This is Russell Crowe’s directorial debut and it’s a knockout. In addition to directing, Crowe also plays the lead and you can tell he really put his heart into the character. The emotions he’s able to portray in simple facial expressions are nothing short of stunning. Surrounding Crowe is a fabulous cast with a particularly notable female role played by Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace). Also, I have to say I was shocked to see Jai Courtney (Terminator: Genisys) play a role that wasn’t completely flat. I almost remembered his character after seeing this film.
There are some extremely well-staged war scenes of the battle at Gallipoli. The cinematography is gorgeous, the score emotional and evocative, striking the right balance between subtlety and emotion. But the story is the real standout, a compelling tale of a father searching for his lost sons. This is a wonderful film that has thoughtful things to say about religions, peoples, war, and family. It’s the kind of film that would get awards attention if it was released later in the year and done by a prestige director. This is definitely worth your time.