In 1973, Santiago, Chile, CIA operatives Chris (John Malkovich) and Lee (Sam Rockwell) have done all they can to set in motion the violent military coup that will overthrow the socialist government. Now they are planning a holiday on Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, as some young students will correct them.
Chris, the elder statesman, is contemplating his life and actions whilst his memory slowly crumbles. Meanwhile, Lee, his colleague, friend and caretaker on this trip, wrestles with requests made by both Chris and their CIA boss, MJ (Steve Buscemi).
Written and directed by Martin McDonagh, Wild Horse 9 is a film that conjures up an array of positive and negative thoughts because it treads far too closely to the McDonagh cinematic blueprint.
The first of these is that this is essentially a retread of McDonagh’s first feature film, In Bruges. That film featured a young and old hitman on holiday in Bruges, with one of them suicidal and the other being asked by their boss to kill him. Wild Horse 9 is a remix of this, but set against the backdrop of the real events of the Chilean coup.
The pair of holiday-goers ultimately share a deep friendship and love for each other, despite their constant verbal sparring.
But many directors repeat themes within their work, which does not make a film inherently uninteresting or worse as a result. The question, though, is whether it delivers something different or special to contemplate. My feeling is that, whilst executed exceptionally well, Wild Horse 9 does not. And so there is a conundrum: I found it both compelling and hollow.
The photography is wonderful. Aside from being only the second film ever to shoot on Rapa Nui, it also perfectly emulates the era in which it is set, through its costumes, sets and the overall feel and quality of the image.
The performances are wonderful. John Malkovich is the best I have seen him in a very long time, managing to convey a man considering the end of his life, grasping at his remaining memories and reflecting on his actions. Sam Rockwell, in his third McDonagh film, plays the conflicted Lee with compassion. But then there are also three rather wonderful cameos. Steve Buscemi, like Malkovich, is delivering one of his best performances in some time. Parker Posey has a few scenes as Lee’s scatty wife, adding more and more stress to his situation. And then Tom Waits delivers an almost film-stealing single scene set in Monument Valley.
Tonally, the film takes you to many places. Whilst it does not quite land as many jokes as a McDonagh film normally would, it explores the idea of male friendship rather well. Meanwhile, the spectre of American imperialism is always looming in the background. But the heavy-handed metaphor of the titular wild horses does not work quite as well.
Did I love Wild Horse 9? I certainly loved moments. The performers nail the sad, wry moments especially well, and the setting and background add a lot of flavour. But the spectre of In Bruges kept coming back to me. Comparison is the devil, and it can ruin most things.
