Read Mixed User Reviews for The Power of the Dog

5

eberman123Jan 11, 2022

I wanted to really like this film. I found it boring and without much plot. On a plus note, the acting and scenery were great.

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

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5

LittlegizmoJan 10, 2022

well this movie isnt really good... yes the actors are very talented and its a very beautiful movie ....but i have seen much better movies

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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5

RMckayMar 6, 2022

Easily the most overrated film of the year, and I do consider myself a Campion fan. Loved the Piano and other works, but this film is a predictable tired display of modern PC culture to which professional critics feel obliged to herald,Easily the most overrated film of the year, and I do consider myself a Campion fan. Loved the Piano and other works, but this film is a predictable tired display of modern PC culture to which professional critics feel obliged to herald, because of it's fleeting importance of subject matter. This film has been made many times within the last few years. It's extremely cookie-cutter and a low point for Campion. As one can see the user reviews are way lower than the obligatory handouts pro-critics have been giving it. That is not a mistake by viewers, and you're not missing anything that these pro critics are seeing. I also cannot take Cummerbatch as a cowboy. It just doesn't work for him. A shame too, as Plemons and Dunst truly shined bright. The only two beams of light to be emitted from this bland attempt at Campion staying relevant. Bummer for sure. And painfully snoozy. Throw some award noms at Plemons and Dunst, and just walk away, as those two performances are the most redeemable portions of this film.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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5

marklaing1Feb 16, 2022

I watched a DVD screener so I was bombarded during the opening credits by "New Zealand Film Commission." plugs. It was almost like a tourism showreel. We get it, it's not Montana (where the film is set), it's Lord of the Rings again butI watched a DVD screener so I was bombarded during the opening credits by "New Zealand Film Commission." plugs. It was almost like a tourism showreel. We get it, it's not Montana (where the film is set), it's Lord of the Rings again but couldn't you at least wait until the closing credits before breaking the fourth wall? I found the movie incredibly gloomy for these covid times. The acting was great, especially Kirsten Dunst, Benedict was perhaps miscast, the music was grating, overdone, and the cinematography was great. Take away the soundtrack and there seemed to be very little "there" there.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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5

JoshTurkeyDec 1, 2021

Really intelligent plot. Distorts expectations by a mile, playing on obvious tropes, only in the end to turn it all on its head. Movie of the year!

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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6

disobedientlibDec 13, 2021

I don't really understand the critic love for this movie. The ending seemed so obvious to me; almost ham-fisted in the hints given along the way. It is set at a turtle's pace. There is great cinematography and set design and good acting here,I don't really understand the critic love for this movie. The ending seemed so obvious to me; almost ham-fisted in the hints given along the way. It is set at a turtle's pace. There is great cinematography and set design and good acting here, but hardly worth critics falling over themselves to praise it so much.… Expand

5 of 6 users found this helpful51

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6

Brent_MarchantDec 10, 2021

Cinematic artistry is indeed inspiring, but, if a film doesn't have a comparably impressive narrative, that celluloid mastery generally all goes for naught. Such is the case with writer-director Jane Campion's latest, a disappointinglyCinematic artistry is indeed inspiring, but, if a film doesn't have a comparably impressive narrative, that celluloid mastery generally all goes for naught. Such is the case with writer-director Jane Campion's latest, a disappointingly underwhelming effort from an ordinarily reliable auteur. The chief problem here is an often-thin, sometimes-obvious, frequently unfocused story (with a script to match), one that's principally an essay on the dangers of toxic masculinity as explored through life on a 1920s Montana cattle ranch. The film seeks to examine this issue through a variety of story threads, most of which are far from fully developed and lack coherent correlation save for the behavior of a somewhat cliched, mostly monodimensional protagonist. To its credit, "The Power of the Dog" features gorgeous cinematography, strong character development, a fine period piece production design, a captivating original score, and excellent performances, especially from Benedict Cumberbatch and Kodi Smit-McPhee. Yet, even though these strengths come close in capably covering the material's inherent weaknesses, they're not enough to elevate the film to the level of greatness or to live up to much of the undeserved hype many critics have heaped upon it.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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4

Mauro_LanariDec 3, 2021

(Mauro Lanari)
Jane Campion gets back to make a film after 12 years: allusive and not suggestive. It is the viewer's task to fill in the gaps in the story, but anyway, while trying to understand the motivations of the protagonists, one(Mauro Lanari)
Jane Campion gets back to make a film after 12 years: allusive and not suggestive. It is the viewer's task to fill in the gaps in the story, but anyway, while trying to understand the motivations of the protagonists, one realizes that they are not charming enough to be worth it. "The Power of the Dog" falls into the traps of that smug aestheticism that has marked a part of the New Zealand director's cinema, so "it's like 'Brokeback Mountain' but even more boring".… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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4

unctheelsDec 29, 2021

im sorry, but i dont understand the critical acclaim of this movie. it is one of the most boring movies ive ever seen. the actors themselves performed brilliantly, but the story was sleep inducing. i give it a hard pass.

