The Gift

For those who don't know, The Gift is a film that is both written and directed by actor Joel Edgerton, who also stars as the main lead.

I often enjoy Edgerton's work and the premise of seeing a film that has an actor's hands so deeply woven into it through various platforms always intrigues me. Given how busy I was this weekend, The Gift is a film that I most likely would have skipped had it not been directed by Edgerton.

While it's not the best movie you'll see all year, or even the most memorable, it's a solid little "gift" to begin the ending of summer with. And out of the releases this weekend, it's certainly the best (which isn't saying much when the competition is Fantastic 4).

The Gift is a film that isn't quite horror, though it is scary during parts. It more aptly belongs to the thriller genre, but one with a severe hint of creepy. It tells of the unfolding events when Jason Bateman and Rebecca Hall's married characters move back to very near Jason's hometown and run into a nearly unrecognizable Joel Edgerton playing Gordo (the weirdo). Right off the bat we get the sensation that Gordo is a little off, i.e. socially awkward, and the plot unravels from there. For a significant portion of the film's runtime I thought that The Gift was fairly generic, very well done generic, mind you, but generic nonetheless. Underneath however, there is a true sense of mystery...we the audience begin to feel like we don't quite have all the pieces to the puzzle that we thought we did. That's the hallmark of a solid thriller; one where you think you may have it all figured out, but you're waiting for the twist to drop. And it's in this sense that The Gift is a well crafted mystery.

Joel Edgerton in disguise, hunting down every critic who
mocked him in Exodus: Gods and Kings

You won't really hear me complain about much when it comes to The Gift. Almost everything it sets out to do, it does it well. It may be a film that I only need to see one time, but it's a thrilling first time view and nearly every aspect of the film works to its favor. I wish the original score had been more than just a collection of high-octave orchestral strings, but it works. I would have liked it if the film were trimmed by about 10 minutes, but again, it still works just fine. I even would have liked a little bit more of an explanation/sense of finality with the conclusion but, once more, that works too. And what's pretty amazing about a film that I rather enjoyed but have no complaints about is that this is a directorial debut from a guy who also wrote and starred in the film. That's damn impressive.

"Sound it out honey. I'm sure you'll get it..."

The Gift's strengths, or "gifts" if you will, are with its script, its performances, and its pacing. The script is very natural feeling. These conversations don't feel like movie conversations, they feel genuine. Gordo especially has some meticulously crafted dialogues that further the sense that he's a bit weird, but they don't downright make you despise or condemn him as the villain. It's a fine line between realistically creepy and overdone, but the film walks it exquisitely. The performances all around by the main trio are also stellar for this kind of film. Edgerton really lives out the script the way that he saw fit and also balances that aforementioned line quite well. Rebecca Hall is solid as the wife who doesn't quite know what to believe and Jason Bateman really surprised me with his dramatic capabilities, though I can't go into too much more detail for fear of ruining the film. I also found the pacing to be fantastic with the film seeming to move along at an appropriate pace at all times. We are introduced to Gordo, we experience Gordo a bit, some weird things start to happen, and it builds to a satisfying conclusion.

Edgerton arrives at the last critic's house, ready to end his torment
once and for all.

Sometimes it's nice to go to the theater and just be delighted with a film that spells success for multiple parties. With this very solid debut, it's clear that Edgerton has a knack for sitting in the chair behind the camera, and I see Bateman attempting more dramatic roles (though I know this isn't his first) more in the future. The Gift will leave you feeling creeped out, pondering the layers of the film, and most likely just being nicer to people in general. But personally it also left me very intrigued to see what Edgerton does next.

CONS:

• Could have used a slight trimming of runtime
• Personally would have liked a less open-ended conclusion, but I also respect the decision that was made
• Original score isn't very memorable
• One-time view

PROS:

• Fantastic direction, script, and performance from Edgerton. It's very clear after seeing this film that he has talents in multiple areas
• To expand on that point, his script and performance do an expert job of balancing genuine creepiness and oddness in the character of Gordo, while still maintaining that this is a film designed to entertain audiences
• Bateman and Hall also give strong dramatic performances
• Solid cinematography
• Really strong pacing throughout. I hardly felt like the film ever rushed or dragged
• Great sense of mystery, even during the times that we feel like we have it all figured out. The ending won't blow your mind, but it's still quite shocking
• Very solid thriller overall

Rath's Review Score: 8/10