The Scent of Rain & Lightning (2018)

Excellent, a Must See

A Disappointing Continuation

It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

This is the kind of film that sticks with you, and makes you want to watch again. The story isn't told in a traditional way, which can make it feel unsettling and even disorienting at times, but in an interesting and engaging way.

This is a film for those audiences that actually take the time and have the patience to experience it, knowing that they will be rewarded. For those that don't, or want everything spoon-fed to them (like another review here), it will be confusing and unrewarding. I've seen it twice as of this writing (Oct 2017), and it was even better the second time around. Everything is spot on, the direction, cinematography, writing, sound, everything. Every role is superbly acted, especially by Maika Monore, Maggie Grace, and Mark Webber. I'm sure it's hard to adapt a novel covering 25 years with many characters' detailed lives into a 100 minute movie, and director Blake Robbins has done an awesome job. (Also, check out his first film "The Sublime and Beautiful".)

Scent of Rain and Lightning (an adaptation of the novel by Nancy Pickard) upends expectations at every twisted turn. Anchored by a strong script from RUDDERLESS writers Casey Twenter and Jeff Robison, the film refuses to comply with the usual genre rules. Styled as a Western, flirting at the edges of a who-don-it, the film ultimately questions if we can truly know the truths of our personal histories...let alone understand them. Director Blake Robbins's extreme close-ups create a feeling of confusion and claustrophobia while a stellar cast hints at unseen histories. Watch for Maggie Grace's enigmatic portrayal of the headstrong, paradoxical Laurie.

I recently saw this movie at the Atlanta Film Festival. The acting was great, the colors used were amazing, and the story was interesting enough to keep the audience captivated. Normally with those three items mentioned, this would be a perfect movie. Unfortunately, parts of the movie left the audience confused. You weren't sure exactly who was who at times, and the director admitted some viewers will be confused. The beginning dragged on a bit, and it took much longer than needed to realize you were watching two different time lines. This type of movie is difficult to direct and besides the character confusion, I honestly believe the director did his best to portray the two time-lines in order to give the full story.It's a movie worth watching, but make sure you don't lose your focus or else you may get lost.