A Family’s Fight Against Shadows of the Past

Read Time:3 Minute, 40 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
The List
–

Genre: Thriller
Year Released: 2024
Runtime: 1h 37m
Director(s): Michael J. Hardy
Writer(s): Michael J. Hardy
Cast: Fernando Abadie, Hector Silva, Javier Enciso, Nathan Christopher, Haase Paloma Vargas Maria Jose Peralta
Where To Watch: on UK Digital February 26, 2024, from Miracle Media

RAVING REVIEW: Welcome to Paraguay. THE LIST dishes out a narrative within the country's rich landscapes and intense thrills. In his directorial debut, Michael J Hardy escorts us through a difficult evening where the aspirations for a clean slate by a family morph into a desperate scramble for existence. This experiment ambitiously weaves personal adversities with the grand scale of political discord, designed to keep us glued to the screen.

From the get-go, THE LIST immerses us in the turmoil of the Torres family, eager to erase their dark history in their homeland. Yet, their past casts long shadows, making them targets for vengeance. It sets a stage brimming with suspense, enveloped in darkness, and fraught with peril.

Hardy’s delve into the socio-political fabric of South America, with a focus on Paraguay, gives the film a more profound and unique backdrop. Steering clear of overt moralizing, THE LIST balances high-stakes action with exploring the ties that bond us all, societal chaos, and the entanglement of corruption and power. It ambitiously seeks to blend the adrenaline rush of pursuit with a multi-layered narrative. That’s where it stumbles at times, shooting above its ambition; while credit is due to the independent spirit, some hurdles are hard to overlook.

The ensemble cast stands out as a strength, merging the gravitas of veterans like Jesús Pérez with the vibrancy of newcomers like Paloma Vargas. This strategic casting choice injects authenticity, enriching the narrative with various perspectives.

Yet, for all its lofty goals, THE LIST confronts its share of struggles, especially with its production timeline clashing with the global pandemic's peak. The crew's resilience in these challenges, leading to inventive post-production tweaks, is to be applauded, but it still shows in the final product.

With its occasional struggles, THE LIST tried to create a delicate dance between action-packed sequences and moments of introspection that is only sometimes seamless, occasionally rendering the film a patchwork rather than a unified narrative. While generally well-received, the diverse cast sometimes results in a mismatch of tones, momentarily disrupting the narrative immersion. I save my 2.5-star rating for this exact type of film. I see the potential, and I didn’t dislike the experience, but it wasn’t something I walked away from loving; it fell directly in the middle for me.

Michael J Hardy’s initial venture into filmmaking is a bold experiment, bristling with ideas and potential. Though THE LIST may not consistently hit the mark, it marks a notable milestone for Paraguayan cinema and showcases Hardy’s filmmaking prowess. Despite its mixed success, the film presents sufficient intrigue to merit a viewing, especially for those drawn to the interweaving of personal tales and political sagas against the rarely showcased backdrop of Paraguay. It's a cinematic endeavor that offers a glimpse into the evolving landscape of global cinema, inviting viewers to ponder the complex interplay of history, identity, and resilience.

For more reviews, please visit https://linktr.ee/overlyhonestmr.

Follow me on Letterboxd, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Find my social media accounts on most platforms simply by searching Overly Honest Movie Reviews.

I’m always happy to hear from my readers; please say hi or send me any questions about movies.

[photo courtesy of MIRACLE MEDIA]

DISCLAIMER:
At Overly Honest Movie Reviews, we value honesty and transparency. Occasionally, we receive free items for review, including DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, Vinyl, Books, etc. We assure you that these arrangements do not influence our reviews, as we are committed to providing unbiased and sincere evaluations. We aim to help you make informed entertainment choices, regardless of our relationship with distributors or producers.

Amazon Affiliate Links:
Additionally, this site contains Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may receive a commission. This affiliate arrangement does not affect our commitment to honest reviews and helps support our site. We appreciate your trust and support in navigating these links.