Is it possible to love and hate a movie at the same time? ‘The Rover’ is a gritty, noir Western with exceptional performances from Guy Pierce and Robert Pattinson. The story is set against the surrealistic and unique landscapes of the Australian Flinders Mountain Ranges, across the South Australian outback, Leigh Creek, Mareer, Adelaide, Hammond and Copley. The filming over this rough terrain was extremely difficult.

Part hard-boiled detective story, part dystopian doom-and-gloom, the film is set in the not-too-distant future, where financial collapse has left the world’s economy in tatters. We follow Eric (Guy Pierce), a stoic yet broken drifter. When his car is stolen, Eric determines to hunt down the thieves and get back what’s his. Along the way, he teams with Rey (Robert Pattinson), a sketchy backwater redneck, and the two form a surprisingly genuine friendship. The film is a mess of contradictions. The performances are excellent, especially from Pattinson, who manages to break free from his broody heartthrob typecast. And Michôd’s cinematography is masterful, using grit and shadows to give sunny Australia a distinctly noir-ish feel. But the narrative is bare to a fault, as though breathing room and atmosphere can somehow fill the holes where plot should be.

What could’ve been a modern-day Crime and Punishment is instead a slow moving road movie, with only glimpses of its potential. And while the good parts are fantastic, it may not be enough. David Michôd’s previous film ‘Animal Kingdom’ like ‘The Rover’ have his unique filmmaking stamp dealing with dark, gritty material. The Rover was part of the Cannes 2014 lineup and although for me it was frustrating experience, the rare flashes of brilliance were worth it.

Ultimately, the film does reward you for your slog. Its final act is rich with tension, pulling apart our notions of goodness, survival, and justice.

Nominated: Sydney Film Festival 2014 Best Film

Nimy Leshinski