True West
True West

Movie spotlight

True West

2016
Movie
120 min
English

A screenwriter gets conned out of selling a script to a Hollywood producer by his brother, who pitches his own idea for a movie. The damaged relationship between two estranged brothers striving for success is deconstructed in this comedic and tension-filled production at the Tricycle Theatre, London, captured for screen by Digital Theatre.

Insights

IMDb7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes92%
Metacritic85/100
Google Users90%
Director: Philip BarrymoreGenres: Drama, Comedy

Plot Summary

Two estranged brothers, Austin and Lee, reunite at their mother's California home. Austin, a screenwriter, is trying to write a script for a Hollywood producer, while Lee, a drifter and petty criminal, has returned from the desert. Their reunion devolves into a fierce battle of wills and a descent into primal chaos as their vastly different lives and resentments clash.

Critical Reception

This production of Sam Shepard's Pulitzer-nominated play was met with significant critical acclaim for its intense performances and exploration of sibling rivalry and the American dream. Critics lauded the raw energy and dark humor of the staging.

What Reviewers Say

  • The electric chemistry between the lead actors is the undeniable highlight.

  • A potent and darkly comic examination of familial bonds and shattered ambitions.

  • Shepard's writing remains as sharp and relevant as ever, delivered with visceral intensity.

Google audience: Audiences praised the powerful acting and the play's ability to evoke a range of emotions from laughter to unease. Many found the exploration of brotherhood and the American West deeply resonant.

Awards & Accolades

While this specific 2016 production may not have individual major awards listed, the play 'True West' itself is a Pulitzer Prize finalist and has received numerous Tony Award nominations and wins for various productions.

Fun Fact

Sam Shepard wrote the play 'True West' in 1980, and it was famously staged on Broadway in 2000 starring Philip Seymour Hoffman as Austin and John C. Reilly as Lee, both of whom received Tony nominations for their performances.

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