Ain't Them Bodies Saints

Ain't Them Bodies Saints is a typical American indie--bleak, about downtrodden people, with occasional bursts of violence just to keep us awake. It is visually poetic, and reminds one of Terence Malick, although that is a double-edged sword.

The film concerns a couple, played dourly by Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara. They are both some kind of criminals, and participate in a robbery or something (much of the action is off screen, either a cinematic technique or a nod to budget). They are holed up in a cabin in a shootout with police. Affleck's brother is killed, and Mara shoots a policeman (Ben Foster). Affleck says they will give up and he will take the heat for shooting the cop. Sure enough, he goes to jail, she is acquitted, and she promises to wait for him.

But he doesn't want to wait, and busts out of jail. As he makes his way back to her the authorities search for him while he relies on the kindness of strangers (sometimes at the end of a gun). He visits an old friend (Nate Parker) and then his father (Keith Carradine). Bounty hunters are chasing Affleck, leading to the inevitable shootout.

Ain't Them Bodies Saints is technically accomplished, with terrific photography by Bradford Young. I also liked the way it was edited, without bogging down in too much exposition. But it's so downbeat that I found myself restless, and the lead characters don't exhibit much in the way of a personality. Affleck is a little more animated, but Mara is a complete blank. Foster, not knowing she was the one who shot him, spends a lot of time with her and grows to love her, but it's not clear whether she reciprocates this in any way or is just using him or what.

The film was written and directed by David Lowery, and I would be interested in seeing what else he does. Ain't Them Bodies Saints shows promise, even if it isn't ultimately satisfying.