Cut Bank
- Review Date: March 29, 2015
- Rated: R
- Genre: Thriller
- Release Year: 2015
- Running Time: 93 minutes
Cut Bank gallery
What parents need to know
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Cut Bank is a con-gone-bad thriller starring Liam Hemsworth and John Malkovich that centers on a scheme to collect a large reward. When the plan begins to unravel -- and it does, quickly -- the conspirators turn on one another, leading to some brutal, graphic brawls, a few shoot-outs, and several corpses, many maimed and bloody. Strong language includes "f--k" and "s--t"; there's also some drinking, sometimes to the point of getting drunk. The only sexual content is some hugging and kissing between a loving couple.
What's the story?
All Dwayne (Liam Hemsworth) wants is to get out of CUT BANK, the small Montana town where he's spent his whole life. But the longer he stays, the more entrenched he gets, working for his girlfriend's dad and caring for his ill father. When Dwayne accidentally films the murder of beloved local postman Georgie (Bruce Dern), he realizes he may be due for a huge reward, money the could be his ticket out of town. Then the sheriff (John Malkovich) starts looking into the killing and discovers that some of the pieces don't add up. The more the case unravels, the more Dwayne's plans for a new start begin to slip away.
Is it any good?
The best thing about Cut Bank is the strong supporting cast. Dern is in fantastic as the crotchety old postman, and Malkovich is an eccentric delight as a veteran lawman who's sharper than he looks. Billy Bob Thornton also catches more than he lets on as Dwayne's boss. But Dwayne isn't all that interesting, and that's largely because Hemsworth doesn't give us much to watch. He's there at the center of the story, but his performance makes the character recede into the background.
Even the town's resident kook, Derby Milton (Michael Stuhlbarg), is more appealing to watch; for a guy who's too shy to even look people in they eye, Milton has little trouble finding all the flaws in the half-baked scheme that sets the action moving. Viewers also should have an easy time finding the holes, in both the plan and in this unoriginal film.
Families can talk about...
Families can talk about the role of violence in Cut Bank. Do you think all of it is necessary to tell the story? What are the consequences?
How does this film compare to other con movies/heist flicks about people who come up with "foolproof" schemes to get rich? What message does that plot send viewers?
Talk about Dwayne's plan. Was it a smart plan to collect a huge reward or poorly planned and executed? Why did it fall apart?
Movie details
| Theatrical release date: | April 3, 2015 |
| DVD release date: | May 26, 2015 |
| Cast: | John Malkovich, Billy Bob Thornton, Bruce Dern, Liam Hemsworth |
| Director: | Matt Shakman |
| Studio: | A24 |
| Genre: | Thriller |
| Run time: | 93 minutes |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | violence and language |
About Our Rating System
Great handpicked alternatives
-
Fun heist movie for older kids and their families.age 13+ -
Adventure and romance mix in bold, irreverent dramedy.age 14+
-
Profane, violent crime thriller has novel twists.age 17+
For kids who love thrills
Browse more movies
Top advice and articles
What parents and kids say
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines
There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
