We are consistently rooting for Jason Sudeikis. Ever since he stole most of the seasons of Saturday Night Live he was on, we have known that he had what it takes to be one of the alums who transcends that show and becomes a genuine star. It has not all been easy studio fare, as complex turns in indie films such as Colossal have displayed his range as a performer. It was only last year that he cemented himself in the already iconic titular role of Ted Lasso, but if he knew that whirlwind of critical praise was coming his way he might not have signed on to South Of Heaven. Shot right before the movie business went to hell in March of 2020 and a good half-year before his now Emmy-winning show’s debut, this feature from Aharon Keshales (Big Bad Wolves), co-written with Kai Mark and Navot Papushado (Gunpowder Milkshake), feels like an attempt by an actor to cement his “serious actor” cred without having the material to back him up. This movie is not a complete miss, but it trades on cliches heavily to create something a bit uninspired.
We meet Sudeikis’ Jimmy at the onset of the film as he pleads for an early release from prison where he has served twelve years for bank robbery, an act that was potentially a one-off incident rather than a symptom of a malicious spirit. This is not the normal song and dance of saying he has turned his life around behind bars; Jimmy has one good thing in his life, Annie (Evangeline Lilly, Ant-Man and The Wasp), and after years of waiting for him on the outside she has been diagnosed with lung cancer and given a year to live. If only he could get out and take care of her, maybe that would be enough to make his life mean something? Sounds valid enough to the parole board who rubber stamps his release to the golden hair, cropped cut angel waiting for him on the outside. The two spend a short time together as he tries to bat away her gallows humor and they attempt to plan some kind of future with one another. Unfortunately, fate does not always play towards the easy path.
One comparison that is impossible not to make for those who know the film is Straight Time (newly out on Blu-Ray from Warner Archive earlier this year). In that film, M. Emmet Walsh played a parole officer who needled Dustin Hoffman until he was pushed to the brink. In this film, there is a similar path but played with much less subtlety. Personal favorite Shea Whigham (bit player in every movie released in the last decade) plays Schmidt, Jimmy’s parole officer who is quite commanding and ominous if not outwardly sadistic. His corruption is not a secret for long as he forces Jimmy into a bad situation that only gets worse once it goes tits-up. If Schmidt is too on-the-nose in his villainy, there is also the introduction of ruthless underworld business kingpin Whit Price (Mike Colter, Luke Cage) who provides the movie with some of its most engaging scenes. The nuance given to this character almost makes up for the complete absence of it when it comes to Annie, a character who exists only to be in high spirits as she faces down a terrible fate. Her cancer is used to manipulate the audience and nothing else.
The film features some shootout sequences that are expertly staged and some plot twists that definitely catch your attention, but most of the action fails to come together in a way that feels of a whole. There are so many disparate ideas percolating in this story that every character decision feels illogical. It is a script that writes to a conclusion because it is what the writer desires rather than what is best for the story. Sudeikis does his best to elevate the material with a pretty solid performance, but you get so frustrated by his character that it is difficult to care what happens to him in the end. The film is also very self-serious which does not allow much room at all humor to sneak in and inject some dark levity to the proceedings. The film plays it safe and rarely concocts an identity for itself that makes it necessary to seek out. There are moments to enjoy here, but they are not so consistent that you can call the movie particularly good.
Video Quality
South Of Heaven comes to Blu-Ray with a gorgeous AVC encoded 1080p transfer that showcases the look of the film really well. Where the transfer really shines is the impressive level of detail both in the costumes and the production design. Everything from the gritty interiors to the texture of the costumes is quite impressive. The cinematography features few pops of color with everything appearing to have a slightly soft, hazy quality about it. The film mostly subsists on a diet of dour color palettes where not much leaps off the screen. The picture is mostly clear with only brief instances of murkiness during a few darker scenes. Black levels are admirable but could stand to be a bit deeper. Skin tones are natural throughout with some impeccable details present in certain shots. Overall, this is quite a powerful transfer that should please fans.
Audio Quality
The film comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that has quite a bit of depth and is well balanced. Environmental effects play a substantial role in the film, and this track brings these elements to life quite capably. The use of the rear channels to create a fully enveloping world works quite well. The directionality is quite precise so sounds always present as natural when coming from their respective points. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear without being overwhelmed by any of the other sounds. The music maintains a nice fidelity throughout. Activity in the low end is very subtle and is mostly used to add a bit of texture to some of the more kinetic moments. RLJE Films has delivered a great track for this film.
Special Features
- Meet The Cast: A six-minute featurette in which the cast and crew discuss the main characters in the film and what each performer brings to the roles.
- The Making Of South Of Heaven: A five-minute piece in which the cast and crew discuss the origins of the film, the chemistry between the cast members, the draw of the director, complicated shots from the film and more.
Final Thoughts
South Of Heaven has some decent moments but it does not completely come together in the end in a satisfying way. Sudeikis puts in a solid enough lead performance and the two villains are memorable in different ways, but this is only important when you have a good script. RLJE Films has released a Blu-Ray with a rock solid A/V presentation and a couple of brief special features. If you are a fan of the performers, it is still worth checking out if you temper your expectations a bit.
South Of Heaven is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: RLJE Films has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