6 of 9 users found this helpful63

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4

icotzabbDec 5, 2021

Despite some impressive visuals the script is just terrible and fractured. At times the score is just confusing and not congruent with scenes.

6 of 9 users found this helpful63

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4

PikmanDec 27, 2021

I had high expectations going in and was totally disappointed.
Nothing happens. I’m all for slow films or those that focus on character development. This felt like such a thin slice of this group’s lives that it wasn’t worth it.
It is veryI had high expectations going in and was totally disappointed.
Nothing happens. I’m all for slow films or those that focus on character development. This felt like such a thin slice of this group’s lives that it wasn’t worth it.
It is very pretty to look at, lots of beautiful scenery. You could just Google some landscape shots though … Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

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6

AdamEnDetailJan 5, 2022

I do not get what the fuss is about. I once heard or read a saying about ambiguity not being profoundness - and this movie is bang-on ambiguous. I can only imagine that it is its ambiguity that's been taken as profoundness.

Two brothers -I do not get what the fuss is about. I once heard or read a saying about ambiguity not being profoundness - and this movie is bang-on ambiguous. I can only imagine that it is its ambiguity that's been taken as profoundness.

Two brothers - both weird, one's a bully and then stuff happens. All this set in the old west, so the movie is a western - it does not have a reason to be but it is. To its credit, the movie holds your attention and lingers on and on - as if something is going to happen, but nothing especially does and then the movie ends.

It definitely has some talent and quality - but for some reason the not-main-actors (i.e. The extras/bit part) were its most interesting bit. The Power of the Dog is a ridiculously unexceptional and unnecessarily abstract movie lacking in anything particularly noteworthy. Again, I do not get what the fuss is about.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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4

RatedRexDec 4, 2021

There is tension. There is suspense. There is looming doom from start to finish. But when it's all said and done, there is much to do about nothing. And I didn't think the performances were all that great, either. I hope the AcademyThere is tension. There is suspense. There is looming doom from start to finish. But when it's all said and done, there is much to do about nothing. And I didn't think the performances were all that great, either. I hope the Academy doesn't reward another one of these overrated, slow-moving art movies.… Expand

5 of 8 users found this helpful53

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4

SupersoupDec 3, 2021

One of those movies that feels like something big will happen at any time but never really does. It’s dramatic and does a good job of holding your attention but in the end I looked back and thought much of it was pointless.

5 of 8 users found this helpful53

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4

UncleWillardDec 20, 2021

Misses the mark for me. While beautifully shot, it tries to be too many things, and fails at all. Phil is not the villain we're led to believe, nor Rose the saint. George is practically absent, as is any kind of weight to any of theMisses the mark for me. While beautifully shot, it tries to be too many things, and fails at all. Phil is not the villain we're led to believe, nor Rose the saint. George is practically absent, as is any kind of weight to any of the characters. Their motivations are entirely mysterious to us and never resolved in any meaningful way. If this is about toxic masculinity, as Cumberbatch recently lectured all us menfolk on, where is it in this film? Is Phil toxic? Or a product of his times? Is Rose noble because she, lost her first husband? Has a gay son? Married George? Or are we seriously supposed to believe that Phil picking on her was the source of all that suffering? In the end, Phil is the only one who tries to make a meaningful connection to Peter.

If this is some diatribe against toxic masculinity, the only thing we learn is that Campion has no idea what that is.… Expand

4 of 8 users found this helpful44

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6

nostalgia283Dec 18, 2021

A boring story. I really can't understand the behavior of the mother, who seems to be making a good wife from the beginning but ends up being a alcoholic.

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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5

FilmFlickCriticDec 27, 2021

While I cant necessarily give this movie a bad review I can in no way shape or form give it a good one. While the actors all seem to do there part and the cinematography is pretty good, The movie is plain and simply boring. By the time IWhile I cant necessarily give this movie a bad review I can in no way shape or form give it a good one. While the actors all seem to do there part and the cinematography is pretty good, The movie is plain and simply boring. By the time I thought the movie was about to go somewhere it was the end of the film. Alot of drama over mediocre problems. This will definitely be a blip in the memory bank.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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5

Exodus220Jun 21, 2023

This movie is so overrated! It was easily the most disappointing movie of the year for me. Boring beyond belief!