First Cow
Reviews
SWITCH.
'First Cow' may show an origin of capitalism, but unlike the wild west of Wall Street, Reichardt points to an alternate reality where it's not the muscle of capitalism that conquers, but rather the sweet companionship and commitment to fellowship that will, not the greed of self-interest. In Reichardt's world, greed is a modern illness, and it's only when Cookie and King-Lu's solidarity falters that their lives begin to unravel. People will succeed in cooperation, not at the expense of others - a lesson that feels even more important now in 2020 than it may have ever felt in 1820. - Joel Kalkopf Read Joel's full article... https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-first-cow-a-minimalist-portrait-of-the-american-dream 8/10/2020 4 stars
Manuel São Bento
If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog @ https://www.msbreviews.com As you should know by now, I love watching films as blind as possible: no trailers and a minimum amount of information about the plot (or none at all). A24 became such a popular studio that I don’t even need to know anything else about the movie, I’m always in. Universal, Paramount, Warner Bros., Disney, and Columbia might be the Big Five of film studios, but gradually people are starting to shift their attention to smaller, independent ones who deliver fewer movies per year, but a higher ratio of great films. This is also the very first movie I watch from Kelly Reichardt. The simplest of research will show everyone that her films are meant to heavily divide critics and audiences, so which side do I fall on this time? I’m not trying to patronize anyone, but First Cow belongs to that category of movies that audiences hate and critics love simply due to the slow pacing and minimalist story. Audiences will look at this flick as a dull, long, uneventful story, while critics will not only appreciate its remarkable technical attributes, but also the sweet, simple narrative that delivers quite a nice message about friendship, loyalty, but also greed and power. I’m not on either extreme, but I did enjoy this flick. Overall, I actually agree with each group’s praises and criticisms. On one hand, this small story feels refreshing and pretty relaxing, having in mind Hollywood is packed with visually overwhelming blockbusters. It’s a weird yet therapeutic couple of hours where the viewer follows two friends trying to get by. Cookie has the cooking abilities and smart ideas, while King-Lu uses his sense of opportunity to bring his friends’ ideas to life. The chemistry between John Magaro and Orion Lee is phenomenal, making their characters’ friendship feel incredibly authentic. The dialogues seem spontaneous and realistic. The editing (also performed by Reichardt) contains few cuts, letting the conversations flow naturally and the action to unravel at a slow, calm pace (in life, things don’t arrive fast one after the other). On the other hand, the simplistic narrative is also rather predictable, and it loses the viewer’s attention occasionally due to the constant dragging out of several sequences where nothing truly happens, story and/or character-wise. It’s undoubtedly a slow-burn, nothing wrong with that, but it just isn’t able to be effective throughout the entire runtime. Christopher Blauvelt’s cinematography looks gorgeous, and William Tyler’s subtle score is particularly pleasant, but visuals and atmosphere can’t carry a screenplay for more than two hours. When the story gets going, it’s definitely captivating, but it gets itself stuck during short periods spread throughout the whole film. In the end, Reichardt and Jon Raymond’s well-written screenplay transmits a pretty kind message developed through two characters who need to find a way to make a living, to improve their lives. Their personalities are distinct, balancing their friendship with both their personal qualities and flaws. Reichardt picks up the co-written narrative and gives it an excellent direction, which apparently has given this duo great success. Hopefully, they’ll keep making movies for everyone to enjoy, some more than others. All in all, First Cow possesses one of A24’s trademarks: unconventional storytelling. Kelly Reichardt and Jon Raymond deliver a well-written screenplay, telling a minimalist story that will probably divide critics and audiences due to its purposefully slow pace and uneventful narrative. Reichardt, who also edited the film, takes a simple premise and gives it a realistic, grounded, layered direction characterized by genuine conversations and a true friendship. John Magaro and Orion Lee offer flawless performances, elevating their characters with emotionally palpable chemistry. Beautiful cinematography and a subtle score help the movie create a relaxing atmosphere different from the usual Hollywood flicks. Nevertheless, its runtime features dragged out moments, a predictable development story-wise, and while the film’s message is quite sweet, it can become a bit of a tedious journey to experience. Overall, I recommend it to anyone who just wants to peacefully watch a simple movie with a great message without caring about how long it takes to reach the end. Rating: B
