"First Cow": A Tale Worth Experiencing

"First Cow": Movie Review    

Written By Alex Greenbaum

Fulfilling its undeniable warmth with a diverse cast of characters and an eye for the poetic, director Kelly Reichardt ("Meeks Cutoff", "Certain Women") captures in her latest film "First Cow" an evident ode to modern-day civilization. Even though Reichardt's direction doesn't consistently match up with her wholesome premise, stunning cinematography (Chris Blauvelt) and carefully curated character development is a match made in cinema heaven.

A Chinese immigrant (Orion Lee) and a skilled cook (John Magaro) embark on a business partnership and friendship that is tested through the western expansion into Oregon during the 1820s.

The film drips with a stunning serenity, that engulfs the screen with a sense of simple awe.  The 4:3 aspect ratio (utilized in Reichardt's previous film "Meeks Cutoff") keeps each setting in clear focus and adds a gleeful personality to a film already brimming with one. The relationship that develops between Cookie (Magaro) and King Lu (Lee) is warm and affable, containing insight into the subtleties of human nature.

Nevertheless, "First Cow" is not without its frustrating and questionable choices. Reichardt all too often teases a companionship much greater than what is displayed on the screen, frequently lifting the spirits but lacking that ultimate punch of tangibility. There is a largely unspoken pact between Cookie and King Lu, which at times, feels underutilized in part due to its deliberately limited narrative.

With its expansive set design and a keen eye for its early 19th-century realism, this is Reichardt's most ambitious film to date. Blauvelt's delightful cinematography along with Reichardt and Jonathan Raymond's tranquil screenplay succeeds in crafting an affectionate and timeless relationship between two men of a different era.

"First cow" is a tale worth experiencing.

3 Stars Out Of 4