Stillwater

Movie review by Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media
Stillwater Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 15+

Excellent, character-driven crime drama; violence, language.

R 2021 140 minutes
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Parents say

age 13+

Based on 2 reviews

Kids say

age 16+

Based on 3 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Stillwater is a drama about an Oklahoma man named Bill Baker (Matt Damon) who travels to Marseille, France, to help his daughter (Abigail Breslin) get out of prison. A group of men beats Bill up, punching and kicking him, with bloody wounds shown. Bill shoulder-slams another character and punches him hard in the face, knocking him out. A character attempts suicide, and suicide is discussed. A woman swims topless, with a breast semi-visible in an underwater shot. Characters kiss and undress each other; a woman is seen in her underwear. Language is quite strong, with frequent uses of "f--k," "s--t," and other words; supporting characters also make racist remarks. People smoke cigarettes, and Bill is said to be sober, having once had an alcohol dependency. Loosely inspired by the true story of Amanda Knox, this is a meticulous, detailed, slow-burn movie that goes much deeper than its plot synopsis suggests; it's dark, but quite thoughtful and powerful.

Community Reviews

doctora
doctora Adult
June 22, 2022
age 15+

A slow burn character driven film

This film is different than how it is advertised. It is advertised as a high tension thriller, and it is a slow film that allows the audience to invest in these characters. It feels indulgent and lovely to spend time with these characters on their journey. Damon drives it and Cottin and Siauvaud hold it down on their end. The film takes some interesting turns that I am not sure serve the film well, but it does make the film a bit more interesting, thoughtful, and complex.
Phoenix T.
Phoenix T. Adult
July 30, 2021
age 11+

Go See This Film -- Beautifully filmed. Sharply written script & Extraordinary Acting by Damon & Supporting Cast.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED : "STILLWATER" (Matt Damon, Camille Cottin) Go See This Film -- Beautifully filmed. Sharply written script & Extraordinary Acting by Damon & Supporting Cast. This is arguably one of Matt Damon's best works to date. The plot of the film keys off the foundational metaphor story for Amanda Knox's past trial & tribulations in Italy --- but it is much more. Its a window into the soul of a man, his relationship with his daughter and the architecture of his world (in which he is a journeyman contractor) and that of other words he crosses into. Damon plays an off-again/on-again contract oil-rig worker who is on a rescue mission for his daughter who he believes is wronfully serving a 9 year term (half-way through it) in a French prison for someone else's murder crime. Damon goes on a journey of self-discovery as he overcomes cultural and legal barriers as well as the limits of his own language and cultural background. We watch as he gradually rearchitects/rebuilds his own world. His dawning realizations as a contractor and revising of his prior tightly held views & life 'truths' throughout the film are artfully done. Damon is a master of his acting craft consistently throughout the film. Camille Cottin and her daughter portray the two women from Marseilles France who actuate transformation in Damon's Hero's Journey. The dialog is real. The transitions and cultural viewpoints exquisitely put together. Go see this film. Support it. Tell others to see it. Stillwater is a diamond in the rough in so much of the nonsense that comes out of Hollywood these days.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In STILLWATER, Bill Baker (Matt Damon) is an oil worker in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He prepares for a trip, the latest of many, to Marseille, France, to visit his daughter, Allison (Abigail Breslin). Allison has been in prison for five years after being found guilty of murdering her roommate, but she has always maintained her innocence -- and now she has an idea who the real killer could have been. She asks Bill to deliver a letter to her lawyer, but the lawyer immediately shuts down the idea. In his hotel, Bill befriends a local woman, Virginie (Camille Cottin), and her 9-year-old daughter, Maya (Lilou Siauvaud). Unable to afford a private investigator, Bill decides to stay and hunt for the killer himself, with Virginie's help. He starts staying at her place -- and to become a father figure for Maya. Time passes, and then the killer shows his face.

Is It Any Good?

Like director Tom McCarthy's best movies, this slow-burn neo-noir unfolds as a detailed, nuanced character study, with no detail too small and plot twists layered expertly into the tapestry. A plot synopsis or a trailer can't do justice to the impressive way that Stillwater plays out, with McCarthy (The Station Agent, Spotlight, etc.) making full use of the film's 140-minute running time to dig deep into human emotions and hard choices. One of the key scenes -- Bill spotting the killer at a crowded soccer match -- comes at a moment after the movie has lulled us into a sense of comfort. Consequently, the discovery comes as a jaw-dropping shock rather than a routine twist.

In the midst of the storytelling, Stillwater deals with outsiders' presence in places that are foreign to them and the way that they can be viewed through lenses of hate, suspicion, or mistrust. Bill is portrayed as a bullheaded, pushy American, with sunglasses parked over his grim face or perched on top of his dirty baseball cap. (Damon gives an impeccable, immersive performance.) He shoves his way into situations, demanding to know whether anyone speaks English, unafraid -- or unaware -- of being rude. His slow transformation into someone who cares about others feels genuine, even though it can't fix his ultimate character flaw, which is the reason the movie is really a noir. In the end, Stillwater brilliantly, brutally turns its lens back on the Americans.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Stillwater's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?

  • How does the movie handle the topic of suicide? When is it important to talk about mental health, especially if you're worried about a friend or family member? What resources are available to help both kids and adults?

  • Does Bill make the right decision by kidnapping Akim? What does he gain from this choice? What does he lose? What were his other options?

  • Is smoking glamorized here? Are there consequences for smoking? Why does that matter?

  • How is Bill's alcohol dependency discussed? Is his sobriety shown in a positive light?

Movie Details

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