by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
What kind of passion projects is Peter Dinklage interested in making? The renowned actor is of course most famous for Games of Thrones,where he played the intelligent drunkard, Tyrion Lannister. But Dinklage has had a long career including appearances in Elf, Hunger Games, X-Men, and yes… even Pixels. But you can tell he wants to focus on getting some meatier roles with his recent choices of more independent affairs. This time, he is in the producer chair, teaming up with director Elliott Lester to deliver a compelling, gritty, and cold new Western, The Thicket.
What kind of tale sparked Dinklage’s interest in this case? A young man named Jack (Levon Hawke) without much worldly experience hires a bounty hunter (Dinklage) and his partner (Gbenga Akinnagbe) to find his missing sister, who has been kidnapped by a dangerous outlaw, Cut Throat Bill (who is actually a woman portrayed by Juliette Lewis). This crime epic across the frozen lands of the old west is quite a tale. There are some familiar beats, with the captured character bonding with their captor. You have Jack saving a beautiful young sex worker who joins their flock. There are plenty of Western tropes, but Lester gets plenty out of the screenplay from Chris Kelley (based on the novel Joe R. Landsdale). The film finds its unique footing by leaning into the idea of misfits and outcasts in the old West. Most films at least center on a handsome outlaw or lawman, and probably a beautiful woman for them to pursue. But not here. The mutual understanding and alienation create an interesting dynamic between Dinklage’s Reginald Jones (due to his dwarfism) and Bill’s scars and disfigurements. The dangerous side of humanity brought out by the wilderness is another interesting theme. There are a few unnecessary hanging threads — like the brotherly duo chasing Jones portrayed by James Hetfield and Macon Blair — but the overall story is quite compelling.
Does Elliot bring the right atmosphere to explore this dark side of humanity? The Thicket is no traditional Western. There are no Technicolor vistas. No brightly colored outfits. This is a cold and stark film that captures the hardened edge of the old West. This is wintertime, and Elliot portrays that feeling with plenty of grit. There are no fun beats to be had. Guillermo Garza’s cinematography does a great job of capturing the wintery landscape’s beauty, but also the coldness when the blood spills all over the pure white of the snowy canvas. The score from Ray Suen has a hard, visceral edge, as it packs a wallop. There are no soft edges to Elliot’s film — it feels ripped from Clint Eastwood’s directorial filmography. The Thicket is certainly a post-Unforgiven modern Western.
How about the talented cast? Dinklage is an expert craftsman when it comes to character. There are so many layers to Reginald Jones. Dinklage does a great job modulating the amount of Jones’ true character he presents, and he leans into some seriously emotional moments in the film’s latter half. Lewis is the true standout here, delivering a kind of performance that she really has not done before, one with a gruffness and intensity. Bill is not only mistaken for a man by name. There is a hardened demeanor for Lewis to work with, but there is always a vulnerability right below the surface. The impressive work that Lewis accomplishes makes Bill a compelling and layered antagonist. Hawke does a fine job up against some impressive actors — there are even a few moments where he adds some nuance. Esme Creed-Miles also brings depth and compelling layers to Jack’s captured sister. In the film’s final moments, Creed-Miles delivers some unexpected dimensions. The rest of the cast do well, with Blair, Akinnagbe, and Leslie Grace as some standouts.
Can The Thicket bring attention back to this now modest genre? It is quite a special film, even with its flaws. A narrative with a tad too much going on and hanging threads cannot keep the gritty and resonant experience from making a true impact. Dinklage is fantastic — he really knows how to scout out a story. Lewis is a memorable antagonist in a genre with plenty of them. The Thicket is a haunting and harrowing Western with the right amount of stark reality.
Rating: Liked It
The Thicket is currently playing in theaters
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