Early Access Screening: Tue, Sep 15 at 8:00pm
In Oregon during the Great Depression, battle-scarred veteran Samuel Murphy (Ethan Hawke) is torn from his daughter and sent to a brutal work camp where the Warden Clancy (Russell Crowe) tempts him with early release if he smuggles a fortune in gold through 100 miles of deadly wilderness. Beset by impenetrable conditions and watchful locals on the take, Murphy leads a crew of prisoners on a desperate mission to save what’s left of his family. A more-than-worthy addition to the WAGES OF FEAR / SORCERER canon of precious cargo and precarious conditions, THE WEIGHT is a kickass throwback to the outdoor adventure films of the ‘70s and ‘80s — and a great time at the movies.
“Hawke is mesmerizing. The action scenes are tense and well-executed, though it’s the way he grounds it that makes you feel every setback…. As Hawke’s stoic visage shifts in ways big and small, you can’t look away for even a second. He holds the film firmly in his hands even when saying few, if any, words.” —Chase Hutchinson, The Wrap “Charged with raw energy, driven by a harrowing score from brothers Latham and Shelby Gaines and Matteo Cocco’s vivid cinematography. The visuals are stunning, evoking the smell of nature, warmth from campfires, and the cold of night.” —Rosa Parra, Latino Slant “Certain things are proven to get better with age: cast-iron cookware, catcher’s mitts, and Ethan Hawke…. Hawke brings a sincerity to his performances that pulls you into the diverse worlds of his films. His range has only refined and widened over the years, affording him a character actor versatility as a leading man. He can elevate a film that has its faults or, in a film like THE WEIGHT, complement a strong one to help it reach its potential.” —Kent M. Whilhelm, The Film Stage
