Rust and Bone (2012 film)

Comparisons don’t do “Rust and Bone” many favors. For what it attempts (truly best to go in blind so I’m keeping mum about the plot), the mind goes to films that have mined similar territory with better returns such as “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” and “Secret Sunshine”. Maybe it is best, then, to recommend watching this before seeing those films as there’s plenty here to appreciate or even love, from Cotillard’s mesmerizing and convincing performance to surprisingly effective special effects that had me looking up behind-the-scenes footage because I just had to know. Subdued, though powerful and unforgettable.

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