CinemaSerf
This is a gently comedic story of a couple of pioneering Oregon frontiersmen. Cook-cum-baker John Magaro ("Cookie") who falls in with the entrepreneurial "King-Lu" (Orion Lee). The pair quickly realise that there is a decent amount of money to be made by indulging the sweet teeth of their fellow hardy companions - and when they discover that the local headman has had a cow delivered - the only one for miles - a clandestine business that involves purloining the milk from said cow to enhance their cakes offers riches, but some risk too - the factor (Toby Jones) is unaware that his is, technically, the manna from which these delicious sweets are being made. What follows is a little bit predictable, but nonetheless enjoyable to watch as they try to stay one step ahead of their increasingly cognisant boss. Director Kelly Reichardt takes her time to introduce us to the pair, and to let the story develop gently and entertainingly whilst still offering us a plausible glimpse of the harsh and tough living conditions experienced by these folks in search of everything from gold to land to, well, milk! It's got quite a pleasingly complementary score from William Tyler and is certainly worth a watch - though it doesn't need to be on a big screen.
badelf
For sure not a Hollywood film. This film is a beautifully executed character study about friendship.
Movie Recommendation
Where Is The Friend's House?1987-07-01An 8-year-old boy must return his friend's notebook he took by mistake, lest his friend be punished by expulsion from school.More...
The Trip to Bountiful1985-12-20Carrie Watts is living the twilight of her life trapped in an apartment in 1940s Houston, Texas with a controlling daughter-in-law and a hen-pecked son. Her fondest wish – just once before she dies – is to revisit Bountiful, the small Texas town of her youth which she still refers to as "home."More...
Fourteen2019-08-08Twentysomething Brooklynites Mara and Jo have been close friends since middle school. Gradually, it becomes apparent that the increasingly unstable Jo has troubles that may be the result of substance abuse, or an even deeper problem. Over the course of a decade, the more stable Mara tries to help.More...
Leonor Will Never Die2022-11-25Fiction and reality blur when Leonor, a retired filmmaker, falls into a coma after a television lands on her head, compelling her to become the action hero of her unfinished screenplay.More...
9to5: The Story of a Movement2020-06-19In the early 1970s, a group of secretaries in Boston decided that they had suffered in silence long enough. They started fighting back, creating a movement to force changes in their workplaces. This movement became national, and is a largely forgotten story of U.S. twentieth century history. It encapsulates a unique intersection of the women’s movement with the labor movement. The awareness these secretaries brought to bear on women’s work reverberates even today. Clericals were the low-wage workers of their era. America now confronts the growing reality of deep income inequality. The stories and strategies of these bold, creative women resonates in contemporary America.More...
Night Raiders2021-10-08The year is 2043. A military occupation controls disenfranchised cities in post-war North America. Children are property of the State. A desperate Cree woman joins an underground band of vigilantes to infiltrate a State children’s academy and get her daughter back. Night Raiders is a female-driven dystopian drama about resilience, courage and love.More...
Contactee2021-02-01A therapist, won over by tales of abduction, absconds with his patient to a cabin in the mountains to document the phenomenon, but tangling with an otherworldly intelligence proves more dangerous than they could have ever foreseen.More...
Back to Stay2011-09-12Marina, Sofía and Violeta are three teenage sisters who have just suffered the loss of the grandmother who raised them. Each one will live the mourning in her own way, in a house inhabited by a myriad of memories, responsibilities and tensions.More...
Gracinha2021-11-26After the death of what Gracinha - a ballerina - thought to be the soul of art, she faces a dilemma: can she carry on doing what she's always done, or should she start a search for something that could set her heart free?More...
