Inspired loosely by the story of an American college student accused of murder in a foreign country but proclaiming her innocence while studying abroad, director Tom McCarthy tries to recapture the magic of Spotlight in Stillwater, his first effort since 2015’s Best Picture Winner. Many of us (not including me) remember the Amanda Knox story from 20 years ago. Knox, studying abroad in Italy, was convicted of killing her roommate. She spent four years in prison before ultimately being acquitted by the Italian Supreme Court. McCarthy’s film is far from a true story, though this might be his second Best Picture nominee in five years if it had been. However, as a work of fiction, it leans too heavily on implausibility and story convenience. It doesn’t make it a better or worse movie per se. But it does make it slightly less believable.
Stillwater is yet another reason why we go to movies. While it isn’t necessarily a movie that needs to be seen in the theaters, you’ll likely be more engrossed if that is where you can catch it. I think most people will agree that watching a movie in a theater helps us focus better than at home. We have a bigger screen. We have better sound systems. We have far fewer distractions, such as (ideally) our cell phones. Of course, it doesn’t mean we will always like every movie we see in the theater. But it gives it a better chance for success. When your experience at the theater for a film like Stillwater is as rewarding as it is, it also encourages you to return to the theater more often. That is precisely what we need right now as we struggle to return to normalcy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Matt Damon (The Martian, Elysium) gives one of the best performances of his career. Fans of Good Will Hunting will be hard-pressed to say he’ll ever be able to top that performance, and I’m prone to agree. That breakthrough performance is one that I’ll never forget. Good Will Hunting is a movie that needs to be revisited every five years or so because it is as near-perfect a film as you’re likely to find. Stillwater might also deserve a revisit in the future. It is not as emotionally poignant as Good Will Hunting, but some parts of Stillwater attempt to rival it. Much like Damon’s character in Good Will Hunting, his portrayal of Bill Baker in this new film is a deep, multi-layered character study of a man trying to find his way in a world he may not quite fit. Unlike Will Hunting, who had a unique gift of intelligence that he chose to squander for the right to live a right and proper, hardworking life, Bill is trying to escape a past where he’s made many mistakes that have sent his life awry.
Bill is a blue-collar worker from Stillwater, Oklahoma. He’s an oil rig worker who recently lost his job through no fault. The rig he was working on was wrecked during a natural disaster, leaving Bill unemployed. He lives alone but spends time at his mother-in-law Sharon’s (Deanna Dunagan – The Visit) house, visiting, sharing a meal, and fixing things around the place. The duo has a significant commonality that keeps them close, and that is the love for Allison (Abigail Breslin – Zombieland, Signs), Bill’s daughter, who is currently serving a seven-year sentence in France after being convicted of the murder of her roommate/lover, something in which she has claimed her innocence from the start.
When we first see this tattooed middle-American in his blue jeans, comfortable-fitting flannel t-shirt, and well-worn ball cap, who we assume at this point doesn’t ever leave his home state of Oklahoma, at the airport preparing for an international flight after just recently losing his job, everything about it feels odd. There’s no rhyme or reason to any of it until we learn this isn’t just a random trip to Europe to clear his mind. Allison is serving her sentence in Marseille, France, and these trips to visit her have become a regular part of his life. He can see her most days. He brings her tokens from home, washes her clothes in the motel he stays at, and tries to be a source of comfort, familiarity, and hope as she serves the second half of her sentence. He usually stays around for a few days before returning home to Stillwater.
On this most recent visit, Allison slides her father a note and promises to give it to her defense lawyer. The letter contains information Allison learned recently that could lead her to the killer. Bill meets with Lepard, the defense lawyer. Lepard refuses to investigate the case, convinced that the note is just hearsay and that Allison needs to accept the court’s decision and try to find some peace as she continues the second half of her sentence. Bill asks the lawyer for the letter back. He’s convinced of his daughter’s innocence, as you might imagine most parents might be. He meets Virginie (Camille Cottin – House of Gucci), a woman staying at his hotel while her condo is being repaired, and her eight-year-old daughter Maya. Virginie speaks French and English perfectly, whereas Bill can’t speak French. Virginie translates the note, saying that the killer is still out there and may have been a known acquaintance of Allison and her girlfriend, Lina.
In this letter, intended only for her lawyer, Allison includes a part about Bill not always being a good father and having failed her in the past. She doesn’t want her father to know about the letter’s contents and the idea that the killer is still out there because she’s worried about what he might do. He’s a recovering alcoholic, former drug addict, and convicted felon. Mental illness also runs in his family. He’s rash with decisions and often fails to understand the long-term ramifications of his actions. However, most of this is told to us rather than shown. We see firsthand that he wears his heart on his sleeve, even when his mind tells him to behave differently. Damon draws out Bill’s character as someone who lacks impulse control but would run through a wall to protect those he cares about. The drug and alcohol addiction, we have to believe, hampered his relationship with Allison. Maybe it was more a part of the story in the initial script, but there wasn’t any temptation for Bill with either of these mind-altering substances, even when Allison believed there was.
I wouldn’t classify Stillwater as a thriller, as the trailer might lead you to believe. It is more of a drama centered on a mystery, though the mystery becomes secondary for much of the story. Because of the note’s contents, Bill decides to stay in Marseille. He lies to Allison, telling her her lawyer is looking into his case when she is not, and that he will do some unqualified investigation work on his own. He enlists Virginie’s help, as he needs a translator. The two quickly strike up a friendship. Bill becomes close with Maya. Their relationship is the heart of the story. The eight-year-old Maya (played by Lilou Siauvaud) goes toe to toe with this Hollywood heavyweight. This is the most tender relationship I’ve seen on screen through the first seven months of 2021.
Shot on location with French and American actors, Stillwater delivers real depth in the stories of Bill, Virginie, Maya, and, to a lesser extent, Allison. The overarching story remains at its forefront, even when not directly addressed. Bill is far from mysterious, but there’s a certain amount of intrigue in figuring out what’s lurking in his head. While he puts others before himself, it doesn’t mean that what he thinks is the right thing is, in fact, the right thing. His tragic flaw is foreshadowed enough to suggest that something will impair his judgment at the most significant moment.
Stillwater is a great film. It’s not Spotlight, nor does it aim to be. It’s loosely based on actual events but isn’t a true story. Yes, this story could happen, but it almost certainly never would. This is not a Jason Bourne movie. If you expect a thriller, despite what the trailer might lead you to believe. But you will be impressed if you want a soft, loving film with a flawed character trying to be his most honest and best self in the world after a lifetime of mistakes. If you are a Damon fan, this movie is a must-see. While it doesn’t need to be seen in the theaters, I would encourage it if the premise or this review interests you.
Plot 7.5/10
Character Development 9/10
Character Chemistry 9.5/10
Acting 9.5/10
Screenplay 9/10
Directing 9.5/10
Cinematography 9/10
Sound 9/10
Hook and Reel 9.5/10
Universal Relevance 9/10
91.5%
A-
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