'Good Will Hunting' Director's New Movie Is This Brilliant Crime Drama With 92% on RT
This movie is based on an unbelievable but true story.
Gus Van Sant is a director with one of the most diverse and memorable filmographies in modern cinema. He has made indie classics, box-office hits, a shot-for-shot remake of Psycho, and a drama about Kurt Cobain's final days.
After a seven-year hiatus, Van Sant returned with the crime thriller Dead Man's Wire, based on the true story of a crime that took place in Indianapolis in February 1977.
What Is 'Dead Man's Wire' About?
On February 8, 1977, a strange man walked into the Meridian Mortgage office in Indianapolis. His name was Tony Kiritsis. He had an appointment with the company's CEO, M.L. Hall, but the secretary informed him that Hall was on vacation.
The CEO's son, Richard, is willing to meet with Tony instead. In the financier's office, Kiritsis takes a shotgun from a cardboard box and puts a "dead man's wire," a fishing line stretched taut, around Richard's neck. Any sudden movement would cause the gun to detonate the back of Richard's head.
Tony demands $5 million, mortgage forgiveness, a public apology from Hall Sr., and a waiver for kidnapping charges. The criminal quickly grows tired of the police and only wants to continue communicating with Fred, a local DJ.
'Dead Man's Wire' Is More Than Just a Crime Thriller
Dead Man's Wire could have easily been a simple crime thriller about a crime committed by a man on the verge of a nervous breakdown. However, director Gus Van Sant adds a distinctive twist to this genre exercise.
He breaks up the straightforward story of a hostage situation with stylized period footage, shot as if by a film crew at the scene, and weaves documentary sequences into the movie.
Through the use of a variety of artistic techniques, Van Sant masterfully maintains tension and keeps the viewers glued to the screen.
Interestingly, the director imbues Dead Man's Wire with absurd humor. The movie, which could have easily slipped into a one-sided social drama or a run-of-the-mill thriller, repeatedly veers into comedy.
What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Dead Man's Wire'?
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Dead Man's Wire has 92% from critics and 77% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
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On IMDb, the movie has a score of 6.5/10.
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On Letterboxd, Dead Man's Wire scored 3.4/5.0.
Where to Watch 'Dead Man's Wire'?
Dead Man's Wire is available to buy or rent on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.
