory serves as a reminder of the lethal reality behind all the quick-draw posing and macho romance. It's an uneasy space to occupy, but it's one, paradoxically, where 'Rust' might have its most lasting value. Unrated. Starts Friday at select theaters nationwide and on-demand streaming services such as Apple TV+ and Prime Video. Contains thematic material and graphic violence. 133 minutes.
