Rent Road to Paloma (2014)

Road to Paloma review by Michelle Sommerville - Cinema Paradiso

Road to Paloma is not a film I had heard a lot about, but it should definitely be getting more attention. It is an interesting and engaging story, with brilliant actors, and was simply beautiful.

Jason Momoa had his hands in essentially every aspect of this film - writing, producing, directing, and acting as the lead character Wolf - and he excels in everyway. The film is reminiscent of the work of Clint Eastwood and the old ‘lone wolf’ (no pun intended) films.

Road to Paloma is a 2014 film that follows a guy named Wolf. He is a Native American man who jumps on his motorcycle, and sets-off across the vast American West. Running from the law after avenging his mother’s murder, the authorities hot on his tail, the stakes are high. Will Wolf find sanctuary, or is he bound to be brought to justice?

There are many great things about this film. To begin with, the acting was flawless. Jason Momoa - who I have loved since Stargate: Atlantis - has been growing in popularity since Game of Thrones and has shown how versatile he is. He made the film what it was, showing his dramatic acting chops as opposed to the usual warrior fighting roles we already know he can do. Lisa Bonet (Momoa’s real-life wife) is also apart of this film, and was part of the supporting cast that bolstered the film.

This film is also Momoa’s directorial debut. He has shown he has been paying attention to the work going on behind the camera, and has made a visually beautiful film. A lot of thought and creativity went into aspects most audience members tend to overlook. The filming locations and scenery were simply stunning. The use of light and shadow complimented the lead character expertly. And the music was chosen and placed appropriately, filling in for the pointed lack of dialogue.

For those wanting a shoot ‘em up with car chases, you will be disappointed. Road to Paloma is much more meaningful than that, and takes a slower pace. This allows you to get to know the characters more in-depth, and lets them progress the film. The story does follow a general structure - which some reviews have called boring or dull - but the structure is general because it is known to work so well. While the story is, of course, extremely important, it was the characters that were the focus of the film.

The cursing, drug use, sex, and violence, will obviously not make it a film for everyone, but it is a part of the story and not just thrown in for theatrics.

There have been very mixed reviews. Opinions range from praising the acting, directing, and cinematography, to being called a ‘B-Movie’ with a generic story.

Road to Paloma is definitely worth watching. Momoa should continue acting, producing, writing, and directing; and it looks like he will have a bright future in whatever area of filmmaking he wants.