The Guilty review: Jake Gyllenhaal is a one-man masterpiece in The Guilty
- up2010162
- Nov 11, 2021
- 2 min read
Updated: May 23, 2023
Straying from his usual action films, Antione Fuqua delivers an exceptional single location thriller.
2010162 | Thursday 11 October 2021 13:11
Dir: Antoine Fuqua. Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Riley Keough, Ethan Hawke, 90 mins.
Filming a chamber piece is always a risk to take, yet Antoine Fuqua (director) does more than pull it off.
The Guilty, an American crime thriller, stars Jake Gyllenhaal (playing Joe Baylor) as a 911 operator, balancing troubles in his personal life alongside his job. When he receives a call revealing a woman has been kidnapped, Joe does everything in his power to help her – going above and beyond what is asked.
Despite the 90 minutes consisting of one location and a one-man performance by Gyllenhaal, this atypical film genre established my attention from the get-go.
Showing the destruction of the Californian wildfires, the first scene launches directly into the action, the turmoil from the fires effectively reflects the tone of the film which continues throughout.
Although the majority of the film comprises of back-to-back phone calls – telling only one side of the story, the plot has been so masterfully created, that unanswered questions and the following suspense is what kept me engrossed in this film.
The background chaos of this film: the fires that dance across the screen, the 911 calls that are engulfed by screams and Joe’s troubling history that forces its way into the present, holds Hollywood sensationalist aspects. Yet despite the usually untasteful classic American dramatization, the theatrical touches compensate for the lack of locations and actors, creating the perfect balance.
Gyllenhaal’s ability to show Joe’s desire for heroism through his passion for the job, was executed flawlessly. His on-screen anger clearly demonstrates the unapologetic demands of the job, creating sympathetic feeling towards Joe and a want to keep him protected.
Gyllenhaal’s outstanding performance paired with Fuqua’s impeccable directing, results in a well-needed refreshing take on American attitudes towards police.
More about: Jack Gyllenhaal Antione Fuqua
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