SLOW WEST in SUPER EIGHT (2015)

Introduction
"Slow West" is a 2015 British/New Zealand co-production penned and directed by John Maclean. The movie is a visually-striking, unpredictable fusion of arthouse visual appeals with classic western genre tropes. It features efficiencies from Kodi Smit-McPhee, Michael Fassbender, and Ben Mendelsohn.

Plot
The plot centres around Jay Cavendish (Kodi Smit-McPhee), a 16-year-old Scottish aristocrat who journeys across the American frontier in the late 19th century, in pursuit of his one real love Rose Ross (Caren Pistorius). Jay's naiveté and restricted survival skills posture a risk to his life in this hostile environment, drawing in the attention of a bounty hunter named Silas Selleck (Michael Fassbender). Seeing value in Jay's life and his quest, Silas provides to work as his paid protector. Nevertheless, their journey ends up being more complex when they find out there is a bounty on Rose's head, bring in unsavoury fellows and fugitive hunter to their course.

Characters and Performances
Kodi Smit-McPhee as Jay puts up an impressive performance as an innocent, love-stricken lad, navigating the treacherous American west. His character provides an intriguing blend of innocence and naiveté, creating a vulnerable lead character who should adjust to make it through. Michael Fassbender successfully embodies the no-nonsense, rugged Silas who displays gruff outside hardened by a life on the fringes of society. His slowly revealed softer side includes depth to the character.

Styles
The film explores themes of growing up, aligning with the coming-of-age narrative translucented Jay's experiences. It further looks into human connection and innate survival impulses, emphasizing how these impact options and actions in the struggle-filled instances. The poverty and injustice in the American frontier are well-debated, revealing the harsh living conditions of the West during this duration.

Visuals and Cinematography
"Slow West" is shot in 'Super 8' format, a movie format launched by Kodak in 1965. While the film revels in the normal Western landscape of the grand vistas and substantial plains, it likewise explores the rusticity, grit, and gunk of the age portrayed. There's a pervading theme of whimsy, emphasised through exaggerated close-ups, spatial juxtapositions, and the dreamy representation of the wild. Sometimes it has the feel of a picture-book tale informed in ultra-vivid technicolor-- the instructions making full usage of the Super Eight film medium's grainy, nostalgic aesthetic.

Conclusion
"Slow West" in Super Eight is a distinct movie that delivers a compelling story matched by strong performances and over-the-top visual aesthetics. The film manages to keep the audience on their toes while still offering a generous serving of complexity and depth to the characters. The thoughtful integration of the Super Eight format brings added charm to the piece, attractive viewers with its peculiar classic quality. It's a cinematic expedition of a young man's journey through an unforgiving yet unquestionably romanticised West-- a starkly various western offering that splendidly contrasts its Genre's typical pursuits with a creative tint. The movie manages to cleverly overturn and welcome Western tropes, carving out a distinct area for itself within the category.

Top Cast