Cole Clay // Film Critic
Truth be told, early buzz on Texas based filmmaker David Gordon Green’s (PINEAPPLE EXPRESS, JOE) latest film MANGLEHORN horn hasn’t been universally praised. However, there is no denying his unique style keeps pushing the boundaries of independent film making.
MANGLEHORN tells of a reclusive small town locksmith named A.J. Manglehorn (Academy Award® winner Al Pacino), who has never quite recovered from losing the love of his life, Clara. Fixated on her memory, he feels closer to his beloved cat than the people around him and prefers to find comfort in his work and daily routine. Still, he forges on with his tenuous human connections, maintaining intermittent contact with his son (Chris Messina), taking misplaced pride in a former protégé gone astray (filmmaker Harmony Korine), and establishing a cautious friendship with a kindhearted woman from the local bank (Academy Award® winner Holly Hunter). As this solitary man approaches the possibility of new love, he finds himself at a crossroads between staying mired in the past and embracing the present.
This was one of our most anticipated films coming out of Austin’s South by Southwest Film Festival (back in March), but due to scheduling conflicts we were unable to make the premiere. But anytime Green has a new project on the records you can bet it’s going to showcase his eclectic directorial style. This marks a comeback year for Al Pacino, who has starred in two winning films thus far in 2015: THE HUMBLING and DANNY COLLINS.
MANGLEHORN is being released by IFC Films. The successful indie studio just announced the film will finally be receiving a limited release in theaters and on Video-On-Demand Friday, June 19th.
