Frontera

A competent rehash of drama plots we've seen before, Ed Harris and Michael Pena manage to keep this film afloat with the sheer passion of their performances. That being said, Frontera goes off half-cocked, and fails to deliver on its promises.

It's clear by now that Harris enjoys Western films and the influences are obvious, from the settings to the music. It's a shame he couldn't explore its themes more comprehensively, and it seems clear to me that much of Frontera was left on the cutting room floor to fit into a 90 minute running time. There are loose threads of plot left floating and multiple elements of the story that remain unsolved. Some scenes feel rushed and much of what happens to minor characters occurs off screen, perhaps having fallen victim to editing.

This is unfortunate because the key elements of a good drama are here. They just needed more polishing. As it is, Frontera is a dull rock reminiscent of a diamond but lacking the shine.

Other nagging problems weigh down this otherwise interesting rural drama. The direction is inconsistent, and can never quite reach the level of tension it aims for. Ed Harris is left with criminally few lines to speak, and fills his screen time with furrowed stares and glowers. I found him to be a joy to watch, and when he does speak he has good lines, but it feels like he could have brought so much more to the film. I found Michael Pena to be pleasantly immersed in his role and applaud his subtle, understated acting style. Unfortunately it's a misplaced effort.

The biggest issue is the fact that the mystery is answered immediately: we know "who dunnit". What's left to watch is a procedural where the criminals head inexorably toward a predictable fate, and the effects on those caught up in the crime. Perhaps removing the perspective of the crooks would have made the film more suspenseful and interesting, as ultimately it turns into an episodic anthology of stories on the American-Mexican frontier.

Given the current trend of polished HBO crime dramas, this would have made good competition for True Detective and the late Breaking bad as a series.

Recommended.