Why The Power Of The Dogs Reviews Are So Positive

Why The Power Of The Dog’s Reviews Are So Positive

The Power of the Dog is Jane Campion’s big return to the big screen, and critics have a lot of good things to say about it. Let’s take a look.

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Why The Power Of The Dogs Reviews Are So Positive

The Power of the Dog has had a great run since its premiere at the 78th Venice International Film Festival in September 2021, and now that it got a limited theatrical release and it’s about to be released on Netflix, critics have a lot of good things to say about it. Western dramas have gained some popularity in recent months, and one of the latest titles to join this genre is The Power of the Dog, directed by Jane Campion (The Piano) and based on the 1967 novel of the same name by Thomas Savage.

Set in 1925 Montana, The Power of the Dog follows wealthy ranch owners Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch) and George Burbank (Jesse Plemons). Phil is a charismatic rancher who inspires fear and awe in those around him, but when George brings home a new wife, Rose (Kristen Dunst), and her son, Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee), Phil torments them until he finds himself exposed to the possibility of love, while those around them struggle with their own demons. As mentioned above, The Power of the Dog had its premiere at the 78th Venice International Film Festival, where Campion won the Silver Lion for Best Director.

The Power of the Dog got a limited theatrical release in different countries and will arrive on Netflix on December 1, and it’s already getting praise from critics. At the time of writing, The Power of the Dog has a 95% score in Rotten Tomatoes based on 190 reviews. What critics are pointing out as the strengths of The Power of the Dog are Campion’s direction, the story’s pace, and the cast’s performances that project the story’s sense of melancholy and solitude. Here’s what some of the positive reviews of The Power of the Dog are saying:

Empire:

“Cinematographer Ari Wegner captures the vistas of Campion’s native New Zealand, doubling as Montana, in lucid, breathtaking detail, while Jonny Greenwood continues his journey as a maverick composer, bookending the narrative with scuffed, low guitar notes and sorrowful strings. Cumberbatch is at his peak here. This is the first time that Campion has presented her filmmaking through a male perspective, and with all of Phil’s flaws and foul nature, the actor is completely engaging.”

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EW:

“The dialogue is sparse and the scenery obscenely beautiful, the wide-open vistas of her native New Zealand standing in for circa-1925 Montana. Cumberbatch at first feels like he might have been miscast — too intrinsically British and cerebral for the cruel Marlboro Man swagger of his character. But as he and Smit-McPhee begin to circle one another, the odd thrumming chemistry between the actors clicks in in a way that feels almost inevitable.”

Screen Rant:

“Campion’s film is subtle, deeply layered in its approach to both men, their views of each other, and what it really means to be a masculine figure in society. To that end, The Power of the Dog provides a measured, profound analysis of its characters and subject matter.”

The Wrap:

“With Smit-McPhee’s Pete, Campion bets on his immutable poker face; the young actor is terrifyingly remarkable. […] A formidable Dunst, also making her grand re-entrance into cinema after a few years away, melts into the part of a woman weakened by harassment and driven to alcoholism. […] Cumberbatch wrangles an earth-shattering performance, perhaps his best ever, with an excessive bravado that seems to consume Phil from within.”

The AV Club:

“Although he’s playing a character who’s feared by everyone around him, Cumberbatch refrains from showy outbursts, opting instead to convey Phil’s rigid worldview through stiff posture, hateful words, and an intense, beady stare. Dunst hides Rose’s despair until she can’t anymore, fear and sadness tumbling out of her as she drunkenly stumbles barefoot across the ranch yard wearing nothing but a slip. […] Smit-McPhee’s sensitive, scholarly Peter similarly contains turbulent inner depths, as we learn when a pet rabbit becomes a dissection model for the aspiring physician.”

Not all praise goes to the performances of the cast of The Power of the Dog – Ari Wegner’s work as the movie’s cinematographer has also been pointed out as one of the best elements of the movie and with good reason, as the scenarios (in this case, those of New Zealand posing as Montana) are key in telling a Western story, and it’s no exception in The Power of the Dog, as they bring more power and also a sense of loneliness to the stories of Phil, Rose, Peter, and George. Although The Power of the Dog has strong performances from its main cast, some critics have highlighted the lack of screen time of Plemons’ George and Dunst’s Rose as a weakness, as well as the pace of the final act and the movie in general, though for others those weren’t a problem at all. Here’s what some of the negative reviews of The Power of the Dog have to say:

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Discussing Film:

“The core problem lies in the film’s largely lackluster story. Surely, this narrative could have been retooled to be more engaging. The Power of the Dog starts slow and never really picks up, in spite of its all-around promising cast and crew. Additionally, due to this, the film starts to come across as dull. It flutters back and forth over the line of boredom as it occasionally reignites the spectator’s attention”

Midwest Film Journal:

“Frustratingly straightforward and shallow, it is the sort of film that requires the audience to bring a lot more insight and thought than the movie itself is willing to provide.”

Film Inquiry:

“Frustratingly straightforward and shallow, it is the sort of film that requires the audience to bring a lot more insight and thought than the movie itself is willing to provide.”

It was expected that The Power of the Dog would draw some criticism due to its exploration of masculinity, the secrets of its main character (predictable or not), and Campion’s narrative style, but the strengths of the movie overshadow its minor flaws. Ultimately, like with any other movie, it’s up to every viewer and their own experiences to decide if The Power of the Dog is worth all the praise or if Jane Campion’s big return to the big screen fell short.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/power-dog-movie-reviews-good-rotten-tomatoes-reason/

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