‘Arkansas’: A Review

By Untitled Moose Blogger on May 21, 2020 • ( Leave a comment )

By Nick

Arkansas is a film that was originally slated to open at SXSW, followed by a theatrical run. Instead, there was a quiet release straight to DVD and Blu-ray on May 5th. This is a big score for fans of crime flicks.

This thriller is Clark Duke’s first project as director. Many will recognize Clark from his numerous acting roles in shows and movies like The Office and Kick-Ass. Arkansas is based on the acclaimed 2009 novel written by John Brandon. The dialogue is sharp and thought provoking; clearly the screenplay is based on a good book.

Arkansas differs from many crime movies in that these criminals aren’t angry, filled with rage or yearning for vengeance. They’re a lot more relaxed than that. Kyle (Liam Hemsworth) makes a decision to become a career criminal because it’s something to do. Swin (Clark Duke) sees himself as a rebel who could never fit into the confines of traditional society, yet also picks a life of crime mainly because he’s pretty lazy.

This movie has a rad ensemble cast. Vivica A. Fox and John Malkovich deliver excellent performances here. Vince Vaughn is the highlight as Frog. Vaughn is a great comic actor, but here he is dialed into a darker tone reminiscent of his chilling performance in the heartbreakingly ignored second season of True Detective.

Who is where on the totem pole of this criminal syndicate is never apparent. “What a lot of people don’t know about organized crime in the South is that it’s not that organized,” Kyle says early on. “No families, just a loose affiliation of deadbeats and scumbags.”

The soundtrack in this movie transports you to an earlier era, primarily covers of older songs by musicians like Hank Williams and Joan Baez, all sung by the Flaming Lips. To the surprise of nobody who has heard Flaming Lips albums like The Soft Bulletin or At War With the Mystics, this soundtrack is ridiculously good.

There are a lot of interesting things about this movie: gritty crime set in the rural South, Clark Duke stepping into the director’s chair, Vince Vaughn continuing to carve a new path, the Flaming Lips mining the past while stepping into the future. Arkansas is a great, dark journey through the mean streets of the South.

Categories: Random Stuff