A frustratingly arrogant rancher, Phil Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch), enjoys instilling fear in everyone that meets him. When his brother, George (Jesse Plemons), gets married to Rose Gordon (Kirsten Dunst), Phil takes it upon himself to torment her and her son, Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee). The Power of the Dog tells the story of Phil on his journey as he tortures the Gordons and his brother, until one day he realizes that he wants something more–but that something comes with a lot of baggage.
Twelve. That is the number of nominations that The Power of the Dog has received at this year’s Oscars–leading the pack with the most nominations of any film this year. From Best Picture to to Best Sound, The Power of the Dog clearly took The Academy by storm. It’s impossible to look at a film with so many nominations and not expect something spectacular, and that’s how I began.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, & Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role:
The thing that appealed to me the most entering The Power of the Dog, and absolutely lived up to the hype, was this beautifully constructed all-star cast. Led by Cumberbatch, and a slew of other massively talented individuals, this film is one of the best acted films of the year. I’m not sure if there was ever a moment that I questioned the validity of the dialogue or the passion present in each and every actor’s performance–and the words jump off the screen as a result of what each of these actors are capable of. Beyond just delivering the lines, these actors present viewers with genuine emotion–fear, lust, pain, agony, etc. I was consumed by the emotion present throughout the entirety of The Power of the Dog, and, while the charge is led by Cumberbatch, the entire cast conveys emotion with great poise. Everyone who received an acting-related Oscar nomination is well deserving–and I’m not sure that I’ve seen an entire cast perform quite so well in 2021.
Best Achievement in Directing & Best Achievement in Cinematography:
These two aspects of the film go hand-in-hand, as, without one, the other cannot survive. The Power of the Dog is filled with tense situations, and a major reason that the drama resonates with viewers comes as a result of the cinematography. The right angles, the right lighting, etc. play a role in how viewers receive the film’s message, but more importantly, it plays a significant role in how the film finds success. Director Jane Campion knows just what needs to be done to capture the essence of the story, and Director of Photography Ari Wegner has a knack for capturing the beauty of the sets and the actors by manipulating the camera in a combination of ways that I’m not sure I’d seen before. As a result of what these two bring to the table, The Power of the Dog finds cinematic success in new and brilliant ways.
Best Adapted Screenplay:
I’m not, in any way, familiar with the 1967 novel of the same name by Thomas Savage, but I found myself asking whether or not this was a story worth being told. There are other Oscar-nominated films that I’ve questioned the validity of the narrative, and whether or not it belonged in Hollywood. It honestly took me some time to understand the story–I wasn’t confused about the narrative, but, again, whether or not it should have been made into a two-hour film. However, as the film progressed, and more of the narrative came to light, my skepticism left the building. The Power of the Dog is a wonderfully sentimental and emotionally relevant film that appears to pull the beautiful words off of the pages of Savage’s novel, and it translates well to the big screen.
Best Achievement in Production Design:
Filmed in New Zealand, but meant to represent 1920’s Montana, The Power of the Dog posed some challenges for the set designers. I won’t lie, there are some minor (and I mean blink-and-you’ll-miss-it) issues with the sets. Minor hiccups here and there weren’t exactly frustrating, but rather funny as a result of their insignificance but those issues exist on set nonetheless. With the exception of these missteps, the sets created for The Power of the Dog are beautiful, and to the majority of the film watching world, flawless. Aesthetically, the crew of set designers tasked with bringing the one-hundred year old landscape of rural Montana to life does a wonderful job. Everything feels real, well researched, understood, and natural–and everything that viewers need to feel effectively transported to a world they are likely unfamiliar with plays out with near perfection.
Best Achievement in Film Editing:
What do you say about film editing that can’t be seen or understood by simply watching the film? Well, honestly, there isn’t much–but the reality is that the entirety of The Power of the Dog plays out seamlessly. Nothing ever feels out of place, nothing ever feels fabricated, and the simplicity that exists throughout The Power of the Dog comes to life brilliantly as a result of the editing and what Peter Scibberas brings to the table.
Best Sound & Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score):
Sound, as we can all imagine, plays a significant role in a film many might deem a western. The intricate and unique sounds of the lives led on a ranch, the accompanying score, and the unique and time-appropriate songs are essential to The Power of the Dog, and without them (and I’m not sure I’ve said this about a non musical before) the film fails. That aforementioned drama and intensity that transcends the entirety of the film is brought to life not just by the acting or the cinematography, but just as equally by the harrowing sounds of string instruments. The sound is beautiful, but a juxtaposition exists, causing viewers to feel uneasy, never really able to settle in, and constantly anticipating the next horrible thing that will occur. Johnny Greenwood is the man tasked with bringing the sounds of the Midwest to life (and Richard Flynn, Robert Mackenzie, and Tara Webb play a significant role as well), and he does a wonderful job. As much as I appreciate every other aspect of the film, I think that what this team does for the film is my favorite aspect of The Power of the Dog.
Best Motion Picture of the Year:
Everything I’ve said before leads me to this, the nomination for Best Motion Picture of the Year. I’ve said nearly nothing negative, focusing on almost entirely positive aspects of the film. Am I being unfairly or unrealistically positive regarding The Power of the Dog? Well, I don’t think so. I think that The Power of the Dog is the essence of what Hollywood can and should be–honest, simple, and nearly perfect in every regard. I can’t say that The Power of the Dog is a shoo-in for Best Motion Picture of the Year, as it’s competing with some truly stiff talent–but it belongs among the ranks of the best of 2021.
Directed by Jane Campion.
Written by Jane Campion & Thomas Savage.
Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Kodi Smit-Mcphee, Geneviéve Lemon, Kenneth Radley, Sean Keenan, Thomasin McKenzie, Keith Carradine, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
