Busy Hitting Myself in the Face

by

This week, the movie “Rust” debuts in theaters, and interestingly, its director took a jab at the film’s lead actor, Alec Baldwin, by criticizing his reality television series.

The premiere of the western film “Rust” has been overshadowed by the unfortunate incident that took place during filming. Specifically, an unintentional gunshot fired by Alec Baldwin resulted in injuries to director Joel Souza, and tragically claimed the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

In the end, the movie’s armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was convicted for involuntary manslaughter and received a sentence of 18 months in jail. The charges against Alec Baldwin were dropped after it was discovered that the prosecution had failed to share crucial evidence with the defense.

Three and a half years after the event, Rust is now being screened in American cinemas, and Souza is discussing not only the accident but also his challenging professional dynamic with Baldwin.

Rust director busy “hitting myself in the face” when The Baldwins was on

Joel Souza, the filmmaker, initially felt reluctant about finishing the movie following the incident, expressing this sentiment to The Guardian: “The family of [Hutchins] wished for its completion. At first, the thought of returning repulsed me, but now the idea grew appealing. I couldn’t bear the thought of anyone else taking it on.

Souza goes on to say, “I was in a state of chaos before and after the event. It was the team who helped guide me through. Similarly, my loved ones were instrumental in supporting me emotionally. I was like a ship sailing aimlessly across various emotional landscapes.

Regarding collaboration with Baldwin, The Guardian states that disagreements arose during the first filming about the actor’s portrayal of his character. When they resumed work, according to Souza, it was crucial for everyone to align with his perspective on the role.

Souza said, “I didn’t literally stand on anyone’s neck, but there were conflicts I chose to avoid. This was the strategy I used to navigate through difficult times.

Though his professional bond with Alec strengthened, the director admitted he hadn’t caught any episodes of Alec’s reality show, The Baldwins. He humorously explained, “Apparently, I was preoccupied slapping myself with a frying pan on the same nights.

What the critics are saying about Rust

Rust”

This gripping tale is set in the 1880s Wyoming landscape, revolving around a 13-year-old boy who finds himself wrongly sentenced to death for an accidental shooting of a rancher. In a desperate bid for survival, he embarks on a perilous journey alongside his estranged grandfather. Initial reviews have been positive, but not yet exceptional.

The movie “Rust” unfolds in the 1880s Wyoming terrain, focusing on a 13-year-old boy who has been wrongly sentenced to death for an unfortunate shooting incident involving a rancher. He teams up with his estranged grandpa and flees, seeking redemption and evading capture. The early reviews have been positive but not spectacular.

As a dedicated gamer, I must say that the article in The Guardian labels Rust as an impressive creation, beautifully captured by Hutchins and Bianca Cline. Interestingly, Bianca took charge of filming approximately half of the scenes left unfinished.

Variety says: “the movie ‘delivers’ without ever becoming an adventure to remember.”

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the movie is skillfully produced and engaging at moments, yet it has a commonplace feel that can slow its pace. Despite being well-crafted, this film about intricate characters fails to evoke stronger emotions as one might expect, and “Rust” seems to fall short in making us truly invested.

In a nutshell, the film “Rust” effectively explores themes such as loss, regret, and redemption, with significant contributions coming from the skillful direction by Souza and the stunning cinematography of the American west by Hutchins and later Cline.

Read More

2025-05-01 12:51