The Cabin Man2007-01-01We are all in a hurry to fulfil our dreams and reach our destination ahead of time. Then suddenly we find, that time has outpaced us leaving us behind stranded and clueless about the future. Is there a destination in life? Is there life beyond a destination?More...
Tokyo Melody: A Film About Ryuichi Sakamoto1985-04-09Documentary about the eclectic Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto during the recording sessions for his 1984 album "Illustrated Musical Encyclopedia".More...
Collar Bomb2021-07-09A celebrated cop is forced to commit crimes before a suicide bomber blows up a school. As he races against time, the idyllic town around him descends into chaos.More...
The Calming2020-02-21A filmmaker is constantly on the move after recently ending a relationship. As she travels alone between Beijing, Nanjing, Hong Kong and Japan, she observes and engages with her ever-changing environs while seeking an inner calm.More...
Worlds Beyond Earth2020-01-21Journey far beyond our own blue planet to marvel at the latest discoveries from our cosmic neighbors. Immersive visualizations of distant worlds. Groundbreaking space missions. Breathtaking scenes depicting the evolution of our solar system. Narrated by Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong'o, Worlds Beyond Earth tells the story of the dynamic worlds that share our solar system and the unique conditions that make life on Earth possible.More...
Killing Romance2023-04-14Hwang Yeo-rae, a once-popular actress, faces a turbulent marriage and yearns for her old career. When she moves in next to Kim Beom-woo, her biggest fan, a desperate plan to regain her freedom and revive her career unfolds.More...
David Byrne's American Utopia2020-09-10A filmed version of David Byrne's Broadway show, a unifying musical celebration that inspires audiences to connect to each other and to the global community.More...
Assa1987-11-01ASSA is set in Crimea during the winter in the mid eighties. A young musician (Bananan) falls for mobster's (Krymov) young mistress (Alika). The parallel story line involves an 18th century assassination plot.More...
Loves of a Blonde1965-11-12Andula, an innocent Czech girl from a factory town, is desperately in search of love. She believes she's found it when she beds Milda, a charming young musician visiting from Prague. Milda, however, is only looking for a casual encounter, and leaves town assuming he'll never see Andula again. But when Andula doesn't hear from him, she packs up and heads to Prague, to the surprise of Milda and his parents.More...
Midwives2023-08-30After 5 years learning the profession of midwife, “the most beautiful job in the world”, Louise and Sofia are finally entering working life and taking on huge responsibilities in a world where, at a frenetic pace, they handle with birth, motherhood and sometimes death. Will their vocation resist such a storm?More...
Similar Movies
The Hustler
1961-09-25Fast Eddie Felson is a small-time pool hustler with a lot of talent but a self-destructive attitude. His bravado causes him to challenge the legendary Minnesota Fats to a high-stakes match.The Man Who Fell to E...
1976-03-18Thomas Jerome Newton is an alien who has come to Earth in search of water to save his home planet. Aided by lawyer Oliver Farnsworth, Thomas uses his knowledge of advanced technology to create profitable inventions. While developing a method to transport water, Thomas meets Mary-Lou, a quiet hotel clerk, and begins to fall in love with her. Just as he is ready to leave Earth, Thomas is intercepted by the U.S. government, and his entire plan is threatened.Straw Dogs
1971-11-25David Sumner, a mild-mannered academic from the United States, marries Amy, an Englishwoman. In order to escape a hectic stateside lifestyle, David and his wife relocate to the small town in rural Cornwall where Amy was raised. There, David is ostracized by the brutish men of the village, including Amy's old flame, Charlie. Eventually the taunts escalate.The Prestige
2006-10-17A mysterious story of two magicians whose intense rivalry leads them on a life-long battle for supremacy -- full of obsession, deceit and jealousy with dangerous and deadly consequences.The Miracle Worker
1962-05-23The true story of the frightening, lonely world of silence and darkness of 7-year-old Helen Keller who, since infancy, has never seen the sky, heard her mother's voice or expressed her innermost feelings. Then Annie Sullivan, a 20-year-old teacher from Boston, arrives. Having just recently regained her own sight, the no-nonsense Annie reaches out to Helen through the power of touch, the only tool they have in common, and leads her bold pupil on a miraculous journey from fear and isolation to happiness and light.The Talented Mr. Ripl...
