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- What Is Blue Ruin About?
- Blue Ruin Is Brilliantly Directed and Subversive
- Blue Ruin Was a Deserved Breakout for Jeremy Saulnier
As a seasoned film enthusiast who’s had the pleasure of watching countless revenge thrillers, let me tell you that Blue Ruin truly stood out from the crowd. Having seen my fair share of action heroes who could take down an army with ease, it was refreshing to see a protagonist as ordinary as Dwight Evans, portrayed masterfully by Macon Blair.
After a five-year wait, numerous COVID-related setbacks, a significant cast change, and a long stint in post-production, the highly anticipated film Rebel Ridge, helmed by director Jeremy Saulnier, is now ready for viewing. Known for captivating action enthusiasts during the 2010s, particularly following the release of the intensely violent Green Room, Saulnier initially envisioned the vigilante thriller Rebel Ridge in 2019, with John Boyega set to star. However, filming was delayed until 2022 due to the COVID pandemic. Midway through production, Boyega departed, reportedly for personal reasons. Despite this setback, and spending two years in post-production, Netflix unexpectedly announced its exclusive streaming release this summer.
Although Saulnier hasn’t quite achieved mainstream success, he’s highly respected in niche audiences, admired for his meticulous storytelling, intense suspense, and graphic violence. So far, Rebel Ridge seems set to be another impressive work in his portfolio. However, it’s possible that Saulnier’s most significant accomplishment may continue to be his 2014 breakthrough film, Blue Ruin, which seamlessly combined the themes of revenge with Saulnier’s distinctive narrative style.
What Is Blue Ruin About?
The movie titled Blue Ruin centers around a character named Dwight Evans (Macon Blair), who leads a nomadic life in his car. When he learns that Wade Cleland, the individual responsible for murdering his parents and currently serving time, is soon to be released from prison, Dwight decides to confront him in his Virginia hometown with a thirst for revenge. Interestingly enough, Dwight achieves his vengeance quite early on – the death of Wade serves as the pivotal event that sets the story in motion.
In Saulnier’s usual style, complications mount for our protagonist, Dwight, as he loses his car keys, prompting a hasty exit in a stolen vehicle. Wade’s ruthless kin soon identify the killer of their brother by tracing the car registration, which is linked to the home address of Sam, his sister, putting both Dwight and his surviving family at risk. Escaping an assault from Wade’s brothers, Dwight unintentionally hits one with his car, resulting in him having to hide the injured individual in the trunk.
It turns out that things are about to get even more intense as Dwight enlists the help of his old school friend, Ben. Together they question Teddy, Wade’s brother, which suggests that the truth behind Dwight’s parents’ deaths might not be what it appears. This revelation leads to a dramatic confrontation between Dwight and the rest of the Wade family, demonstrating how revenge can be self-destructive and its relentless cycle could potentially claim more innocent lives.
In this production, it may seem straightforward, yet Saulnier’s mastery lies in the delivery. Much like his other films, the brilliance resides in the execution. He meticulously trims the narrative to its bare necessities, leaving hardly any redundant scenes behind. Despite minimal character development, he effectively stirs up viewer sympathy through their shared struggle for survival. Above all, Saulnier values his audience; his characters, both heroes and villains, behave in a manner that feels genuine and human. Consequently, the film unfolds as a thrilling game of cat-and-mouse, pushing suspense to its peak.
Blue Ruin Is Brilliantly Directed and Subversive
Initially, it’s clear that Blue Ruin is a superbly crafted movie. This was evident when Jeremy Saulnier emerged as a director to keep an eye on following its premiere. With just his second film under his belt, he demonstrated a mature and assured directing style – all the more impressive given that it was made with a budget of less than half a million dollars. The cinematography is sparse yet effective, providing just the right visuals without drawing attention to itself or lingering too long. Additionally, the sound design is used almost perfectly; Saulnier keeps the volume low for much of the film, creating a feeling of tranquility that’s shattered by sudden, shocking bursts of violence.
It’s the meticulous pacing that gives Blue Ruin its unique charm. Running for approximately two hours, director Saulnier skillfully utilizes every second. Each scene propels the story forward; tension builds gradually until a climactic burst of violence, and the movie concludes at the perfect moment, avoiding any unnecessary prolongation. What makes this even more remarkable is that so much of it unfolds without dialogue, as significant portions of the narrative are nearly silent. This underscores the exceptional talent of Saulnier and lead actor Macon Blair, demonstrating their ability to convey all necessary information effectively, even in the absence of words.
In the densely populated genre of revenge films, “Blue Ruin” manages to stand out from the pack and avoid common moral traps or blending into series like “Taken.” It achieves this by meticulously dismantling the structure of vigilante thrillers, making it one of the most covertly subversive works in the genre since the exceptional “Drive” from 2011. Unlike the powerful action heroes portrayed by Liam Neeson or Keanu Reeves today, Dwight Evans is an ordinary individual, ill-prepared for the challenging task before him and clearly out of his depth.
Saulnier deliberately has Dwight kill Wade at the beginning of the movie instead of later on, to focus more on the unforeseen consequences of seeking revenge rather than the journey itself. Although he doesn’t shy away from portraying graphic violence, the director is less concerned with revenge as a theme and more with the ripple effects that follow when vengeance is enacted. By making rash decisions, Dwight triggers Wade’s family’s pursuit, unwittingly putting his own sister in jeopardy. This underscores the idea that escaping the repercussions of revenge is unattainable. Additionally, Saulnier reinforces this notion of futility with the suggestion that Wade may not have been responsible for his parents’ deaths in the first place.
Blue Ruin Was a Deserved Breakout for Jeremy Saulnier
Watching the movie “Blue Ruin,” it’s easy to see why Jeremy Saulnier was quickly recognized as a rising star in the action film world. Even with just his second feature, he demonstrated a strong understanding of tone, technique, and genre, indicating a promising future ahead for him. The intense “Green Room” only confirmed these impressions, and though we’ve had to be patient, we’re thrilled that he’s back with “Rebel Ridge,” especially since the reviews are some of the best of the year. You can stream “Blue Ruin” on Tubi and Amazon FreeVee, while “Rebel Ridge” is available on Netflix.
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2024-09-08 03:01