MPAA Rating: TV-MA/ Genre: Drama/ Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, Tommy Lee Jones/ Runtime: 91 minutes
For those of you who are concerned about this: you will be delighted to know that the slice of cinematic pie I am reviewing today, 2011’s The Sunset Limited is not the kind of film that is trying to beat you over the head with a specific message. Indeed I think it is safe to say that representatives on both sides of the debate between religion and logic are going to throw some mean-size stones when they see that not only does the movie not play favorites, but that it gives equal time to both sides. I mean this is not a movie that is either the roar of the agnostic crowd or the electric prayer at the end of a pastor’s sermon. Rather, this slice of cinematic pie is an engaging and riveting look at a timeless argument that both sides have engaged in order to lead prospective people toward either the lamp of God or the light of rhyme and reason so they can “save” these people from either being ignorant or damned for all eternity. Yet the overarching brilliance that is found in both the original play by iconic writer Cormac McCarthy or in this 2011 made for TV movie take on the play by iconic film actor Tommy Lee Jones is that neither attempts to provide a definitive answer to the argument. Rather, they both choose to go in-depth on this timeless argument and showcase the 2 sides with no bias whilst also slowly, but surely filling in the gaps and showcasing for audiences just what makes these 2 sides think and believe the things they do so that by the end of it we get a look at this time-honored argument that, courtesy of wonderful writing by McCarthy, terrific performances from Jackson and Jones, and top-notch work at the helm by Jones, is one that will leave you perhaps with a little bit more of an understanding about the 2 sides than you had before.
The plot is as follows: The Sunset Limited opens its riveting yarn as we see a down to earth man of faith save a professor trying to end it all from the path of an oncoming train. To that end, we see this man take the other back to his place with the desire to try and comprehend just why the man he saved wants so desperately to throw his life away. From there, you the viewer are a witness to a riveting and potent back and forth as we see this dynamic duo unfurl their beliefs like a banner for all to see: one who feels that his faith can heal the other’s despair and the other who steadfastly believes he can shake up the other’s faith like the dice in Yahtzee through the power of reason and logic. Yet whilst their dialogue with each other doesn’t go down the way you think it might, there are other moments where it does. Suffice it to say that those with a degree of familiarity about “The Great Debate” will find a lot of moments that ring true for you here even when this slice of cinematic pie manages to surprise. Heck even those who have at one time or another felt the same way as our two characters will be astonished with scribe McCarthy’s talent to get right to the core of each set of beliefs whilst also balancing the two and giving this battle of belief the ability to sway in favor of each side and not just favor one over the other. Of course, it should be said that both of our characters are quite extreme examples of their separate belief systems. Indeed not every atheist is a doom and gloom cynic and not every passionate religious individual is someone who feels like they have heard God speak to them. Yet in making them such extreme opposites, the film’s showcase of the debate is able to solidify. Indeed the man of faith is no more a stubborn egomaniac than the nonbeliever is an uppity militant. Yes their bond is one that combat factors into, but it’s the kind of combat that takes the form of a pair of loyal friends calling each other to task when they see that one of them isn’t doing so hot. Indeed their dialogue with each other not only strengthens their bond, but it also reveals who they really are as people, calls to task their individual character, and ultimately firmly requests that we do the same when it comes to pondering our own sense of purpose and belief in this world.
To that end, it should also be noted that whilst the man of faith might overrun the dialogue both quite early into the movie and throughout the movie’s runtime and yes the atheist is called to task for a chunk of this slice of cinematic pie, I still think it should be noted that you should not confuse his reluctance to interact with the other man to be seen as prejudice or even befuddlement at what is going on. Rather, I would urge you to see it as an equal mix of composure and compassion toward the other man. Indeed the atheist is as set in his ways as the man of faith is even if his take on “faith” is rooted in logic and hopelessness. Indeed for all the preconceived notions that exist about those who choose to be agnostic or atheist, the atheist in this it should be noted is a decent man who doesn’t harbor any rancor or hostility toward the man he saved him. Rather, he just wants to leave the apartment, and go die, but at the same time not want the other man to be left with the belief that he could have done more. At the same time, whilst the man of faith may eventually be stunned by the pent up rage from the atheist, his agony should not be seen as doubt, but rather sadness and exasperation. Indeed the man of faith doesn’t want to bring the atheist into the fold, but rather save him from the Sunset Limited (when you see the movie you’ll understand what I mean by that). Indeed for all the preconceived notions that abound about Christians who thump their Bible all the live long day, this man of faith is a good and honorable man who is legitimately concerned about the idea of anyone being eternally damned. Yes he doesn’t want the atheist to leave, but this is only because he wants to try and ease the man’s suffering and because he feels that God has appointed him to save this guy from his misery and woe. Yet with all of that being said, I think it should also be said that how this dialogue ends is just as heartbreaking as how it starts. Indeed both of these people find themselves coming face to face with doubt whilst also being tossed around like a rag doll in the ensuring storm, but at the end they are still standing…..well I’ll leave it up to you to discover just where they are standing. Suffice it to say that this is one slice of cinematic pie that does not offer a resolution that is any easier to watch as the rest of what you have just sat through up to that point so don’t hold your breath.
Now when it comes to his work as a film helmer, I think it is a safe observation to make that Tommy Lee Jones is both as bare-bones and practical as possible; a pair of qualities that incidentally work highly in this film’s favor. Indeed when this movie does trip a little bit, it’s either because things are being portrayed a bit too much on the heavy side or because Jackson every so often loses his restraint and engages in the over-the-top acting that he is known for engaging in to great effect….in movies that are NOT this one. Thankfully, Jones tends to balance out Jackson’s penchant for this directly in the film itself by having his character hold Jackson’s to task for said theatrics so that does aid things immensely, but the performances by our dynamic duo still prove to be quite distracting from time to time. Even with that stumbling block in place though, there is no denying that both Jones and Jackson still do wonderful work in this as they manage to give their respective characters a humanity that manages to overcome quite a bit including the enigmas surrounding them as people. Indeed since we aren’t given much in the way of backstory for the 2 men, our dynamic duo of performers must utilize both irritability and responses in order to fill in the blanks for us. Thus, by the time their dialogue comes to an end, we not only have a better idea of just who they are as people, but also their respective worlds and just how they have gotten to this point in their lives. Indeed no matter what these two throw our way throughout, Jones and Jackson are truly riveting in this as they manage to create a pair of characters that are both human beings and symbols for 2 separate yet connected ways of thinking at the same time. In the same vein, this slice of cinematic pie is one that requires you to pay attention whilst also making you really think about how best to respond to everything you see and hear these 2 men say to each other throughout.
All in all the best way that I can sum this slice of cinematic pie is with the following statement: if you don’t ask questions that are simple then you should not expect to receive answers that are simple either. Suffice it to say this movie is perfect proof of that in how it chooses to approach the question of faith and God in that it doesn’t either say he doesn’t exist nor does it set out to make God seem like a petulant child or a jerk to humanity. Instead this movie showcases the duo of faiths which are faith in a divine entity and faith in logic and reason and what would happen if the 2 were personified and chose to sit down and have a friendly debate. To that end, both Jones and Jackson are top-notch, the dialogue courtesy of Cormac McCarthy is on the level that you would expect from the iconic author, and The Sunset Limited truly is a riveting analysis at a dialogue we all have most likely had at least once in our lives. On a scale of 1-5 I give The Sunset Limited “2011” a solid 3.5 out of 5.
