National Anthem

Last night I went to see National Anthem at the Broadway on a whim and I absolutely loved this coming-of-age drama about self-acceptance.  Dylan (Charlie Plummer) is a 21-year-old construction worker who is supporting his younger brother Cassidy (Joey DeLeon) and his alcoholic mother Fiona (Robyn Lively) in rural New Mexico.  He is also trying to save money to buy an RV in order to pursue his dream of traveling around the country.  He takes a temporary job as a day laborer at a ranch called the House of Splendor, an LGBTQ+ community run by Pepe (Rene Rosado), and is immediately enchanted by Sky (Eve Lindley), a transgender woman who works with the horses.  He spends more and more time at the ranch with Sky and feels accepted for the first time in his life by people who feel more like family than his mother does.  He is also inspired by Carrie (Mason Alexander Park) and all of the others who are pursuing their dreams (as rodeo and drag performers) to fight for his.  What I loved most about this movie is the authentic and non-judgmental portrayal of the LGBTQ+ characters and the fact that they are shown to be thriving, and even inspiring others, rather than surviving trauma.  I also loved that the narrative challenges preconceived expectations and conventions.  One of my very favorite scenes is when Cassidy rather bluntly asks Carrie if they are a boy or girl and, when they respond that they are neither, he simply accepts it and it is so powerful!  Plummer gives an extraordinary performance as Dylan because his transformation from a world-weary acceptance of his lot in life to wide-eyed wonder at the possibility of a different one is visibly evident on his face without much dialogue.  Lindley is incredibly alluring and charismatic as Sky and you can't look away whenever she is on the screen while Park imbues Carrie with a warmth that I found very compelling.  Finally, the cinematography is incredibly beautiful with wide shots of the rugged landscape and immersive action shots at the rodeo (which subvert traditional ideas of both).  I was very moved by this and highly recommend it!