Dark Waters (2019)

Todd Hayes veers from what I normally expect from him in this based-on-real-events ripped-from-the-headlines film. Not in the quality of his film, he has crafted a quiet but powerful and gripping tale. He moves from his beautiful queer oddballs to something that feels more direct. But in doing so he has made a substantial film centered around a quiet but powerful performance.

Dark Waters follows the true story of Robert Bilott, an attorney who takes on Dupont and wins. Ruffalo plays him as frumpy but determined hero yet defies all stereotypes about this to show how he does something heroic. Ruffalo gets into him as a whole person. I often get irritated when movies portray real people and don't make them seem like real humans. I felt Ruffalo's Bilott was a person. His scenes with Hathaway as his wife are honest.

Hayes films his story in a rainy grey haze which gives it both a feeling of malaise and melancholy appropriate for such a discouraging narrative, but also feels chilled and unsettled. Finally it looks beautiful, all gloomy and pale. Hayes has taken his more straight forward story and made a film that looks as good as Carol or Far From Heaven.

But unlike those films, Dark Waters isn't a sexy film. The crimes it exposes aren't straight forward so to tell this tale takes some skill. Not only does he need to tell the story he has to help us understand. And he does that brilliantly. His audience both emotionally and intellectually understands. It is alot to take in but he makes it understandable. And we leave angered. Just as we are supposed to.

While I personally am drawn to stories that show how lawyers can be heroes I am also drawn to stories which help us face the world we live in a little stronger. I think Dark Waters is one of those films.

Dark Waters
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, Tim Robbins, Victor Garber, Mare Winningham, Bill Pulman, Bill Camp
Director: Todd Hayes
Writers: Mario Corea, Matthew Michael Carnahan