Film Review: Night Moves

Not to be confused with the Bob Seger song, Night Moves is the name of a boat.

 

Night Moves
Director: Kelly Reichardt
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Dakota Fanning, Peter Sarsgaard, Alia Shawkat, Logan Miller, Kai Lennox, Katherine Waterson
Rating: (M)
Three and a half stars (out of five)

 

Bought by two idealistic eco-crusaders, the sporty powerboat is at odds with the personas of Josh (Jesse Eisenberg) and Dena (Dakota Fanning).

So it comes as no surprise when they don't pack the water-skiing gear and chilly bin.

After they drive the boat to meet the third accomplice, Harmon (Peter Sarsgaard), we discover they plan to stash fertiliser in the hull which, when detonated, will cripple a hydro-electric dam.

If this sounds a little vague, that is precisely how Night Moves works.

Lacking the barest crumbs of back story, it's never clear how the three characters know each other or why they are taking such radical environmental action.

Apart from Josh's comment about saving salmon from consumers who need to power their iPhones, even their end goal is buried in the shadows.

Thankfully, Kelly Reichardt's assured direction and the solid (but miserable) performances of the leads buy a bit of time.

When the terrorist act goes awry, Night Moves kicks into another gear. After the painfully slow but gripping exposition, constructed from interminable takes of Josh's expressionless face, the relationship between the three implodes, with devastating consequences.

As an intense examination of radical environmentalist action, Night Moves barely gets a pass mark.

Rather, this is an engaging character study about one psychopath (Josh) for whom hanging about with a fringe element suits his social incompetence. If he really did care about the environment, would he drive a gas-guzzling 4WD?

Best thing: The performances.
Worst thing: The ending, or complete lack of one.
See it with: Anyone partial to a bit of pretentious art-house fare with their thrillers.

- Mark Orton

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