Dallas-Fort Worth filmmakers Toby Halbrooks and James M. Johnston, who are making waves in the indie film world, won a prestigious grant from Los Angeles-based Film Independent.
The duo won the Piaget Producers Award, a $25,000 grant that honors up-and-coming producers who make independent films with limited resources; Johnston and Halbrooks won out over three other finalists.
Film Independent, which produces the nationally televised Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, presented Halbrooks and Johnston with the Piaget at an event in Los Angeles on January 11.
In his acceptance speech, Johnston, who founded Dallas-Fort Worth vegan restaurant Spiral Diner with his wife Amy McNutt, was quoted by Variety issuing an exuberant exclamation that "we just got in from Texas, and now we've got all this money!"
Johnston has also been nominated for a Spirit Award for Pit Stop, a film he made with a team of Texas filmmakers, including co-producers Jonathan Duffy, Eric Steele and Kelly Williams; writer David Lowery; and director Yen Tan. The film is up for the James Cassavetes Award, and winners will be announced at the Spirit Awards on Saturday, March 1, which will be broadcast at 9 pm on IFC.
Johnston and Halbrooks are in Park City, Utah, this week for the premiere of their film Listen Up, Phillip at the Sundance Film Festival.
Sam Rockwell and John Malkovich in Wild Horse Nine.
It’s difficult to nail English writer/director Martin McDonagh down when it comes to his interests. Prior to his new film, he has set films in Bruges, Belgium; Los Angeles; the fictional small town of Ebbing, Missouri, and a remote island in Ireland, with stories that deal with crime, grief, lifelong friendships, and a kidnapped Shih Tzu. What all his films have in common though, is comedy that is mined through absurdity, something that is on full display in Wild Horse Nine.
Chris (John Malkovich) and Lee (Sam Rockwell) are CIA agents in 1973, currently stationed in Chile, with a mission that Lee tries to hide but Chris broadcasts willingly. Their assignment is to undermine support for the newly-elected socialist president, Salvador Allende, but the film is not really about that. Instead, it follows the duo on a break from work as they decide to take a side trip to Rapa Nui (aka Easter Island) so that Chris can fulfill his dream of seeing “the big heads.”
Once they’re there, Chris and Lee bicker over various things, including Chris being too open with two younger women, Monica (Mariana di Girolamo) and Alicia (Ailín Salas); who gets control over their rental car; the long-distance interference of CIA station chief MJ (Steve Buscemi); and more. All the while, a mostly unspoken agreement between Chris and Lee colors every decision they make, including why they came to Rapa Nui in the first place.
McDonagh has full control over the narrative of the film from minute one, establishing the tone through the super-quick banter between Chris and Lee that points to the strong bond the two share. A later revelation deepens the meaning of the story without taking away from the humor that comes from Chris and Lee sniping at each other. Despite the two characters not getting much of an introduction, they become a very memorable movie twosome as the film goes along.
A good working knowledge of 20th century world history is helpful, as McDonagh drops in subtle and not-so-subtle hints about the CIA’s involvement in certain notable events (including the JFK assassination, which takes on larger importance as the story goes on). Using real history like the impending coup d'état in Chile as a backdrop for the fictional story grounds the film, allowing the characters to engage in sometimes farcical elements without ever seeming like unserious people. It’s also a sly commentary on current events, with the U.S. continuing to insert itself into other countries’ affairs.
The impact of the film is immeasurably improved by the fact that they filmed on location in Chile and Rapa Nui. Having Chris and Lee visit the “big heads” (aka moai) while referencing them in their dialogue is both awe-inspiring and hilarious. There’s just something about the characters being able to get up close and personal with the ancient sculptures that makes the film feel more important than if they had employed CGI to put them there.
Malkovich is a two-time Oscar nominee with a storied career, but this performance ranks as one his best. With a face that unashamedly shows his 73 years and pitch perfect line deliveries, he nails every scene that he’s in. Rockwell complements him extremely well, giving a performance that fits in with his previous work but rarely on such a high level. Buscemi is also a pleasure to watch, popping up to steal small moments just like he did in the recent The Only Living Pickpocket in New York.
Save for a few action scenes, Wild Horse Nine is mostly filled with characters talking, but the level of the conversations and the comical moments that McDonagh has created contain cannot be understated. With a tour-de-force performance by Malkovich, a real world setting, and a funny twist on history, it’s one of the best movies of the year.
