TIFF Movie Review: ‘Wild Horse Nine’

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Review by Adam Courtliff

Martin McDonagh has proven time and again that he is one of the few filmmakers never defined by whatever genre his films are labelled as. True to form, his delightful latest outing, Wild Horse Nine, is no different and arguably packs in the most we’ve seen from him to date, blending dark comedy with history, government conspiracies, trauma and death. On paper, it should not work, but somehow McDonagh has pulled it off, creating an early contender for this year’s best movie at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Wild Horse Nine is set in 1973 and centres around CIA agents Chris (John Malkovich) and Lee (Sam Rockwell), who have been deployed to Santiago, Chile, with the task of destabilising the country’s democracy. It’s a mission that’s threatening to be derailed as Chris battles terminal cancer alongside what appear to be the early signs of dementia. In a bid to get his partner back on track, Lee sets them up with a trip to Easter Island, supposedly Chris’ dream vacation spot, but the duo quickly realise all is not as it seems.

Upon reading the synopsis, you’d be forgiven for thinking that McDonagh was going back down the route of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and delivering a gripping thriller. However, true to form, McDonagh is full of surprises, pushing the complex 70s geopolitical tensions aside to tell two deeply moving, intimate stories about Chris and Lee. They unravel at a gorgeous pace, allowing audiences to build a genuine connection with the pair and develop an emotional investment in the characters that most movies can only dream of achieving.

That’s in large part down to the astoundingly good chemistry between leads John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell. They bounce off each other so effortlessly, as if they have truly been colleagues for decades, with their bickering matches the spitting image of those between an old married couple. There’s a natural charm between them that oozes out of the screen and elevates what is already incredibly strong material to a whole other stratosphere. Without a dynamic like that, it would have been easy for the film to fall by the wayside.

Rightfully, Malkovich is receiving the lion’s share of the praise. This is a career-best performance despite the numerous great ones he’s delivered over the years. His comedic timing is up there with the finest put to screen, with every quirky one-liner or joke landing like an atomic bomb. But equally, in the more emotionally complex moments, of which there are plenty, Malkovich is able to brilliantly capture that side of the character too. It really is an all-time, all-round performance that will be incredibly hard to beat come awards season.

That said, Sam Rockwell really isn’t that far behind. Easily the most enjoyable aspect of his performance is just how evident it is that he’s having the time of his life and is genuinely happy to be there. There are numerous occasions where he looks about ready to break character and howl with laughter alongside the audience, but somehow he’s able to maintain his poise. He equals Malkovich when it comes to the heavier dramatic elements, which is a testament to just how exceptional Rockwell is here.

McDonagh also proves yet again that if he wants a career outside filmmaking and fancies taking up writing stand-up comedy shows, he is more than capable. Wild Horse Nine is by far the funniest movie he has penned to date, but what is even more impressive is how he’s been able to weave all that comedic joy into the weightier elements. It’s a screenplay that captivates from very early on, and once it has that chokehold, it doesn’t let go for a single second. Along the way, it provides a thoughtful exploration of hard-hitting themes that will get the emotions stirring right up.

Much like The Banshees of Inisherin, Wild Horse Nine looks absolutely phenomenal. Cinematographer Ben Davis has truly outdone himself with some gorgeous, sprawling shots throughout that you can’t help but grin at. Just as accomplished is the score crafted by Carter Burwell, which perfectly captures the nature of what is unfolding on screen.

Expectations for any Martin McDonagh film are always going to be sky-high given what’s already on his résumé, which would usually set someone up for disaster. But yet again, he has proven himself to be one of the finest working filmmakers around. Outrageously funny, emotionally charged and completely engrossing throughout, Wild Horse Nine is likely to be unlike anything else you see this year and will comfortably make many people’s best-of-the-year lists in a few months’ time.