Stillwater

By: Jamie Steinberg

Don’t let the beard, ballcap, goatee and plaid shirts fool you. Despite all the “Yes, ma’am” responses and old-school country music played in his pickup truck, Bill Baker (Matt Damon) knows how to handle a gun. Stillwater, loosely based on the infamous case of Amanda Knox, Baker will stop at nothing to ensure his daughter lives to come back to their hometown. And that’s where the trouble begins…

Director Tom McCarthy twists the Knox tale by setting it in the French port of Marseille and also introduces the audience to Baker’s daughter Allison (Abigail Breslin), who is on year five of a nine-year prison sentence for having killed her lover, a young Muslim woman. Bill believes Allison to be innocent and Allison claims she can prove it based on hearsay by she’s received from a young Arab man also in the jail. This is where the action-adventure begins with Bill following every lead in order to help exonerate his daughter.

McCarthy does a great job of bringing out the best in Damon. The film also highlights the swagger many Americans seem to possess when stepping overseas, especially when young and heading out in the world for new adventures. The relationship between Baker and a single mom (Lilou Siauvaud) in France is where the film really shines as it seems to offer our hero a second chance at changing the mistakes of his past. It also provides Baker with added help in his investigation. Sure, on paper this relationship doesn’t truly make sense, but it is of interest as this connection builds a bond that allows Bill to open up more and offers insight into his past.

For those looking for an edge-of-your-seat storyline that keeps your adrenaline pumping, check elsewhere. However, if you’d like an intriguing who-done-it where the cast have standout performances with an ending that leaves your mind racing, be sure to check out the film Stillwater.

Watch A Clip from Stillwater