Beneath the Harvest Sky takes a unique setting and stuffs it with drama that seems a little too familiar. Starring Emory Cohen (The Place Beyond the Pines) as Casper, Harvest Sky takes us through the fall potato harvest season, undoubtedly the biggest time of the year for a town such as Van Buren, ME.
If “drugs” could be a main character, Harvest Sky nails it; the story revolves around drug trading across the Canadian border with nearly every scene featuring a pill or powder. To be fair, it’s not too far from the sad truth. Maine leads the nation in prescription drug abuse, and is a setting not too often seen on the big screen.
If “drugs” could be a main character, Harvest Sky nails it; the story revolves around drug trading across the Canadian border with nearly every scene featuring a pill or powder. To be fair, it’s not too far from the sad truth. Maine leads the nation in prescription drug abuse, and is a setting not too often seen on the big screen.
Casper and Dom (Callan McAuliffe) are best friends in their late years of high school. The two are opposites. Dom is the “good” boy, desperate to get the hell out of Dodge and start a new life in Boston. Casper seems to embody a self-fulfilling prophecy by falling into tough-guy spots and ultimately taking bad path after bad path.
Unfortunately we’re stuck with Casper and drugs for the whole film. He’s terribly unlikeable, and it’s a real shame that every glimpse of a shining light cast upon him is immediately shut down by powers outside his control. Dom and the surrounding town prove that the most clichéd drama can happen anywhere, save for a stellar performance from Aiden Gillen (“Game of Thrones”, “The Wire”) as Clayton, Casper’s drug-dealing father.
Yet, just as we get sick of the played out drama, the film takes a turn in the final act, ramping up energy we never knew it had, finally bringing us something of substance. The end is a little out of left field and might leave you scratching your head, but somehow still manages to fall in line with its predictable plot points.
The camerawork is a nice touch. Cinematographer Steve Calitri is on point with shaky cam – nothing overbearing – and Maine’s natural landscapes are beautiful enough to keep watching. Just don’t expect anything lifechanging.
Grade: C
Unfortunately we’re stuck with Casper and drugs for the whole film. He’s terribly unlikeable, and it’s a real shame that every glimpse of a shining light cast upon him is immediately shut down by powers outside his control. Dom and the surrounding town prove that the most clichéd drama can happen anywhere, save for a stellar performance from Aiden Gillen (“Game of Thrones”, “The Wire”) as Clayton, Casper’s drug-dealing father.
Yet, just as we get sick of the played out drama, the film takes a turn in the final act, ramping up energy we never knew it had, finally bringing us something of substance. The end is a little out of left field and might leave you scratching your head, but somehow still manages to fall in line with its predictable plot points.
The camerawork is a nice touch. Cinematographer Steve Calitri is on point with shaky cam – nothing overbearing – and Maine’s natural landscapes are beautiful enough to keep watching. Just don’t expect anything lifechanging.
Grade: C
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