Matthew Packman's feature-length debut, Margo, is an impressive film. I've read criticisms about the pacing of the film, but as Packman has said in interviews, the film is, at heart, a character study. So, if you are looking for non-stop action this might not be the film for you. But, if you are looking for a character-driven, thoughtful examination of loneliness, loss, and the human need for companionship and a sense of belonging, with a fair amount of action thrown in along the way, then you'll want to watch this film. As is the case with Cormac McCarthy's powerful 2006 novel The Road (and the later film of the same name), the setting of Margo is a post-apocalyptic world, but in both McCarthy's novel and Packman's film, the setting is pure metaphor. The world both artists are describing is our world, with the everyday layers of conformity and conventionality lifted, and the most basic human needs, the most raw human wounds, exposed. It's worth buying and watching for that reason alone. But Margo is also powerful as a work of cinematography. As an independent filmmaker, working on a shoestring budget, Packman deserves kudos for staying true to his grand cinematic vision. He doesn't take shortcuts and he doesn't cut corners. Instead of going for easy, gratuitous shots, Packman builds a rich and complex visual world, with his interesting and unconventional story conveyed with interesting and unconventional camera angles and perspectives. The result is that in Margo each scene is meticulously crafted and executed, with careful planning and shooting that creates a convincing, and thought-provoking, backdrop that rivals what you'd expect from a production with a much larger budget. Likewise, the soundtrack clearly received careful attention, and the various poignant and plaintive songs on it highlight the emotional depth of Margo's characters and the situations in which they find themselves. The film's stars (Lauren Schaubert as Libby, Abbey Hickey as Margo) deliver compelling performances that accentuate the complexities, and vulnerabilities, of the two main characters. Supporting cast members (Brady Suedmeyer as Grant, Cindy Maples as an unnamed woman) add strong performances as well. Overall, Margo is definitely a keeper - a film that inspires reflection, and that you'll want to view more than once.
