'The Power Of The Dog' Review: Jane Campion's Adaptation Of Thomas Savage's Western Novel Is The Frontrunner For Best Film Of The Year

Arlington TX

29 November, 2021

6:59 PM

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By Joe Friar, Fort Worth Report November 28, 2021 He may not be a savage killer like Henry Fonda's Frank or Lee Van Cleef's Angel Eyes, two of the most iconic villains in the Western genre, but Phil Burbank played by Benedict Cumberbatch, in a career-high, is a ruthless a-hole, to say the least. The character is the driving force in Jane Campion's "The Power of the Dog" based on the 1967 novel by Thomas Savage. In many ways, the film resembles a rustic version of the director's 1993 Palme d'Or and Oscar-winning "The Piano" notwithstanding the musical instrument's prominence. Both are period dramas with themes of repressed sexuality, oppressed female protagonists, and a challenged progeny. Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, and Kodi Smit-McPhee round out the superb performances in one of the best films of the year. The story takes place in 1925 Montana where for the last two decades brothers Phil (Cumberbatch) and George (Plemons) have been riding side by side on cattle runs while overseeing the daily operations of the largest ranch in the valley entrusted to the siblings by their parents (Peter Carroll and Frances Conroy) who abandoned rural life to become city-dwelling socialites. Not much has changed at the old homestead, including the fact that the brothers still sleep next to each other on twin beds in the same room they've shared since childhood. That's about to change. Enter Rose (Dunst), a widow who owns The Red Mill restaurant run with the help of her effeminate and soft-spoken teenage son Peter (Smit-McPhee). He's a bit naïve and innocent — the kind of kid who doesn't realize when he's being ridiculed — yet he's not withdrawn. His character arc is one of the most intriguing elements of the film alongside Cumberbatch's Phil. One day Rose is asked to prepare dinner for Phil, George, and their ranch hands. Peter makes paper flowers as place settings to spruce up the old wooden eatery and plays the role of waiter, donning a napkin draped over one arm. The evening turns into a disaster after Peter's appearance seems to offend Phil's masculinity, "I wonder what little lady made these?" he deliberately asks knowing that Peter made the artificial blossoms. Later he ends up burning the paper flowers and nickname's Rose's son, Ms. Nancy Boy. Both Rose and Peter are brought to tears by Phil's cruelty. This doesn't sit well with George who later returns to the Red Mill to apologize for his brother's behavior. He begins to pay regular visits to Rose, helping her around the restaurant, the two fall in love. To read the full article, click here. Fort Worth Report is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that produces factual, in-depth journalism about city and county government, schools, healthcare, business, and arts and culture in Tarrant County. Always free to read; subscribe to newsletters, read coverage or support our newsroom at fortworthreport.org.