1999-12-25Tom Ripley is a calculating young man who believes it's better to be a fake somebody than a real nobody. Opportunity knocks in the form of a wealthy U.S. shipbuilder who hires Tom to travel to Italy to bring back his playboy son, Dickie. Ripley worms his way into the idyllic lives of Dickie and his girlfriend, plunging into a daring scheme of duplicity, lies and murder.Notes on a Scandal
2006-12-25A veteran high school teacher befriends a younger art teacher, who is having an affair with one of her 15-year-old students. However, her intentions with this new "friend" also go well beyond platonic friendship.American Psycho
2000-04-13A wealthy New York investment banking executive hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his co-workers and friends as he escalates deeper into his illogical, gratuitous fantasies.The Shadow on the Wal...
1925-01-01George Walters is a youth who is dominated by Bleary, a heartless bully, who forces him to pose as the son of millionaire George Warring, kidnapped as a baby. The missing son had a twin brother who had recently died, but a painting of the shadow of the late son is on one wall. Walters' shadow matches this painting perfectly, establishing him as the missing son to the Warring family. Walters falls in love with Warring's daughter Lucia and finds that the family attorney Glaxton is slowly poisoning the old man.Squad 36
2025-02-27Forced out of his elite unit, a troubled cop launches his own rogue investigation when mysterious killings claim the lives of his former colleagues.Lamborghini: The Man ...
2022-11-17Follow the launch of Lamborghini’s career as a manufacturer of tractors, a creator of military vehicles during World War II, and the designer of Lamborghini cars, which he launched in 1963 as the high-end sports car company Automobili Lamborghini.Perfume: The Story of...
2006-09-13Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, born in the stench of 18th century Paris, develops a superior olfactory sense, which he uses to create the world's finest perfumes. However, his work takes a dark turn as he tries to preserve scents in the search for the ultimate perfume.25th Hour
2002-12-19In New York City in the days following the events of 9/11, Monty Brogan is a convicted drug dealer about to start a seven-year prison sentence, and his final hours of freedom are devoted to hanging out with his closest buddies and trying to prepare his girlfriend for his extended absence.Anna and the King
1999-12-16The story of the romance between the King of Siam (now Thailand) and the widowed British school teacher Anna Leonowens during the 1860s. Anna teaches the children and becomes romanced by the King. She convinces him that a man can be loved by just one woman.Little Children
2006-10-06The lives of two lovelorn spouses from separate marriages, a registered sex offender, and a disgraced ex-police officer intersect as they struggle to resist their vulnerabilities and temptations.The Virgin Suicides
2000-04-21A group of male friends become obsessed with five mysterious sisters who are sheltered by their strict, religious parents.The Last King of Scot...
2006-09-27Young Scottish doctor, Nicholas Garrigan decides it's time for an adventure after he finishes his formal education, so he decides to try his luck in Uganda, and arrives during the downfall of President Obote. General Idi Amin comes to power and asks Garrigan to become his personal doctor.Thumbsucker
2005-09-16Justin Cobb, a teenager in suburban Oregon, copes with his thumb-sucking problem, romance, and his diagnosis with ADHD and subsequent experience using Ritalin.The Lost Boys
1987-07-31When an unsuspecting town newcomer is drawn to local blood fiends, the Frog brothers and other unlikely heroes gear up to rescue him.Games of Love and Cha...
2003-11-25A group of teenagers living in a housing project in the outskirts of Paris rehearse a scene from Marivaux's play of the same name. Krimo is determined not to take part, but after developing feelings for Lydia, he quickly assumes the main role and love interest in the play.