Welcome one and all to part 39 of my weekly blog, The 52 In 52. The concept is simple, each week I pick a DVD or Blu Ray from my collection and review it. Last week I reviewed the intense I Am Not A Serial Killer.
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This week I will be writing about the fantastic The Man Who Killed Hitler And Then The Bigfoot. Written, directed and produced by first time director Robert D.Kryzykowski the film follows the story of Calvin Barr (Sam Elliot/Aidan Turner), a retired elite soldier who sacrifices a normal life to fight for his country and is left living a solitary existence when his country calls upon him to help in an unbelievable scenario.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved The Man Who Killed Hitler And Then The Bigfoot. The story was told in a really masterful way. The title of the film suggests that the two pivotal events in Calvin's life were the most important but, in reality they were something that haunted Calvin and caused great sadness rather than pride. The story is rather scarce in the way of plot exposition. throughout the film the audience only finds out way the writer wants them to know. Details such as tragic events are told in a way that even after the credits roll there are questions to be asked.
There is a small cast but, it is a fantastic one. Sam Elliot is droll and vulnerable in equal measure. Elliot commanded the screen without even really saying an awful lot and shows a weariness and tiredness which is explained as the film goes on . Similarly Aidan Turner puts in a great performance as the young Calvin and whilst I would have liked to have seen more I understand why the flashback scenes are few and far between. Turner adds a hopeful romanticism as a counterbalance to Elliots older version. Catlin Fitzgerald is good as Maxine but, like Turners Calvin, I would have liked more but understand why the flashback scenes are short sharp bursts.
I loved the mixture of genres that were used throughout the film. The scenes with Calvin and Hitler felt like a satirical history film, along the lines of Inglorious Bastards. The scenes leading up to Calvin tracking Bigfoot felt like a science fiction b movie and the overall narrative felt like an uplifting comedy drama. It shouldn't have worked but, everything is in perfect balance.
Overall The Man Who Killed Hitler And Then The Bigfoot is a wonderfully told story that unfolds a bizarre chain of events in a way that even after the credits roll there are questions to keep you thinking. Sam Elliot and Aidan Turner both put in fantastic performances and really are the driving force.
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