As a film enthusiast with a keen eye for gritty realism and a heart that beats for the underdog, I must say that “Rebel Ridge” has truly captured my attention. This Netflix original is not just another action-thriller; it’s a mirror reflecting the sociopolitical climate of today, much like how a Rambo or Walking Tall movie was in its time.
Ever since its debut on Netflix on September 6, “Rebel Ridge” has dominated their charts, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s an intense thriller that combines insightful sociopolitical commentary with enough nail-biting drama and action to make it a potential classic in the future, much like “Rambo” or “Walking Tall”. The compelling story about a Marine veteran battling small-town corruption seems to mirror current events – leading one to wonder: Could “Rebel Ridge” be based on real events?
As I sat down for an exclusive chat with Netflix’s TUDUM on the day “Rebel Ridge” graced our screens, director Jeremy Saulnier elucidated the intriguing blend of fiction and fact that permeates this gripping masterpiece. Indeed, certain scenes in the film are drawn from real-life events, such as Aaron Pierre’s character Terry Richmond’s harrowing encounter with civil asset forfeiture at the movie’s outset. However, it is essential to note that the overall narrative of “Rebel Ridge” is not a retelling of any single event, but rather a brilliant amalgamation of various real-life incidents skillfully woven together by Saulnier.
This movie isn’t directly inspired by any specific event, yet its plot points could potentially be realistic. My focus is on exploring entrenched corruption – not just how these systems originate, but more importantly, what keeps them going.
In a remarkable way, Saulnier delivers on this aspect. Featuring Don Johnson as the chief of police in Sandy Springs, the series Rebel Ridge excellently portrays how small acts of corruption can gradually spread throughout an institution, eventually corrupting its core principles and becoming the standard. As viewers, we find ourselves growing progressively agitated alongside Pierre, which, according to Saulnier, was his intention.
For this film, I aimed to explore the common reactions we all have towards such [unscrupulous] institutions. This encompasses everything from unethical politicians to the frustrating cycle of a phone call with poor customer service.
Rebel Ridge Is Netflix’s Best Original Movie in Years
Since Netflix started creating original films back in 2015 with the launch of “Beasts of No Nation,” they’ve amassed a diverse collection of movies across various genres. However, it’s been quite some time since another original production has garnered as much anticipation as “Rebel Ridge.” Following that, there was “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” in 2018, “The Irishman” in 2019, and “His House” in 2020. Remarkably, the latter is still praised with a perfect rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes to this day.
Remarkably, the film Rebel Ridge has successfully tapped into societal awareness where many others have faltered, largely because of the prevailing environment in the country that is marked by frequent sharing of videos showing police misconduct and political blunders on social media, which fuels growing public discontent. This volatile climate provides fertile ground for Saulnier’s narrative to resonate deeply with viewers. Combined with exceptional acting from Pierre, Johnson, and AnnaSophia Robb, and a gripping time-sensitive plot, Rebel Ridge is undoubtedly Netflix’s finest original movie in years, and hopefully, the beginning of greater things to come.
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2024-09-10 18:31