TO DAYS GONE BY // A FILM REVIEW OF "BULL"
In the slow-moving intensity of BULL, co-writer/director Annie Silverstein opens us up to a small Texas town and their bull rodeo circuit. Shot with the scope of a thrilling documentary, the film lets you in as the uncredited co-star in the film, making you always feel like you are the third person in the room. We follow Kris (Amber Havard), a 14-year old girl living with her Grandmother and her younger sister. Her mother (Sara Allbright) is in Prison and Kris seems to be the only one who still believes in her hopes of getting released. Everyone around her seems to ignore her, only pay attention to her if she is providing a place to party (like several local teens), or are annoyed by her, like her neighbor Abe (Rob Morgan). A dog keeps breaking into his chicken coops and he knows it's her dog. But the final straw is when he catches her leaving his house after breaking in and having a party there while he was out of town.
Instead of pressing charges, he decides to give her a chance to "do right," and she cleans up his house, fixes his chicken coop and starts helping him around the house. Even if no one is observing her, she quietly observes everything around her and finds out that he is a rodeo rider who can no longer ride. She's fascinated by this and he slowly takes her under his wing, seeing that she shows true interest in his life. Both of their stories are quietly told, never taking any judgement on the characters and instead letting the camera focus on their quiet lives and the dreams that seem just out of their reach.
Both lead performances in BULL are extraordinary. Amber Havard often doesn't say anything with words, but quietly expresses everything on her face. Rob Morgan's performance is subtle and powerful. His rodeo riding days are past him, yet he can't let go and as he goes through this pain, his wounds are our wounds and his sadness seems to rest on your shoulders due to his powerful presence. Annie Silverstein has crafted a beautiful picture here, once that showcases a town that always feels authentic, tinged in sadness. Quietly moving and bracingly honest, BULL is a beautiful revelation.
GRADE: A
WRITTEN BY Annie Silverstein, Johnny McAllister DIRECTED BY Annie Silverstein STARRING Rob Morgan, Amber Havard, Yolanda Ross, Sara Allbright. Now available on VOD/streaming rental.