On of the most mysterious sites in our world is Easter Island. Taken its name from the day AFTER it was discovered, the beautifully carved statues called Moai, are more than just the heads: many have full bodies and arms. It is also the worlds most secluded inhabited island, which makes it the perfect location for a film like Wild Horse Nine.
This is the latest film directed by Martin McDonagh (The Banshees of Inisherin) and boasts a cast that includes John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi, and Mariana Di Girolamo. Taking place in 1973 Chile, 2 CIA agents named Chris (Malkovich) and Lee (Rockwell) are dealing with the political unrest that they may or may not have had something to do with. Chris and Lee decide to take a quick vacation to Easter Island while dealing with their boss, MJ (Buscemi), who does not like Chris even a little bit. As their week-long trip goes on, secrets are revealed and things get more complicated.
For the most part, this file is just Rockwell and Malkovich with Buscemi in a supporting role. I can easily see some nominations at the end of the year, but only for the acting and possibly cinematography, which is incredible and sharp. The chemistry between Rockwell and Malkovich is so good that it is one of the best duo performances I have seen in a long time. And don’t get me wrong, even though the rest of the cast may have minor roles, they do very well also in their performances.
This film has a arthouse feel in its uniqueness with a basic plot that reminded me of films like About Schmidt. The story at its core is strong, making some very interesting references to real life events, but for just under two hours, it does overstay its welcome with many smaller scenes that could have been cut. There were a few times I was thinking, “What are these people talking about and what does this have to do with the main story?” Again, the acting is great, I do like McDonagh as a director, and I have enjoy some of his films like Three Billboards and Banshees, but this one feels flat. A lot of this film reminded me of his hit The Banshees of Inisherin, just repackaged with a different name, characters and location. I will definitely recommend Wild Horse Nine, but only as a weekday matinee showing in a theater.