What Do Critics Make of Rust, 3 Years After the Shooting?

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Over the 2024 premiere of “Rust” at Camerimage, a Polish festival focusing on cinematography, the weight of its presence hung heavy. The festival’s November 20th opening was marked by a moment of silence for the late Hutchins and a speech by her friend Rachel Mason, who described “Rust” as a film that is often misunderstood. Matthew Hutchins chose not to attend, while Baldwin was not invited. According to Variety, the response to the film was respectful, with some viewers leaving before the credits rolled.

To date, critics have found it challenging to distinguish the distressing production background from the on-screen movie. In his review for Vulture, Nick Newman stated, “Rust did not intentionally mirror its own tragedies, yet they permeate a film that is both engaging and competent, offering an authentic, unpolished western narrative about guilt, blame, family, law, and devotion.” Here are additional reviews of Rust.

Baldwin’s performance in this production is inconsistent: His delivery fluctuates between scenes, and his accent wavers, while his relationship with McDermott’s character oscillates between affection and indifference. The disruption of shooting schedules over an 18-month period, coupled with a tragic loss, might explain some of these variations. It could also be that it’s awkward watching him perform multiple on-screen killings using a gun similar to one from a notorious scene that was omitted in this final version.” – Vulture’s Analysis

The truth is, watching Baldwin shooting guns during the required gunfight finale (followed by an overly prolonged conclusion) isn’t really worth the extended viewing time; it makes Rust seem eerie as well as boring. In an equally disconcerting contradiction, Halyna Hutchins is the movie’s redeeming factor. Without her contributions, it wouldn’t be worth a glance at all. – Jesse Hassenger, The Guardian

Baldwin firing guns in the final shootout scene and the drawn-out ending of the film aren’t enjoyable to watch; they make Rust seem strange and tedious. However, Halyna Hutchins makes the movie worth seeing. If it weren’t for her work, it wouldn’t be worth watching at all. – Jesse Hassenger, The Guardian

The movie is skillfully crafted and engaging at certain points, but it has a commonplace feel that hinders its pace. Despite being beautifully produced, the storyline about these intricate characters fails to evoke strong emotions in us, and the film Rust finds it difficult to achieve this. (Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter)

Halyna Hutchins’ cinematography during twilight and sunset, enhanced by Bianca Cline’s work, might be the standout feature in the movie “Rust.” The film carries a brooding sensuality throughout. However, as written and directed by Joel Souza, the story told in the film feels like Rust and Lucas traveling to various locations without staying long enough for these places to have significant impact. The question remains whether the off-screen tragedy that has come to symbolize “Rust” will pique viewers’ curiosity or deter them. Regardless, those who choose to watch it will find a movie that delivers, although it may not leave a lasting impression as an unforgettable adventure.

In the movie “Rust“, there are striking similarities to real-life events. The narrative unfolds when a stray bullet causes an unintentional death, which sets the main storyline in motion. Various characters within the film must grapple with the repercussions of their actions, much like they would in actual life. Similar to “The Crow” or “Twilight Zone: The Movie“, the events in “Rust” are indelibly linked to a single fateful day. While it may not be just or ideal, finding beauty within such tragic circumstances is something that resonates with many people. (Brian Truitt wrote an article about this for USA Today.)

Moderately disappointing and generally hard to enjoy due to its tragic undertones; releasing Rust was a significant mistake.” – John Oleksinski, New York Post

In a nod to other more impressive films, the movie “Rust” doesn’t quite stand out as a must-watch due to its lack of originality. However, it shouldn’t have been canceled solely because of an accident. Alex Baldwin, who has been largely absent from screens lately, delivers in this film, demonstrating that, much like the character Harland Rust, he remains a force to be reckoned with. – Kyle Smith, The Wall Street Journal

We can’t dismiss Rust as if it were just an ordinary film that we can easily evaluate by merely watching it without any prior knowledge. If you have some understanding of it, then you’d know better. In fact, if we could observe Rust in a vacuum, devoid of context, it would simply be another Western movie. Admittedly, a good one; but not quite the classic caliber, still engaging and aesthetically pleasing.

Rust” is particularly striking due to its expansive landscapes and intimate scenes around campfires and candles, hinting at a promising cinematic career for Hutchins. Unfortunately, her last project was a mediocre genre film that doesn’t match her remarkable abilities. – Nick Schager, The Daily Beast

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2025-05-01 17:54