No, please, not another “hit man with a heart of gold” film from Hollywood.
Been there, morally excused that.
“Wild Horse Nine” offers a glorious exception. The tale of CIA agents grappling with death, loyalty and the meaning of life is nothing like recent hit men movies.
Blame writer/director Martin McDonagh, simply one of the best storytellers working today. McDonagh even dabbles in today’s anti-American zeitgeist with such finesse that Lee Greenwood might chuckle.
Chris and Lee (John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell) are en route to Easter Island circa 1973 as part of a nebulous CIA assignment. Chile has just elected Salvador Allende, and the CIA has … plans for the Marxist leader.
Google it.
For now, Lee is essentially Chris’ chaperone as they sightsee between bickering. Chris is dying and has no control over what he says at any given moment, with or without his morphine. He also holds secrets that need to stay hidden.
The latter is no small detail.
The two share a prickly chemistry, with Lee putting up with most, but not all, of Chris’ flights of fancy. Their banter is pure McDonagh, brimming with insight, wisdom and sour truths.
Their moral compasses appear broken by government diktat, but McDonagh’s camera frequently catches holy crosses in Chris’s room or within reach. Does Chris regret a life of calculated murder? What secrets may he carry with him to the grave?
Toward that end, he mutters details of his career into a dictaphone during their travels. That’s of special interest to his superior, played by a frenetic Steve Buscemi. Yeah, that’s a familiar note for the “Miller’s Crossing” alum, but who plays it better?
There’s more, of course, including a grand conspiracy that would make Oliver Stone blush. It’s all a joy to observe, from the duo’s endless squabbling to the portrait of a man contemplating far more than his own mortality.
What kind of a life did he lead? Is the world better off without him?
You’ll laugh and wince at what ensues while marveling at the saturated landscapes. “Wild Horse Nine” is flat-out beautiful, from the obvious pleasures of Easter Island to the stark color choices surrounding our leads.
Malkovich needs no enhancements.
The veteran actor creates a wildly original crank, someone who makes us mourn for his soul before wishing he would leave this mortal coil, stat. Rockwell is just as dialed in, but for all his screen time, it’s a supporting turn.
This is Malkovich’s movie, and a Best Actor nomination is more than a lock. It’s destiny.
“Wild Horse Nine” takes a dark look at American interventionism, and while core facts bear it out it still plays comically loose with history. McDonagh’s grip on the tone and material is vise-like, allowing him to dabble in detours that might otherwise cost him our respect.
His latest film is morbid yet sly, a celebration of life that brims with destruction. A subplot involving two young women adds considerable nuance to Chris’ plight, and few will predict how their arcs will wrap.
This is smart, dense storytelling that’s both hilarious and requires a second watch. The first alone is glorious.
HiT or Miss: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Genre: Drama/dark comedy
Runtime: 1 hour, 58 minutes
Where to Watch: In theaters Nov. 6
Family Friendly? R (Violence, blood, mature themes and adult language)
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