Comedies have one important goal: to make people laugh. A comedy that has issues or any other narrative problem can get away with a whole lot if it makes you laugh. If you don’t find yourself laughing in a comedy, then something went wrong. We all want to laugh in a comedy. It brings smiles to our faces and makes us forget about the struggles that we face in our daily lives, but the best kinds of comedies are the ones that can knock it out of the park with humor but also go more deeper than one might expect it. Juno, The Big Sick and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl are all great and hilarious comedies, but they also approach their worlds and characters more serious and with more substantial weight. Now, if you just want to watch comedy just for the sake gut buster jokes and pure laughter, go watch something like The Hangover or Superbad, but if you’re looking for something more than just a pure comedy, then the other movies are ripe for you. The latest comedy-drama film directed Australian actor/director Jeremy Sims, Rams, is an uncommon yet exceptional piece of work. While it does succeed on great comedic timing from veteran actors Sam Neil and Michael Caton, Rams is much more poignant and heartwarming than one will ever anticipate, which made the movie and the experience refreshing. The performances are top notch and the movie exemplifies the themes of the human spirit and setting aside an individuals differences in order to see the better part of themselves.
Based on a 2015 Icelandic movie directed by Grímur Hákonarson, Rams tells the story of these two estranged brothers, Colin (Sam Neill) and Les (Michael Caton), in remote Western Australia. Colin and Les are both sheep farmers and their lives revolve around breeding sheep and for decades, Colin and Les have had this on going rivalry. But when a dangerous disease threatens the lives of the sheep they herd, Colin and Les must set aside the struggles they have and find a way to save them.
One of the best things about Rams is that it’s incredibly simple. Yes, sometimes simple can feel cheap and uninteresting, but on other hand, sometimes simple is perfect. Rams doesn’t convolute the audience with unnecessary exposition or side stories that have virtually no relationship with the main focus of the narrative. Rams is simple because its main focus is set on two men who start from hating each other that ends with them becoming closer than ever before. Of course, the movie does have other narrative aspects to make the events more engaging and arousing, but the movie never pivots down any unnecessary territory. Directed by Jeremy Sims, Sims really wonderfully illustrates a great respect for Australian landscape but also the humanity the roams around that landscape.
You might recognize Sam Neil as Dr. Alan Grant from Jurassic Park or the small and delightful cameo he had in Thor: Ragnarok. What ever the case may be, Sam Neil is a terrific and powerful performer. He has an impressive career that spans decades and his level of commitment and gravitas to his roles is masterly. His performance in Rams is down to earth, soothing and yet isolated at the same time. Sam Neil plays a character that is so determined on doing what he believes is best for him and his sheep when it comes at a high cost. He gives one of the best performances of his entire career in this movie and it also shows the type of actor that he’s always been. He shares great chemistry with Michael Caton, who hasn’t down a whole lot of work recently, but surprisingly shows a great amount of charm and heart to add to this movie. The relationship they share is touching and oddly reflects on even the greatest friendships that still have struggles.
Overall, Rams is a delightful and moving narrative about rekindling a friendship and fighting for what one believes is right. It features fine performances, heart and elements that elevate the comedy genre to another level
My grade for Rams: B+
Zane's take at the Cinema's 