Under the lens takes a deep look at films by focusing in on one or two particular areas of the picture that helped to define it for better or for worse.
Let Him Go is a 2020 drama thriller starring Kevin Costner, Diane Lane and is directed by Thomas Bezucha. The story follows a retired sheriff and his wife, grieving over the death of their son, set out to find their only grandson, after he is taken by the violent family of the boy’s new father.
Under The Lens: Christ figure and Cinematography
Christ figure: Kevin Costners “George Blackledge” though billed as the lead charcter is really more of a support to Diane Lane’s “Margaret Blackledge” observing and supporting her actions and acting as a counterbalance to his and her grief. Blackledge really takes on the elements of a Christ figure in the films second half, as he takes the punishment for his wife actions (getting his hand mangeled). Where it gets interesting is when he sees Margaret begin to fall apart, as the full weight of her guilt and grief comes to bear on her, up to then he had remained supportive yet slightly a luff. When he sees that failing to save their grandson will kill her, he then leaves and goes to the Weboy home to take back his grandson and his mother.
Knowing full well that it will result in his death, over the course of the night his actions result in the death of the whole of the Weboy clan and the destruction of their home. Blackledge took his wife’s guilt onto himself and then removed the evil that was stalking the family but in doing so he sacrificed his own life, jumping in front of a gun aimed at his wife.
His actions not only saved his grandson, but his wife as well, as she now had something to live for, and he had removed the criminal clan of the Weboys and stopped thier reigh of terror. Bringing peace to the region.
Cinematography: The picture had some very beautiful cinematography, as the Blackledges travel we get to see the rolling hills and plains of Montana and North Dakota, but actually shot in Alberta, Canada. It adds a beautify and majesty to the picture that broadens the scope of the story to show how big the world is yet how important our small stories are within it. The lonely feeling the film work created helped to further isolate our heroes and strip away the protections they had previously enjoyed.
Highlights
The burning of the Weboy home was wonderfully filmed
The action was brief but violent and was filmed in a way to showcase its savagery’s
Both Costner and Lane turn in wonderful performances.
Quotable Quote
George Blackledge: Sometimes that’s all life is, Margaret. The list of what we’ve lost.
Something to think about
What would you do and what lengths would you go to save a member of your family?
Conclusion
Overall Let Him Go is a masterful drama that expertly blends the chills of a mystry thriller with the high stakes emotion of an epic romance. We see humanity at its best and its worst, Thomas Bezucha manages to weave together a tale of love, loss, and the path from greaving to healing into a crime thriller that will leave nary a dry eye by the time the credits roll. Let Him Go delivers some late-career tour de forces by Costner and Lane and also further reinforces what an underrated actor Jeffrey Donovan is. You will be carried away by the emotional rollercoaster of the picture and unlike its protagonists this is one you may not be able to let go of.
