A singular vision of a post-apocalyptic environment, Ana Lily Amirpour's The Bad Batch is a twisted fairy tale set in a Texas Wasteland, where those deemed unfit for society have been placed in a world where chaos reigns. The Bad Batch is a film that transplants the viewer into this grotesque world of disorder, where depravity and the battle to survive go hand-and-hand. Juxtaposing the brutality of this world with a healthy dose of pop music, The Bad Batch is a film that seeks to find the humanity and empathy in disorder through its main protagonist, Arlen, a woman who faces extreme violence and pain but never seems to completely lose hope, no matter the obstacles she faces. The Bad Batch is a film that dances around a lot of interesting thematic elements, touching on not only humankind's need for connection, but also the importance of never giving up on those who have been given up on by society. All of the characters in The Bad Batch have been sent to a place of exile for reasons which are never explained, as the film intentionally showcases how their past crimes simply aren't important for the sake of the film's optimistic perspective of the human condition. The Bad Batch is a stark reminder of the importance of empathy, forgiveness, and second chances, detailing how all these characters, no matter how heinous they may act, are creatures of emotion, each which at least in part is a victim of the environment which they inhabit. Ana Lily Amirpour's film is a powder keg of visceral energy, a film that seeks to touch on the very essence of what makes all of us human, with even the more heinous character's being driven, at least in part by their dedication to other. Jason Momoa's character, Miami Man, is a great example of the film's optimism, a brutish man who has completely embraced the violent environment which he inhabits, with his only sense of empathy coming from his desire to take care of his young daughter. The relationship that slowly unfolds between Miami Man and our main protagonist, Arlen, is the heart and soul of the film, which begins to unfold almost like a bizarre love story, as this young woman's dedication to empathy eventually rubs off on this brutish man. Intentional or not, The Bad Batch exhibits the sense of companionship and community that is a fundamental aspect of humanity, showcasing the importance of community but also the inherent shortcomings of such reliance on others through the character of 'The Dream', played beautifully by Keanu Reeves, a man who is dangerously close to becoming a fascist presence, lamenting at one point that he "knows what is best" for the people who confide in him. While The Bad Batch's vision is utterly singular and often compelling, I'd be lying if I didn't say the film at times felt like a missed opportunity, never showing the dedication necessary to deconstruct complicated concepts about governance and societal order. To be fair, Ana Lilly Amirpour simply doesn't seem all that interested in these thematic concepts, as The Bad Batch shows much more interest in simply painting a visceral portrait of the importance of hope and empathy, with its two main characters in Arlen and Miami Man eventually gravitating towards one and other due to their sense of connection to one and other. Skillfully directed, impeccably photographed, and featuring a healthy dose of pop music, The Bad Batch is an electric experience that never focuses too much on intellectual discussions about governance, criminality, and order, opting instead to deliver a singular vision about humanities primal need for connection, perhaps being best described as the cinematic equivalent of pop art.
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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