Rudderless

Rudderless
 (2014)

A Review by Grant Kanigan

Directed by: William H. Macy

Written by: William H. Macy, Casey Twenter & Jeff Robison

Starring: Billy Crudup, Anton Yelchin, Laurence Fishburne & Selena Gomez

Rating: PG
Release Date: October 17th 2014

Anton Yelchin and Billy Crudup in Rudderless. Source: http://www.rudderlessthemovie.com/#gallery 

     It takes a lot of guts to make a film like Rudderless, and it takes even more guts to do so when you're a first time director. For William H. Macy, though, it's not like he hasn't played the game before. Working with a plethora of visionary directors including Paul Thomas Anderson, Joel & Ethan Coen, Gus Van Sant and Barry Levinson throughout his career, Macy has been exposed to some of the greatest cinematic visionaries in recent history. Not only has Macy been taking notes, but his directorial style, as well as writing style shine through as original.

     Rudderless, although often comical and heartwarming, is at it's core supremely tragic. We meet Sam, played by the underrated Billy Crudup, (Almost Famous, Big Fish), two years after the death of his son in a tragic mass shooting. Living 24/7 in a cycle of self-loathing and alcoholism, Sam avoids responsibility, outside contact, and the grief of losing a child. It's not until Sam's ex-wife, (Felicity Huffman), drops off their deceased son's guitar, journal and demo recordings that Sam's inner humanity begins to stir. Shocked by the poignant, poetic lyrics, and a pained, yet beautifully composed set of songs, (Sam's son as played by Miles Heizer brings to mind the pained soul of Kurt Cobain), Sam begins to learn his dead son's music. Drunk and lonely, Sam stumbles into an open mic and plays one of his son's songs in an effort to connect to his memory. Here, Quentin, (Anton Yelchin), hears the music and begs Sam to continue playing with Quentin at his side. Soon enough, their music begins to grow popular and both Sam and Quentin are forced to confront each other, their pasts, and their future. 

     It would be easy for a film like this to fall into the traps of mirroring real life tragedy, and if Macy hadn't been so creative in his storytelling, Rudderless could have come off as completely exploitative. Yet, it's the humane, broken performance of Crudup and the powerful supporting cast, (Yelchin, Huffman, and Gomez, who proved she could act in Harmony Korine's neon-opus Spring Breakers), that make Rudderless an enjoyable ride that helps the viewer empathise with loss and confronting grief.  Additionally, Macy's script is powerfully written, in such a way that helps the viewer feel Sam's pain, yet unfolds his grief in a shockingly cruel way. We at first see Sam as a selfish jerk, but as we begin to understand his mindset, find a gracious, broken man who is just looking to connect with other human beings. 

     Overall, Rudderless isn't a perfect film, but it's a human story about grief that stands above the rest largely due to it's fantastic casting and a well written script. Macy is a deft director, and his eye works well for a musically inclined story such as this. To top it all off the music is fantastic. Showcasing art in motion, the musical sequences ring true as we see Yelchin and Crudup's characters find their voices, literally and figuratively. In a film where music plays a central role, it's delightful when it's good music. A cross between Of Monsters and Men and the Dropkick Murphy's, Yelchin and Crudup's music, (they both actually sang in the film), is rousing and poignant, just like Sam's story. 

     In closing, if this is Macy's first attempt behind the camera, I can't wait to see what he does next. This is a disturbing, tragic story, uplifted by Macy's faith in the validity of his material. With one of the best casts in years, great music, keen editing and fitting cinematography, this might be one of the best independent films of the year. Crudup, at least, deserves some accolades in the coming months. 

Grant's Rating: 4/5 Stars

Rudderless singing "Angel In Disguise" from Rudderless