Writer-Director John Swab has crafted a film for his fourth feature that seems to be very personal. It's an area of the U.S that he knows well containing family nuances that appear to be second nature to the writer- director. Ida Wyatt ( Melissa Leo) is the local Tulsa, Oklahoma crime boss operating from prison. Her main conduit to the outside world is her son Wyatt (Josh Hartnett) in a smartly chosen return to screen royal shaking up his poster boy image from his first go-round of acting fame. By Wyatt's side is his reckless, impulsive hardened criminal Uncle Dallas (Frank Grillo). The film opens with the pair heading a crew posing as D.E.A. agents as they rob a tractor-trailer as part of a routine stop and inspection looking for specific cargo on the manifest that will yield a worthy profit. Wyatt's other side is his strong love and loyalty to his family. He's good to his niece Darla (Sofia Hublitz) who clearly has that Walker bad trouble gene and kind to his sister Jeanie (Deborah Ann Woll) who definitely does not as she is married to local cop Bodie Collier (George Carroll).
Strong writing separates this film from a crowded crime genre field. Many of the characters have real depth and are conflicted by their choices. Bodie had married into the crime family that is committing acts on his watch that are his sworn duty to stop. Yet in the second scene of the film, Wyatt turns up at a birthday barbecue where he spends quality time with young Darla. Bodie's alliances are questioned by FBI Special agent Lawrence Twilly played by great character actor William Forsythe wanting to know how Bodie finds himself mixed up with the Walkers. The two main jobs in the film play out with twists and turns with the second in particular having many unexpected twists and turns that will keep the viewer engaged. Plus the back story on Ida and her late husband James offers context to both Ida's and Wyatt's outlook.
The intensity ramps up when Wyatt learns that Ida's illness despite a change in medication is terminal. His entire focus changes to stopping his mother from taking her last breath in prison. Plus Ida has the info on the life changing last big score for the family. Sofia Hublitz is a break out performer as Darla. She's experiencing the bad trouble gene at a teenage level and holds her own in several intense scenes with her more seasoned co-stars. As mentioned earlier Josh Harnett resurgence continues with his most meaty role to date in his return to prominence as Wyatt Walker. Frank Grillo continues with his string of familiar physical roles as Dallas Wyatt ,and look for an unrecognizable Billy Blair in dialogue rich scene conversation with Dallas a Blade.
Ida Red is at first glance another in a string of crime family films. But upon a deeper look, there's a resonating story here from a writer-director that knows the terrain and these types of interpersonal family relationships well. The result is a feature full of more character than leading actors with a chance to come to the fore and deliver on a strong scrip underpinned by a pulsing musical score by David Sardy that is well worth the watch.
*** 1/2 Out of 4.
Ida Red | John Swab | U.S.A. | 2021 | 111 Minutes.
Tags: Crime Family, Robbery, Pharmaceuticals, Terminal Illness, Expelled, Shootout, Birthday Barbeque, Prison Visitation.
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