Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
Bob Muldoon and Ruth Guthrie, an impassioned young outlaw couple on an extended crime spree, are finally apprehended by lawmen after a shootout in the Texas hills. Although Ruth wounds a local officer, Bob takes the blame. But four years later, Bob escapes from prison and sets out to find Ruth and their daughter, born during his incarceration.
Ain't Them Bodies Saints is a beautifully crafted slow-burn romance-crime drama that earns its reputation primarily through stunning cinematography and committed performances. David Lowery's direction gives the film an ethereal, sun-drenched quality reminiscent of Malick, with DoP Bradford Young delivering gorgeous, textured imagery throughout. Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck are both exceptional, conveying longing and heartbreak with restraint and authenticity. The plot, while atmospheric, is deliberately thin and meandering — the outlaw-separated-lovers premise is familiar territory and the film prioritizes mood over narrative momentum, which can frustrate viewers expecting conventional dramatic payoff. The ending is tonally consistent but emotionally muted, feeling inevitable rather than resonant. Novelty sits in the middle: while the film has a distinctive visual voice and lyrical sensibility, it wears its influences (Badlands, Days of Heaven) openly enough to limit its sense of singular originality.