Let Him Go Has Everything It Needs to Make It One of This Year’s Standout Films
Picture a world where Momma and Papa Kent set out on a quest to save Clark Kent from an evil family. While ‘Let Him Go’ is not a film that focuses on Momma and Papa Kent, it sure gives you those vibes as you watch Kevin Costner and Diane Lane trying their absolute best to save their beloved grandson from his abusive step-father.
Let Him Go based on the novel of the same name written by Larry Watson is directed and written by Thomas Bezucha and follows the story of Margaret and George Blackledge who, following the death of their son have to leave their home ranch in Montana to save their grandson from the clutches of a dangerous family who is living off the grid in Dakota. While the film’s story is pretty straightforward, linear, and quite simple it delivers an absolute and thoroughly entertaining drama film that emphasizes the lengths someone will go to in order to save someone they love.
One of the many things that piqued my interest in this film was its leading stars Kevin Costner and Diane Lane. And as I mentioned above, we all know them as Momma and Poppa Kent respectively from Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel (2013), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), and Justice League (2017). As I was watching the film I couldn’t ignore that and that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Kevin and Diane have a unique on-screen chemistry that you just want to watch every single time they’re on-screen together. So having this film focusing on them, for the most part, was something I was really looking forward to.
The supporting cast was great as well. Each cast member, whether leading or supporting had their time to really show the viewer what their characters had to deliver. Each cast member delivered and exuded all the emotional moments to make certain scenes stand out as opposed to others. The film does have a slow pace and that might take some viewers out temporarily but all that setup really pays off by the end of the film leaving you, the viewer with a huge sigh of relief. It could’ve benefited from a shorter runtime but I think for how the story flows and how the film closes, I think the runtime sufficed.
There is one specific plot point that I wish was further explored due to the character’s background and how the character is tied to certain things presented in the film and ultimately due to how this said character is brought into the mix to deal with a problem that wasn’t really his, to begin with.
Overall, the film was thoroughly entertaining and exceeded my personal expectations, and delivered me with more than I personally asked for. This is a film I would highly recommend to anyone who’s a fan of these kinds of stories or fans of Kevin Costner and Diane Lane. Momma and Poppa Kent deliver every time and I think they’re one of the main reasons this film worked so well. Immense star power all around from them and their supporting cast members.
Let Him Go releases in select theaters on November 6, 2020.
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