Rust: Strong Landscapes, Little Dramatic Fire

Rust is difficult to approach without thinking about the fatal on-set accident that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. That tragic background hangs over the film. Judged as a Western, it has striking landscapes but much less dramatic force.

Thirteen-year-old Lucas Hollister accidentally kills a rancher and faces a death sentence. His grandfather, outlaw Harland Rust, played by Alec Baldwin, helps him escape. A marshal and a bounty hunter pursue them. The ingredients belong to a familiar Western story.

The atmosphere is its strongest quality. The cinematography, begun by Hutchins and later continued by Bianca Cline, gives the West a sparse, melancholy beauty. Dust, light, open spaces and muted earth tones create images that stay with me more readily than the dialogue.

The relationship between grandfather and grandson should be the emotional center, but it remains underdeveloped. Too much is explained in dialogue, while the dramatic scenes do not create the necessary connection. Baldwin is serious and restrained, yet the role lacks a distinctive spark. The boy's characterization is similarly bland.

The film aims for the gravity of a classic Western without finding its emotional depth. Its somber tone alone cannot make the familiar story compelling.

Dedicated Western fans may find something in the landscapes and atmosphere. For me, Rust never turns those elements into a convincing whole. It is a film with a tragic history and some strong images, but very little dramatic fire.