Rent The Rover (2014)

A road movie that simply runs out of road... - The Rover review by RP

It's a post-apocalyptic (?) road movie with added Aussies. Err, that's it.

This is yet another of those films that could have been so much better. It has flashes of brilliance - for example, man drinking in bar oblivious to tumbling car crash happening behind him - outweighed by moments of weakness. Perhaps the best example of this is the ending, where the rationale for the whole film is revealed - and it's simply foolish.

The film is essentially a chase movie - Guy Pearce plays the central character who sets off after some oddballs who steal his car, dragging one of their number (played by ex-heartthrob Robert Pattinson) with him. Along the way he shoots a wide range of oddball characters - and really, that's about it.

Guy Pearce has played some great roles - remember Ed Exley in 'LA Confidential' ? - but here he seems emotionless. In fact none of the characters show much emotion - they all seem pretty passive, even when Mr Pearce is pointing a gun at them or indeed, shooting them.

This is a well photographed, well directed film (by David Michod, who directed 'Animal Kingdom') but it's a road movie that simply runs out of road...

3/5 stars. Could have been great, but ended up merely average.

BRILLIANT, SUBTLE PSYCHOLOGICAL 'ROAD MOVIE' - The Rover review by CP Customer

This is a brilliant film and needs a little thought, rather than dismiss it as a 'road movie' :) A previous reviewer has completely missed the point of this story. Post 'Collapse' we see life as it is now for a disillusioned farmer who is at the absolute end of his tether. One small, but wholly critical incident that prompted his tirade is the 'straw' that broke the camel's back; you don't discover what until the very end and then it's just a glimpse and then one understands the whole, sad, sorry picture.Guy Pearce is consummate, Robert Pattinson surprising and the scenery evocative. Take time to watch and savour the subtle intricacies and depths of this film.

Fed-Up Eric Didn't Quite Cut it as a Title - but using my nickname didn't help. - The Rover review by The REAL Film Cricket

If you asked me to succinctly sum up The Rover, and yes I know how ironic that is, I would say it was ‘a realistic Mad Max’. Like the original George Miller dystopian lawless take on a collapsed future, it is set in the dusty abandoned Australian Outback and features a relentless and violent protagonist. The films part ways here though with The Rover giving you Eric, superbly played by the always impressive Guy Pearce, is what you could imagine a character like him would be.

Eric is not interested in conversation, anyone else’s problems, or telling his life story, so basically apart from one small exposition it is left to you, watching, to make your mind up. What has happened to the world, we do not know, we know there is an attempt at law and order but basically where the film is set is worst the Wild West at its wildest.

Here, for some, is the film’s weakness, you do not have any detailed back story, just a dirty unpleasant fellow, and he is, determined to get back a car for no reason you are given. He will, and does, kill people for it.

For me, this film, and type of tale, was perfect. The focus of the film is Eric and Rey, Robert Pattinson moving on very firmly from the Twilight series, and both actors give strong believable displays. The costume and makeup are perfect, at no point did I believe they were nothing more than scummy, dirty, murderous, survivors. Pattinson in fact has the harder task playing the somewhat simple and naïve Rey, twitches, and blank looks, this can look like a parody or become tiring but Pattinson pitches it perfectly. Guy Pearce compliments this with a tough, mean, dirty, murderous man, but unlike most films in this style at no point did I think he was indestructible, tougher than anyone else or could not end up dead by the end of the film. He was just a man, placed into a horrible circumstance, who could handle a gun and knew what he wanted to do.

Director and writer David Michod is refreshingly not frightened of silence and a character we focus on who just does not like talking. But for all the grim, dirty, bleakness, somewhere at the heart of The Rover is the tale of alienation, cruelty and despair that is thrust onto people who could be just like you and me. Guy Pearce’s Eric slowly thawing to Rey, and it a small thaw, lets us into little glimpses of his ‘post-collapse’ world.

The car chase early on in the film sets you up for what are about to see, it is probably nothing like you have seen before or after and all the better for it. Add in a fantastic music score by Antony Partos and the whole look and feel of the film is enhanced. Equally important and impressive is the cinematography by Natasha Braier, production design, Jo Ford and art and set decoration which are as important as the acting and directing, all women I am pleased to say.

The Rover, much like Eric, gives you glimpses into its world but in the end you have to take in what you are watching, make your own mind up and either go along with the journey or not. I feel everything in this dirty, horrible film that makes me really like it is exactly what makes others hate it. It most definitely is ‘anti-Hollywood’ without being made for that reason.

The ending is perfect, you think you know for a split second at the reveal why Eric wants his car back and even that rug is pulled from under you. It is perfect and just underlines the tale to a tee.

I recommend this film if my views above appeal to you but if you like clean-cut heroes who cannot be beaten and Robert Pattinson as the clean-cut romantic hero, in a story where everything makes sense, and is laid out for you to enjoy then maybe give it a miss.

I loved it.