Review by John Delia
Very daunting and sinister the movie Mojave takes you on a trip to the dessert where everything goes wrong. Well-acted by Oscar Isaac and Garrett Hedlund their performances get deliriously evil as their characters develop. If you like a crafty script filled with suspense and intrigue, then this quirky film is for you.
Conflicted about his life and family, Tom (Garrett Hedlund) a film producer, takes a drive into the nearby Mojave Desert to think over his future. Riding through a canyon he crashes his car. Now on foot he sets up camp where Jack (Oscar Isaac), a mysterious traveler, asks to join him by the fire. Jack makes an offhanded remark that upsets Tom and an altercation ensues leaving the drifter unconscious. Tom walks away heading for the nearest sign of civilization followed by Jack who keeps his distance. When an accidental shooting occurs, Jack ups his pursuit, now with a vengeance.
The film progresses from there with a few additional twists as Tom tries to get his life back together and put the dessert incident behind him. Director and writer William Monahan who wrote the screenplays for The Departed and Body of Lies keeps his film very suspenseful adding more troubles for Tom as he eludes Jack that’s now his stalker. He adds more problems for Tom inserting his lawyer Jim (Walton Goggins) that passes along skeptical advice, his business partner Norman played by Mark Wahlberg who’s reluctant to help and detective Beaumont (Dania Ramirez) who has a nose for crime.
Oscar Isaac (ex-Machina) creates a very sinister character as Jack. He presents himself as scary then becomes this menacing stalker that will do anything to make Tom squirm over the incident in the dessert. I like his character a lot as he’s the catalyst that makes the film work. Forcing confrontations, threatening to kill his family and trying to destroy his life culminates in a diabolical cat and mouse thriller.
Garrett Hedlund (Unbroken) fits in nicely as Tom the conflicted filmmaker who tries to shake the stalker off his back. Trying to fix all the damage as he runs from Jack only makes things worse as Tom steps in one rabbit hole after another. Spiraling down from fame and fortune to a pit that never ends, Hedlund shows his fine acting ability in this realistic performance.
Mojave has been rated R for language and some violence. There are also some scenes of suggested sexual activity. Be cautious when deciding to allow immature children see the film as most of the scenes are inappropriate for adolescents.
FINAL ANALYSIS: An above average mystery thriller. (B-)
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Â Oscar Isaac, Garrett Hedlund, Louise Bourgoin, Walton Goggins, Mark Wahlberg
Directed and Written by: William Monahan
Genre: Psychological Thriller
MPAA Rating: R for language and some violence
Running Time: 1 hr. 33 min.
Release Date: January 22, 2016
Distributed by: A24