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Baker is terrific as the jaded and strung-out Travis, who follows the threads of this case simply because he has nothing else to do. His beefy physicality adds weight to his generally exhausted demeanour, which matches the way everyone in this parched place seems to speak and move in slow motion. Each of the people Travis meets has a sharp personality, even as they are hiding as much as they can from him. They reveal pieces of the puzzle reluctantly, but also because they need to.

The film's mesmerising pace quietly excavates the nature of this isolated community. Almost everyone thinks things might have been different if they had spoken up when they had a chance. Although the system wasn't very receptive to indigenous people back then, and it's not much better now. Fans of police procedurals might become restless with Sen's patient approach, but the deeper resonance carries a terrific kick.

themes, language, drugs

19.Mar.24

Korman skilfully conveys Noam's nervous energy as he conceals how he's feeling from those around him, misreading the cues while trying to navigate things all on his own. It's a lovely performance that balances sparky everyday humour with darker adolescent longing to create a character who is easy to sympathise with, especially as his journey takes some unexpected turns. Alongside him, Zapesotsky also gets a chance to add nuance to his role, while Kallett (as Noam's chucklehead best friend) and Chon (as the only out gay person he knows) add terrific texture.

Not only is Noam's personal journey deeply compelling, but the film is also a reminder that much of queer history has been erased from the official accounts. Borison's script approaches these themes with a light hand, opting for subtle commentary rather than big messages. This adds meaning throughout a range of scenes, offering a strikingly astute depiction of a queer teen struggling to navigate a binary world.

themes, language

23.Mar.24

That said, the actors have terrific presence, shining brightly in nuanced moments between the scripted emotions. Webber and Gravelle are standouts in this sense, finding darker textures in their characters, even if the filmmaking never quite does them justice. Much of their journeys remain off-screen, obscured by various montages and staged events. In a slightly thankless role, Laporte finds some internal steeliness that helps make the final scene feel meaningful. And Dawson and Jones add a terrific spark of energy.

Enormous ideas about queer visibility ripple throughout the film, adding some thematic interest. But nothing challenges the audience to think about the issue. Instead, the film becomes an entertaining trip through period sounds reminiscent of The Cure and The Smiths mashed up with a bit of punk attitude. But both of those bands (and many others from the 1980s) played more meaningful with gender than the New Normals do, so the movie ends up feeling somewhat incomplete.

themes, language, violence, sexuality

9.Mar.24