MONTANA STORY MOVIE REVIEW

Shot on location in “Big Sky Country” Scott McGehee and David Siegel direct Montana Story, a new family-centric drama that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2021 and hits selected theaters this week. Two estranged siblings return to the family ranch in Montana to make end-of-life arrangements for their invalid father. Erin (Haley Lu Richardson) and Cal (Owen Teague) use their time back at home to explore the rift that split the family, the trauma of toxic family relationships, and the little things that make life liveable. At discussion is an aged family horse and the decision if the faithful steed should be euthanized as the ranch faces inevitable foreclosure. It’s an allegory, and perhaps one of many, that was read by our Screener Squad panel who are here to have a discussion about a movie where characters have lots of discussions. Bradly and Melina join Trevor out at the property line, the only place with cell service, to see if they can work out their feelings on this new film.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE/TRAILER

DIRECTED BY: Scott McGehee and David Siegel

STARRING: Haley Lu Richardson, Owen Teague, Kimberly Guerrero, Gilbert Owuor, Asivak Koostachin, Eugene Brave Rock

 

YOUR REVIEWERS

 

Melina Eames (Screener Squad)

Melina first discovered that she carried the nerd gene at the tender age of four following her exposure to a little film called A New Hope. In the twenty-some years that followed, Melina continued to grow into her geek identity through the discovery of Batman, Mst3k, Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings and The Mandalorian. But perhaps her most significant discovery came at the age of fourteen when a night of YouTube mining led her to the review site of Spill.com. Melina became a devoted follower whose fandom did not end with the site’s demise. By then, it had worked its dark magic and left her with a love and appreciation for film criticism that she has yet to shrug.

 

 

Bradly Martin (Screener Squad, Eye on the Prize, Breakfast Pub)

Bradly Martin was born in the united states and grew up on a healthy diet of sports, films, and books. A rather shy lad who kept to himself, Bradly soon discovered the best way to know a person was to know what people liked. Throughout the years Bradly became a fan of many things and a fanatic of none. From Doctor Dre, to Doctor Strange and the who’s who of Whos. From Playstation to the Dreamcast and Marvel to DC. From LeBron James to James Bond and Lord of the Rings to Lord Palmerston (or Pitt the Elder if you agree with Wade Boggs) and is a huge fan of dad jokes and randomly obscure Simpsons references. Armed with a vast knowledge of comics, films, and pop culture. Bradly traveled the world making friends and sharing takes. As a young man Bradly married the love of his life young and grew older every year with each new child brought into the brood. If trends continue, Scientists predict that .2% of Canada (where Bradly and family reside) will be populated by Bradly’s children by the year 2029. You can hear him leading and listening to his favorite critics on the Screener Squad and Eye on the prize and maybe even provide some comments of his own.

 

 

Trevor Trujillo (Screener Squad)

Trevor T. Trujillo is a One Of Us contributor in addition to being the co-host, co-founder, and co-producer of the Nighthawks Podcast. Trevor’s 17-year media career spans multiple arenas including television, radio, podcasting, and online journalism; and he is currently the editor-in-chief for a regional online news provider in the Rocky Mountain West. Often a nomad, Trevor has found himself “at home” in places like Austin, Texas; West Hollywood,