Amanda Seyfried‘s sad school teacher is the heart and confused soul of Tim Blake Nelson‘s latest directorial outing, The Life And Deaths Of Wilson Shedd. The movie itself appears to have had a lot of “life and deaths” itself along the way as Nelson has been trying to get it made for years, and finally he has succeeded with a fine cast including Seyfried and an intriguing turn by Scott McNairy who has become one of the more interesting actors around these days in terms of what he has been showing up in. So why I am so disturbed by this one?
It is a movie that deals with a number of themes and issues, chief among them the death penalty and the fact that for many of those sentenced they probably were doomed by society’s ills before they ever committed the terrible crimes that have led to their fate. Nelson doesn’t provide easy answers here or appear to attempt to make this film an advertisment for abolishment of capital punishment. His penchant for constantly playing with timelines and returning to the vivid depiction of gruesome deaths responsible for the inmates fate clouds the political questions, almost daring us to take a stand one way or the other, The extreme examples shown here don’t make it easy.
The title character, Wilson Shedd, is in prison but as we meet him in the penetentiary’s creative writing class, he is not presented as someone society should throw away, but actually in some ways even a sensitive man wanting to rise from the ashes of his doomed life with an appreciation for – wait for it – Emily Dickinson. We see he perhaps has more potential even if it never leaves the classroom taught by Karen, a teacher brought in for these special classes, a person who can see Wilson has a talent for writing, and as their teacher/student relationship deepens -love letters are even sent – so does his attraction to her, and vice-versa. She has a reason because she has been married to a horribly abusive husband who threatens her at every turn, even as her best friend (Wunmi Mosaku) tries to temper things and pry her from her ex who takes every opportunity to physically assault her. The prison assignment is a gift in some ways as ironically she can find a level of peace trying to encourage the inmates, convicted of despicable acts, they are capable of something better.
Nelson however has no interest in turning this into To Sir With Love. Using a non-linear structure he darts around timewise to show Wilson’s pathetic early life, as well as forward to an escape attempt in which Karen misguidedly becomes an accomplice. There are also flash forwards to the brutal murders of those Wilson and his none-too-bright two prisoner sidekicks find getting in their way once they have gotten free and are on the lam. Most disturbingly is a confrontation with a lovely Black family we have met in earlier flashbacks including two sweet young kids performing in their school musical. We aren’t sure at this point in the film why we are seeing this but it eventually becomes apparent.
Once this family, including the preacher father (William Jackson Harper) and his wife (Devyn Tyler) have piled the kids and their pet cat into the station wagon we know they are on a collision course. When they come directly into the line of fire as it were, we also know this isn’t going to end well, but Nelson keeps returning to the scene, each time a more excruciating moment to watch, almost exploitative in the killings, one by one (yes, mostly offscreen but the effect is there) , the begging for life to be spared, the mercy not given. It was at this point I wanted to check out, the movie became too real, too heartbreaking. I didn’t sign up for this.
As it continues and makes its way to the inhumane and botched execution, pardon me but Nelson’s movie started feeling like a variation of a snuff film, too realistic, too tortured even for a man who presided over the kinds of cold blooded murders we bore witness too. In the end it was all too much, everything including the abuse of Karen, the unthinkable crimes of Wilson Shedd, the wasted lives. There is a point where a movie can go too far.
I am not sure ultimately who the audience is for this film. The Life And Deaths Of Wilson Shedd is extremely well acted, well written, and well directed. Nelson does not shy from showing the realities of life, and deaths. It may all be important to see, to discuss, to think about, but this is one film, still inside my head that I just want to get out.
Producers are Nelson, Julie Buck, Ryan Bartecki, Billy Hines, Miles Romney.
Title: The Life And Deaths Of Wilson Shedd
Festival: Toronto – Gala Presentations
Director/Screenplay: Tim Blake Nelson
Cast: Amanda Seyfried, Scoot McNairy, William Jackson Harper, Devyn Tyler, Wunmi Mosaku, Missi Pyle, Grant Harvey, Elizabeth Marvel.
Running Time: 2 hours and 1 minute
Sales Agent: WME, D Squared Films
