Coastlines: Multi-genre indie deserves a look

Reviewer: James van Maanen
Rating (out of 5): ***½

Made in 2001, shown at the Sundance Festival in 2002, released theatrically (and ever so briefly) in 2006, Victor Nuñez's Coastlines finally makes it to DVD and--no big surprise--it's worth a look, likely followed by some thoughtful post-viewing conversation. Set on Florida's Panhandle, the movie straddles genres--crime, noir, and a three-way love story--in a manner that will put off viewers expecting/demanding that the thriller eclipse the rest. While it does not, the film's revenge crime elements still work with enough believability and force to pull you along. The noir requisites, too, are in place without being unduly pushed (Nuñez is not a "pusher," to his great credit and the enjoyment of those of us who appreciate discovery and subtlety in films). But finally it is the love story--a surprisingly strong one involving two men (without a trace of overt homosexuality) and the woman who loves them both--that deservedly takes precedence.

As a writer of quietly realistic dialog that is time-and-place perfect, Nuñez excels; as a director of actors, he may have given us his finest effort yet. This is ensemble work of a very high order, with the family scenes, as well as those between co-workers/friends in the body shop, quiet and "felt". I have never seen Josh Brolin give a better performance: grounded, honest, thoughtful and sexy, making every moment count without a trace of strain. Though it's less surprising that Timothy Olyphant (Deadwood) is terrific, here he gnaws into a troubling and troublesome character, pulling us up close and dragging us alongside him. Sarah Wynter, as the wife and mother who insists on possessing both her men, has the most difficult role, and if I found her a tad less convincing, this may simply be that I am identifying more with the males on view. (In any case, Wynter more than makes up for the wretched Alma Mahler movie, Bride of the Wind, that she starred in the year previous.) Coastlines could so easily hop the track that its steady achievement is all the more remarkable. Nuñez leaves his characters--and us--a bit up in the air, but also, perhaps, hopeful. These days, that may be as much any of us can expect.