'A Single Shot' A Review

A Single Shot is a rural thriller that follows a man who accidentally kills a young woman and discovers a toolbox full of cash. John Moon(Sam Rockwell) is a solitary West Virginian farmer, rancher, hunter and sometimes poacher who is going through an unwanted, and what he considers undeserved, divorce. He sees the money as a way to put his life back together, however the money, the corpse and unknown dangers keep surfacing.

This neo-noir doesn't tread new ground plotwise owing much to A Simple Plan, No Country For Old Men, and Fargo. It does offer a platform for some great actors to put in some interesting nuanced performances extending far beyond their usually type. Sam Rockwell carries the film with a quiet, understated, emotional performance that runs counterpoint to his usual goofily charming antics. The first 14 minutes of the film have no dialogue and give Rockwell a chance to patiently set up the character we're about to follow.

The cast is rounded out with great turns by William H. Macy, Ted Levine, Jason Issacs, Joe Anderson and a number of smaller roles that bring this small West Virginian town to life. Jeffrey Wright as Sam Rockwell's only friend gives a magnetic, desperate, wild performance as a drunk plummeting towards rock bottom. The only misstep in casting is Kelly Reilly as Rockwell's estranged wife. The English actor is out of her depth playing a tough rural American, this performance isn't as painful as her turn as recovering drug addict in Flight but it's close.

Other reviewers have criticized the film for being well trodden territory and for "over-the-top" acting. The story has been done, yes, but in our current culture of sequels, reboots, and adaptations this film gives a chance for great actors to do some real acting. The dialects and performances could be considered too much if you've never been to West Virginia or known country folk, I found the film evocative of a place and people that are definitely real.

A Single Shot is intense and desperate, thought provoking and melancholic.  The narrative is not original, the performances are.

See It.