On a good day, I like to think of myself as a connoisseur of cinema; but even I am a man who can enjoy simple tastes. For me, the intersection of such joys continues to be the works of writer/director Martin McDonagh. As we’ve seen in films like The Banshees of Inisherin, he can make us laugh and cry at the drop of a hat in tales examining human morality. With Wild Horse Nine serving as McDonagh’s return to the big screen, he’s playing those lines again – and with Sam Rockwell and John Malkovich helping out!
Honestly, that’s a team up I kind of didn’t know I needed; and something tells me you readers would be inclined to agree. But just to be safe, let me show you Searchlight Pictures’ trailer for Wild Horse Nine, before we go any further:
Ah yes, there’s nothing that says the ‘70s like a shady intelligence operation meant to destabilize a foreign government. Seeing Sam Rockwell and John Malkovich busting each others chops in the field is definitely a gift in itself! Wild Horse Nine only amps up that fun with the addition of Steve Buscemi to the cast; as well as the plot described in the synopsis below:
Shortly before the 1973 Chilean coup, CIA agents Chris (John Malkovich) and Lee (Sam Rockwell) are dispatched from Santiago to Easter island by their bureau chief, MJ (Steve Buscemi). Amongst the Island’s iconic statues, and as the longtime partners wrestle with their dark pasts and present conspiracies, Chris’s newfound bond with a pair of rebellious students (Mariana di Girolamo and Ailín Salas) threatens to send everyone’s trip to this remote paradise sideways.
So far it looks like audiences are in for a hilariously misanthropic romp through some weighty subject matter. That’s par for the course in Martin McDonagh’s work, which means that some of you are already anticipating how Wild Horse Nine will twist its tale into more dour territory. For that, you don’t need tea leaves – but you may need to get your tuxedo pressed.
Wild Horse Nine Could Pack A Pretty Relevant Punch
Considering the clandestine operation that Rockwell and Malkovich are engaging in, the current climate of international relations are set to lend some relevance to this picture – for better or worse. On the bright side, McDonagh could see early awards season chatter amping up, both because of that relevance and his previous works.
Yes, it’s way too early to call such a shot; and I’m the first to admit it. The validity of my feelings shall truly be tested this fall, as Wild Horse Nine saddles up to bicker and shoot people, on November 6th. So while you’re looking for reasons to prove me wrong, be sure to mine our THS Movie News archives for further intel on the latest and greatest in pop culture!
That Hashtag Show
