Displaying items by tag: National Anthem movie

NATIONAL ANTHEM

US, 2023, 99 minutes, Colour.

Charlie Plummer, Eve Lindley, René Rosado, Mason Alexander Park, Robyn Lively, Joey DeLeon.

Directed by Luke Gilford.

One might wonder about the title and what would emerge. There is a rather soul-felt rendering of the national anthem towards the end of this film.

The themes are complex. The focus is on Dylan, an effective performance by Charlie Plummer, Lean on Pete, Words on a Bathroom Wall. He works on construction sites, lives with his alcoholic and rather slatternly mother, looking after his younger brother. He is quiet and introverted.

Lining up for work one day, he is hired to clean up an area, occupied by a rodeo group. And, this is where the film is unexpected. The group is a gay group of riders and followers. They follow the rodeos, some of them riding, Dylan even having the opportunity to sit on a bull.

He becomes infatuated with Sky, Eva Lindley, one of the troupe, sexually attracted. However, he also gradually becomes involved in the lifestyle of the rodeo group, sexual liaisons, awakening all kinds of ambitions in Dylan, wanting to leave, buying a trailer, clashes but reconciliation with his mother, the continued care of his brother and introducing him to the group which the young boy relishes.

The scenario is open-ended, the issue of Dylan moving away and achieving a life of his own. However, the film does introduce its audience to an unexpected and unusual subcultural group.

1. The work of the director, photography, music videos, his first feature film, based on his photography monograph, National Anthem, the focus on the rodeos and queer culture?
2. The New Mexico setting, the towns, homes, construction sites, the countryside, the rodeo, the camp, clubs and bars? The musical score?
3. The title, the American way of life, for all? And the final singing of the anthem with strength?
4. Dylan’s story, the absent father, his mother, drinking, men, lacking care of her children, his confrontations with her, her stealing his money, ups and downs, reconciliations? His care for his brother, coming home from work, the meals, homework, talking, consoling him, the bed, day by day?
5. Dylan’s age, a sheltered life, introverted, guitar and his music? Looking for jobs, Pepe choosing him, going out to the house in the fields, carrying the bales? Returning home? The encounter with some of the personalities?
6. The audience discovering the queer culture with the group, the various members, cross dressing, drag queen, songs, the gay community? Pepe and his leadership?
7. Dylan, the encounters with Sky, fascinated, the sexual response, out on the rocks, his fantasy of her, the American flag, on the horse? Sky in real life, trans person, the continued meetings with Dylan, the attraction, riding out into the desert, dancing, song?
8. The rodeo, the crowds, the queer group, the different personalities, flamboyant, supported, Pepe and his riding the bull, the offer to Dylan, his riding, the fall, breaking out, his sense of exhilaration?
9. Becoming more and more involved with the group, Carrie and life story, background, orientation, clothes, female identification, conversations, sympathy, friendship with Cassidy, helping him?
10. The communal sexual behaviour, Dylan caught up, the threesome, its effect? Questions to himself, sexuality? Comfortable with the group, the visit to the supermarket, Sky touching up his eyes blue, going home, Cassidy’s response? Later Cassidy going with the group, blue eye line, make up? Dylan and the dress, and his drag performance, surprising the audience, surprising the cinema audience, surprising himself?
11. His returning home, discussions with his mother, his money, her taking it, her change of heart, the reconciliation?
12. Dylan, wanting to go by himself, the money, buying the trailer, Sky and her just wanting friendship and sexual association, by herself, Carrie, the farewell – and Dylan going to an uncertain future?