Rebel Ridge

Like How To Blow Up a Pipeline but abt cops/judicial system as opposed to climate change. While the primary focuses differ, both movies make it abundantly clear that systemic racism and capitalistic greed create the pressures and sustain the environment for injustice.

In Rebel Ridge, Aaron Pierre plays a former marine named Terry who, as a result of his military experience, approaches tasks with the acronym PACE (Primary Alternative Contingency Emergency) in mind. In rapid succession, the corruption of a police force and the complicity of the local judicial system negate Terry's primary, alternative, and contingency plans for delivering the bail money needed to save his cousin from confronting his former gang members in prison. The movie ironically uses US military defined logic as the protagonist's rationale when he revolts against the same system he once enlisted to protect. By their own definition his only option is to combat oppression by any means necessary. When it becomes evident that economic pressures have poisoned a justice system so deeply that it survives on injustice, then the system must be abolished.. and Terry fucks that shit up in the most satisfying humane way possible.

Tying it back into How To Build a Pipeline again (perhaps unfairly).. they both outline one's duty to revolt against oppressive systems and proceed to make the defiance incredibly engaging and cinematic (setting aside my cynicism in regards to performative revolution to avoid another tangent). Basically, "Pipeline" : heist movie :: "Ridge" : western.

I really liked this movie - just the sheer intensity and sincerity as well as the acting and pacing. My only familiarity with the director, Jeremy Saulnier, comes from people recommending Green Room and knowing it's supposed to be scary/violent/well-regarded. That being said, I feel the elements of horror in this as well - esp in a few particularly disturbing interactions with the police officers. This movie does have a few character tropes that, while well executed, follow predictable arcs (both female leads). Aside from that I don't really see any need to nitpick when there's no need to, and I thought this was a dope ass movie so there!

(I've seen more movies besides this and How To Blow Up a PipelineI promise)