Dusty and barren; Young Ones takes on an Earth ravaged by drought. Not the kind of drought that makes Californians take shorter showers, but the kind that destroys all life. What few people remain have either scattered to the big cities or scattered to the wind, but stubborn Earnest Holm refuses to leave his plot of land, protecting what little he has with a trusty rifle to ward off thieves. Earnest is a tough but generous man, with a capable son in Jerome (Kodi Smit-McPhee) and rebellious daughter Mary (Elle Fanning), the latter anxious to flee her boring life and shack up with bad boy Flem Lever (Nicholas Hoult). The circumstances demand a certain "wild wild west" attitude to problem solving. It's basically "do whatever it takes to survive", and for Earnest, a former alcoholic, that means selling liquor on the side and using what little water he can find to keep his family alive. "Pray for rain", he says, holding out a firm belief that his dry, cracked land is still fertile. All it needs is enough water.
Interestingly, Paltrow uses a three-pronged narrative, a triptych in the vein of The Place Beyond the Pines, to guide us through this sandy wasteland of broken dreams. The first chapter follows Earnest, and it's easily the best with the indomitable presence of Michael Shannon demanding our attention. His Earnest is a brilliant man, vulnerable and giving but capable of violence. It's the rare opportunity to see Shannon play someone who isn't completely unhinged, but is a figure to be looked up to and respected. One chapter "hands off" to the next and the approach brings us deeper into lives of the three main protagonists, all of whom happen to be the men. Mary, who is flighty and somewhat naive, is basically just another prize to be won in a place that has precious few things worth fighting for. The problem with Paltrow's approach is that it's tough to maintain high quality throughout, and the tone is inconsistent. Hoult's chapter, which focuses heavily on themes of guilt and greed, loses something without Shannon acting as his foil. The final act, centering largely on family legacy, is too broad for Paltrow's simply constructed story to bear.
Drawing influences from The Road, the Westerns of John Ford, and a little bit of Mad Max, Young Ones is a completely unique visual experience. Shot in the scorching, sunbaked deserts of South Africa, the cinematography by Giles Nuttgens may leave you feeling a little bit parched. Special effects aren't really needed, as a result, and what must have been a limited budget goes to the robotic "mule" that becomes a cold, steely character in its own right. But most impressive is Paltrow's dedication to the material, fully-developing this torrid world that is never dry for us to behold.Young Ones is available now On Demand here.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
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