Night moves film car11/4/2023 ![]() And, again, she makes a decision with her ending that will frustrate some with its ambiguity but thrill those willing to accept her desire to work more in ellipses than periods. In “Night Moves,” as in all of Reichardt’s films, it is not just the incident that matters but its build-up and follow-through. A key one in the final act is shot with close-ups of eyes and feet. What will be the downfall of this trio? Will it be the aforementioned fertilizer scene? Will it be one of the people that they seem to always inadvertently run into as their plan materializes? Will one of the three leads destroy their plan or betray the other two? As one might expect who knows Reichardt’s films, the director avoids easy thriller clichés or even answers. Reichardt builds tension through the cumulative impact of seemingly minor moments. In between, we have the lovely Dena, closer to Harmon in her willingness to work with what she’s given, such as in a masterfully tense scene involving the purchase of fertilizer, but clearly drawn to the brooding, purposeful Josh. Not to be confused with the 2013 movie of the same name with Jesse Eisenberg, or with the 1976 album (and song) by Bob Seger. Josh is the one who needs every detail to fall into place Harmon is the one who rolls with the punches. As is the fact that Harmon knows the guy from his time behind bars, which he failed to disclose. Sure, the waiter who recognizes him during part of their journey could be a problem. Harmon, as perfectly captured by Sarsgaard in what ends up being a disappointingly small role, is more able to adapt to the situation. Eisenberg and Reichardt sketch him too organically to call him calculated but Josh is definitely the most deliberate of the three terrorists. film of Night Moves caliber I would have been flattered. ![]() As played by Eisenberg with more subdued detachment than usual (and perhaps more than the part called for, especially in the final act), Josh is a deliberate, patient terrorist. Once back in LA the teen is killed in a rather reckless auto mishap involving a stunt car. And that they're going to take action.Īs with all of Reichardt’s films, it’s more about the journey than the destination. These are people who have had enough and feel that protests are no longer getting the attention their issues demand. ![]() Reichardt and her writing partner Jon Raymond don’t weigh their narrative down with political rants or environmental messages. The first half of Reichardt’s delicately timed narrative sees the planning of the event the second details the inevitable fallout. Josh ( Jesse Eisenberg), Dena ( Dakota Fanning), and Harmon ( Peter Sarsgaard) are going to blow up a dam. Robinson would have starred in a few decades earlier, but Arthur Penn brings a sun-soaked '70s sensibility to the proceedings with the perfect leading man for the times in Gene Hackman.“Night Moves” is about three people itching to make a statement in a world in which technology has overtaken agriculture. "Night Moves" is exactly the kind of noir Humphrey Bogart or Edward G. James Woods is a decade older, but he was still only a few years into his career at this point, and also already a great actor. Melanie Griffith, even as a young teenager, exhibited inborn natural talent. There is never a false note in any of his performances. ![]() Meanwhile, Harry's wife (Susan Clark, best known to a generation for her role on "Webster") has had enough of his dead-end career and all the time it takes away from their relationship. Josh ( Jesse Eisenberg ), Dena ( Dakota Fanning ), and Harmon ( Peter Sarsgaard) are going to blow up a dam. He ends up in Florida, where he meets Delly's creepy stepfather, Tom (John Crawford), and Tom's sort-of girlfriend, Paula (Jennifer Warren). His first lead is to track down the mechanic she was spotted with before her disappearance (James Woods). When he's hired by a has-been actress (Janet Ward) to find her 16-year-old daughter, Delly (a very young Melanie Griffith), it's a big break for him. Harry Moseby (Gene Hackman) - or "Harr" to his friends, enemies, and casual acquaintances alike - is a beaten-down middle-aged gumshoe whose glory days as a professional football player are long past him. One side is just losing slower than the other."Īrthur Penn's "Night Moves" asks an interesting question: What if a private eye had a private life? What do Philip Marlowe or Sam Spade do when they're not cracking the case? Gene Hackman answers the question: \"Who's winning?\" in Night Moves (1975)
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