Coastlines

'Coastlines' is a film that draws you in with superb character development. It takes a methodical approach allowing the players on screen plenty of space to grow their characters. Through the first parts of the film I was riveted; not by flashy Hollywood gimmicks, but through the purity of each actor's performance and their course through the story.

The progression through the middle of the film maintains this steady hand, and we are introduced to branching story lines which keeps the viewer guessing at what's coming next. Is this a revenge film? Is it a story about friendship, or perhaps a story of betrayal? It never becomes clear as to what 'type' of movie you're watching, and this leads to a sense of anticipation as the film is rarely predictable.

I was waiting for some kind of dramatic conclusion near the end, or more appropriately, I was pondering what judgments the film would make on the morality of its characters. 'Coastlines' never makes any bold statements to this effect, however, besides perhaps the thematic allusions to unconditional love. The story takes a foray into complex adult themes without finding a coherent resolution, and I feel this was the bridge too far for 'Coastlines'.

If you are a patient viewer who appreciates the nuances of finely wrought character development then I encourage you to see this film... and draw your own conclusions.

The dangers of having a narcissistic love one in your life are dramatically portrayed in Coastlines. Be it a relative or a close friend, having a totally self absorbs person close to you (or your family) can be devastating beyond belief.  Sonny's exploitation of Dave and Ann's relationship problems for his own gain coupled with zero sense of how destructive his actions will be to Dave, Ann and the children clearly show how "having" the wrong people around you or your family can ruin your lifes. The movie did a great job portraying this. Dave's decision to bring a "bad apple" like Sonny into his family was a dangerous decision that he even repeats at the end of the movie. Having sex over and over and over with Sonny showed Ann's desperation to escape the sacrifices of being a good parent and spouse. Leaving the "real' life one is in for a criminal with sweet talk and looks demonstrated how short sighted Ann really was. With hotter and more involved sex scenes and a better ending (maybe one where Dave forgives Sonny but has Sonny leave town forever) would have made this movie more enjoyable to watch and more believable. Bringing your best friend who's life is a mess and is banging your wife back home with open arms is not believable. Nice try but came up short in believability.

Victor Nunoz's Coastlines is a nice small town drama with some top players all giving fine work, causing me to wonder why more people haven't heard of it, and how come it didn't get a wider release. In any case, it's low key and really captures the quaint rural vibe of less densely populated areas in the states. The cast is absolutely to die for, consisting mainly of very distinct, frequently garish actors who all play it dead straight and relaxed, which is a huge switch up for most of them. Timothy Olyphant plays Sonny Mann, an ex convict recently released from prison, quietly arriving back to his Florida hometown, and the dregs of the life he left behind. His Pa (the ever awesome Scott Wilson) is conflicted by long simmering resentment, and the love for his son buried just beneath. Sonny reconnects with his best friend Dave Lockhart (Josh Brolin), who has become the town's sheriff in the years gone by. Sparks fly between Dave's wife (Sarah Wynter) and Sonny, creating a rift between the two and illustrating Sonny's unavoidable knack for creating trouble for himself, and those around him. Further tension comes along when the town's local crime lord Fred Vance (William Forsythe at his most genial and sedated) tries to strong-arm Sonny into assisting with nefarious deeds, using his younger brother Eddie (Josh Lucas) to convince him. Even when tragedy strikes and these characters go head to head, it's in the most relaxed, laconic way that permeates southern life. Robert Wisdom has a nice bit, Angela Bettis shows up as a girl with a thing for bad boys, and watch for the late great Daniel Von Bargen as the local Sheriff. This one fits nicely into a niche that leans heavily on small town drama, dips its toes ever so slightly into thriller territory, and is a charming little piece that's worth a look to see these actors on an acting sabbatical.

Victor Nunez is on par with a lot of directors who use their surroundings as their muse. Like Scorcese with New York, Mann with L.A., or Shamalyan with Pennsylvania, Nunez builds his stories around an area he knows well: east coast Florida. His masterpiece "Ulee's Gold" used the enchanting backdrop of Orlando's peaceful outskirts to build on the emotional aspects of its main character Ulee. The movie came alive from Nunez's subtle, but powerful focus on atmosphere, character nuance and rich symbolism.

It's disappointing that his follow-up "Coastlines" (which completes his "Panhandle Trilogy") had some of those elements in tact, but failed to use them effectively. The story is about a young man named Sonny (played by a well-cast Timothy Olyphant) who gets released from prison to a home town that has grown up without him. He gets back in touch with his old friend Dave, who is now a police officer and married to Sonny's old crush Ann. Simultaneously, he deals with unsettled issues from his old mobbed-up employers.

From that story come some potentially engaging themes like revenge, jealousy, nostalgia, disenchantment and betrayal. However, disappointment quickly sets in when the scenes become more and more dull. The screenplay was written before "Ulee's Gold," and is extremely similar, with many characters and back stories almost exactly mirroring those of the previous film. "Coastlines" brings nothing new to the table, and has no energy with the subject matter at hand. As the movie moves on, it becomes hard to shake the feeling that Nunez had run out of inspiration.

What the movie lacks despite energy is originality. The movie contains plenty of drama, but there is nothing happening that hasn't been done better in other movies. What Nunez needed, in order to transcend the clichés, was the rich undertones and subtexts that made "Ulee" so engrossing. Nunez needed another layer of depth to give weight to all the things going on in his story.

There is no doubt that Victor Nunez is an excellent independent director. However, that doesn't excuse the fact that "Coastlines" is a movie that simply didn't need to be made.

I am so glad that I found this movie! I agree with reviewer ejlabolton that this is an "unexpected treat".

I became a fan of Timothy Olyphant after watching Hit-man and Justified. So I started trying to watch all of his movies. This one is excellent.

I don't know why this is not more well known or more highly rated. The acting is good, the story is believable and the ending is perfect. I don't want to give away any of the plot so won't go into details, but the characters seem real and draw you in to their lives.

This film is a real gem and I hope more people can find it and enjoy it as much as I did.