"Mick's Shortcut" isn't exactly a typical western, with no pubs, cowboys, and sheriffs, and it's bland and even the soundtrack is omitted. The film explores the western frontiers from the perspective of women. Through the long-distance migration, it shows the helplessness of women in the male-dominated society. At the right time, it makes women sturdy and tough, yet gentle and kind, so that The film is full of human brilliance. Naturally, this is feminism in disguise, and it is also a political irony. This is not only a pioneering but also a massacre, which restrains women's rights and stifles the hope of Indians' survival.
Compared with many dusty westerns, "Mick's Shortcut" has no heroic legend. Those flying dust and countless empty shots have turned the vast Summer into a dead hell. We no longer believe how heroic and warlike the righteous sheriffs are, the West is a lifeless wasteland. Pioneering is inevitable, but people seem to need to develop their hearts more than land. Those empty shots seem to be a metaphor for the human mind, withered and lonely.
Survival is a constant topic. Compared with the strong story of surviving for oneself in "Thunderbolt", "Mick's Shortcut" shows a grand view of survival in the calm lens. At the end of the film, we see a tree standing in the Gobi Desert. This tree, which symbolizes life, is both hope and sadness. Looking at the distant Indians, the director used this method to criticize the evil consequences of the pioneering movement. The West - never belonged to a rude intruder. Although these naked political demands have been a lot of visual language, the film does not appear rigid and deliberate, but becomes very natural in the progress of the story.
Women are still weak. Michelle Williams in "Wendy and Lucy" showed the world a girl's frailty with tenacity. The same is true of "Mick's Shortcut". The women are like accessories along the way. They can only get the news of this action in the words of their husbands. They have no complaints and no regrets, and they support each other. , these women are small and great, they are as helpless as the Indians, and those men are the symbols of the invaders. The collision of the two ideas re-establishes the ideas that this film is trying to express, it is feminist, it is politics, but it is not so western, this kind of unconventional story is what really moves the audience the most, and this may be the A true western.
Michelle Williams again. This woman really has so much acting talent to tap. In this film with little dialogue, Michelle Williams used her eyes and body language to prop up her performance, perhaps plain but full of layers, strong, sturdy, kind... Michelle Williams naturally Her acting skills have defended the dignity of women and conveyed sufficient information to the audience through the lens. There is no doubt that she has once again painted a strong stroke for her acting career.
The West without a tavern is the real West. "Mick's Shortcut" is plain and simple in terms of plot, scenes, and even the beginnings and turns. Even the empty scenes cannot avoid the dull plot of this movie, but if You sit down and study carefully, and you will discover the profound meaning behind the film. That's why "Mick's Shortcut" can be regarded as a good film.
View more about Meek's Cutoff reviews
