Today’s quick review: Mojave. Dissatisfied with his life of celebrity, Tom (Garrett Hedlund) goes to the Mojave Desert to find himself. Instead he finds Jack (Oscar Isaac), a talkative stranger with a philosophical bent and a sinister air. Their fireside conversation escalates into violence and ends with Tom making a costly mistake. Returning to Hollywood, Tom tries to put the event behind him, only for its consequences to follow him home.
Mojave is a minimalistic crime drama about two men who meet in the desert and quickly become bitter enemies. Mojave is a gritty examination of the darker side of humanity and what someone is capable of if pushed. The movie walks a fine line between captivating and vacuous. Capable acting and writing, as well as a fair amount of tension, help Mojave achieve the tone it’s going for, but the nature of the premise makes the movie hit-or-miss.
Mojave leans heavily on its two leads. Garrett Hedlund stars as Tom, an actor fed up with his fame. He is laconic, tenacious, and surprisingly resourceful, a morally grey protagonist who acts in his own self-interest. Oscar Isaac cuts a curious figure as Jack: alternately quirky and menacing, with a fascinatingly skewed perspective on life and the warped charisma to pull it off. The two are evenly matched in terms of wits and temperament.
Much like the characters, the plot carefully pursues a specific vision. Mojave has a peculiar sort of suspense to it that’s less about an immediate threat than danger just over the horizon. The repercussions of Tom’s trip to the desert gradually box him in, forcing him to take desperate action just to avoid being trapped completely. The plot is clever and hard to predict, with a few good reversals and the right amount of tension.
Mojave’s chief drawback is that it is narrow. A viewer who can’t overlook Tom’s moral failings to invest in him as a character won’t get much out of the movie. A viewer who dislikes Jack’s pseudo-philosophical ramblings will miss out as well. The same goes for viewers who are looking for a plot with a clear ending in mind, a crime drama the presents a full mystery rather than half-answered questions, or a more uplifting portrait of humanity.
Mojave aims for a specific target, and a combination of skilled acting and capable writing bring it very close. Whether it hits the mark or sails past will come down to taste, but its quality makes it worth checking out for those interested in the dark, minimal, and cerebral. Skip it if you’re looking for a more expansive movie or one that sticks with safe bets.
For an even more violent crime drama with a similarly high degree of antagonism, try No Country for Old Men. For a minimalistic but tangled crime drama with similar appeal, try Blood Simple. For a purer cat-and-mouse game in a more restricted setting, try Sleuth. For a black comedy with similar themes, a lighter tone, and more eclectic plot, try Seven Psychopaths.
5.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for reasonable execution of a slightly niche premise.