Ethan Hawke plays the father of a young girl (Avy Berry) in 1933 Oregon. When he’s sent to a prison work camp (with no trial or real explanation) he ends up losing her. To get early release and retrieve his daughter, the camp boss (Russell Crowe) sends him and his fellow inmates on a trek across the wilderness with backpacks of gold. Director Padraic McKinley was a producer and editor on “The Good Lord Bird,” which was shot here with Hawke in the lead. His low-key, slow-burn atmosphere creates continuous mild apprehension, but never much real tension. Some of the gaps in the plot create credibility confusion. Meanwhile, Hawke quietly captures his character’s force and determination, while Berry’s delightful performance provides the only real sunshine in the otherwise dark film. McKinley is certainly an interesting filmmaker, but there are some uneven approaches and plot holes that create flaws in this unusual drama. 3.0 out of 5.0 stars
