Wild Mountain Thyme
John Patrick Shanley’s new film Wild Mountain Thyme, based on Rosamunde Pilcher’s novel of the same title, is a charming but imperceptive portrayal of an Irish farm where family conflicts rise above all. Despite some shortcomings, it is a passionate and personal analysis of a culture in crisis – that of Irish farmers and tells the story of what a social, regional and class decline feels like when you were born with it hung around your neck. The breathtaking cinematography, amusing humor and delightful performances make it an enjoyable experience, to say the least.
The story follows Rosemary Muldoon (Emily Blunt) who is a headstrong farmer and is desperate to win her neighbor Anthony Reilly's (Jamie Dornan) love. The problem is, Anthony seems to have inherited a family curse and remains oblivious to his beautiful admirer. Stung by his father's plans to sell the family farm to his American nephew, Anthony is jolted into pursuing his dreams while Rosemary’s patience for love is tested. As the family saga of Wild Mountain Thyme plays out, we learn that this is only the short, superficial version. The film’s narrative appealingly shows how Rosemary and Anthony carry around the drawbacks of their chaotic family history.
One of the most eminent aspects of this film is the set of performances from Emily Blunt and Jamie Dornan. The film is appealing because of the way the story unfolds and the relationship is not shown in a problematic way. Their onscreen chemistry works really well and is guaranteed to hook audiences from start to finish. Blunt proves that she is truly a great actress when she commits to a role. Her delivery of dialogues is brilliant, but it's actually her comedic role-play that is most impressive here. The supporting performances from Christopher Walken and John Hamm are also quite amusing.
Other than this, the movie does not have much to offer besides two hours of popcorn entertainment and escapism. The pacing of the story is a bit slow and feels a bit contrived, at times. The film would have been stronger if a few parts were further fleshed out, whether it is Anthony’s life outside of his farm or the history of his family itself. Perhaps it focuses too much on Rosemary and her activities that it misses out on Anthony’s character as a whole. This lack of profundity along with a few tacky editing choices leaves the film feeling a bit tangled by the end.
Be that as it may, the film still works in several ways. John Patrick Shanley finds a way to make the recognizable dramedy feel new and original. His screenplay is mostly filled with heart and empathy. The film isn't flawless but still provides the audience with an entertaining storyline, a great on-screen couple and some mesmerizing visuals.