As someone who has spent years immersed in the gritty world of crime thrillers, I can confidently say that Rebel Ridge is a masterpiece. After being delayed for five long years, it’s finally here and it was worth the wait.
Work on action thriller “Rebel Ridge,” directed by Jeremy Saulnier, began five years ago. The film will finally premiere in 2024 on Netflix, following initial delays due to COVID-19 and the departure of John Boyega as the lead actor. Aaron Pierre now stars as Terry Richmond, a character investigating a conspiracy in a small town after his cousin’s bail money is taken. Critics have had an early sneak peek at the movie before its streaming release with a Netflix subscription, so let’s see what they think of it.
With Aaron Pierre, Don Johnson portrays Shelby Springs Police Chief Sandy Burnne, while AnnaSophia Robb embodies Summer McBride, a court clerk who assists Terry with his task. The movie Rebel Ridge is garnering positive early reviews from critics, such as Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com, who awards it 3.5 out of 5 stars. In Tallerico’s opinion, the film demonstrates that Jeremy Saulnier can effectively blend escapist entertainment and weighty subject matter within a single movie. Additionally, he anticipates more from Pierre in future projects, as per Tallerico’s statement.
Saulnier’s triple strength in directing, scriptwriting, and editing plays a crucial role in making Rebel Ridge stand out, yet Pierre’s performance should not be underestimated. He masterfully portrays a mix of desperation and determination that makes his character compelling. It takes sheer desperation to face off against a whole police force of armed fools; it takes unwavering determination to come out victorious. While Pierre has been impressive in previous roles such as Brother and The Underground Railroad, this performance marks the best work from him so far. I have no doubt that we’ll be seeing more of his talent for a long time to come.
William Bibbiani of The Wrap shares similar sentiments with the critic mentioned earlier, praising the film “Rebel Ridge” as a thrilling journey that doesn’t require viewers to disengage their minds. By skillfully building tension from every suspicious move made by the small-town police force, the director delivers an electrifying, heart-pounding, intricate climax that is completely captivating and leaves audiences breathless with satisfaction. Bibbiani further adds:
Rebel Ridge – A Gripping Tale of Struggle and Suspense
Daniel Joyaux of IndieWire grades the film as a B+, aligning with numerous other critics in drawing parallels with a contemporary version of “First Blood“. Aaron Pierre delivers an electrifying charm, according to Joyaux’s review, while Jeremy Saulnier crafts an overall engaging thriller that tackles police corruption. The review further applauds Pierre for his captivating performance.
In this rephrased version: Aaron Pierre, known for roles in Barry Jenkins’ Underground Railroad and the relatively unnoticed Canadian film Brother, is captivating in his latest performance. Initially, John Boyega was chosen to play Terry, but Pierre breathes such life into the character that it’s challenging to envision anyone else delivering it as effectively. He dominates the screen with a striking presence, conveying both taut tension and effortless calm simultaneously.
Mark Kennedy from AP finds the film “Rebel Ridge” to be compact, intense, and brimming with suspense. Once viewers are drawn into the plot, they might find themselves unable to tear their eyes away until they learn how Terry fares against the crooked cops of Louisiana. Kennedy awards this gripping drama a rating of 3.5 out of 4 stars.
Similar to its main character, Rebel Ridge is a sleek and powerfully built film with minimal extravagant visual effects, except for the striking eyes of Pierre. It’s a testament to economical, realistic filmmaking, where cars on a gravel path create thick plumes of dust and bones snap under pressure. The dialogue is concise, leaving room for some down-to-earth wisdom like “You know what they say about a contest of urine? Everyone ends up with wet boots.” There isn’t a single redundant element in it. In other words, if a bottle of coconut water appears in one scene, you can expect it to be used later on.
According to A.A. Dowd from IGN, this Netflix thriller is given a rating of “Excellent” (equivalent to 8 out of 10). He praises it as an intelligent and suspenseful film that culminates in a very satisfying ending.
As a game enthusiast, I can’t wait to dive into Jeremy Saulnier’s latest thriller, a rollercoaster ride that finds me, an outsider, in a tricky situation with crooked cops profiting from civil asset forfeiture. The ensuing power struggle feels like a modern-day reinterpretation of Sylvester Stallone’s first Rambo adventure, First Blood – think gritty action meets powerful political commentary about contemporary America. Saulnier masterfully exposes the legal loopholes that enable police to abuse their power, all while keeping me on the edge of my seat with nail-biting suspense. This is the kind of movie modern audiences crave: intelligent, gripping, and thought-provoking.
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2024-09-06 22:37