![]() ![]() LET HIM GO is an award-worthy showpiece for Diane Lane. Bezucha also turns the story into more of road trip by reversing locations and very keenly takes us out of Watson’s 1951 and brings us into 1963, something which serves the character of Margaret well. In the book, we get the sense Margaret and George are more of a dottering old couple whereas in the film, they are still very much vital and active, thus allowing Bezucha to brings the talents of Diane Lane and Kevin Costner to the table. Very smartly, Bezucha ages down Margaret and George from the book. There is a brutal ruthlessness that speaks to the depth of emotions at play, gripping your heart at every turn. LET HIM GO is a western drama in the truest sense of the word delivering a mesmerizing study of the intensity of loss and the manifestation of grief. It’s not just sleazy Donnie Weboy they will have to wrest Jimmy and Lorna from, but the entire Weboy clan. Embarking on a road trip filled with false leads and hope, things take a turn when they get to Gladstone, Montana and find Bill Weboy. She’s going to find them and bring them home – and she doesn’t care if George helps her or not. Knowing that her grandson is in danger, Margaret makes a rash decision. Wanting to “rescue” Lorna and Jimmy, all hell is about to break loose when Margaret and George find that Donnie and the family up and disappeared without telling anyone. And from the look of the violence, Margaret knows this has happened before. ![]() But things change when Margaret sees Donnie abusing Jimmy and hitting Lorna on a public street. George, on the other hand, doesn’t say much about the situation, taking a more live-and-let-live position. She has a difficult time with Lorna and Jimmy moving out of the house and across town with Donnie as Jimmy had become her focus in life. When tragedy strikes and James is killed in a freak accident, Lorna and Jimmy stay with George and Margaret until the day comes when Lorna remarries Donnie Weboy, something that doesn’t sit well with Margaret. Margaret is clearly the woman behind the man and keeps things running smoothly as she dotes on her newborn grandson Jimmy, and her daughter-in-law Lorna, who live with them. George, a retired sheriff in Blue Sky and Black Hills country, is now content to work his farm along with his adult son, James. There is a comfortableness between them that speaks of their years together. George and Margaret are a devoted couple. Captivating us in writer/director Thomas Bezucha’s adaptation of Larry Watson’s acclaimed novel of the same name, LET HIM GO, Kevin Costner and Diane Lane reteam (they were previously Ma and Pa Kent to Clark Kent/Superman) for this emotionally gripping slow-burner, delivering award-worthy performances as George and Margaret Blackledge the tacit, strong, and comfortable in his own skin Kevin Costner, and a powerhouse emotional showcase for Diane Lane. ![]()
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