Bullet Points: Wander
Blurred reality. The line between what is real and what is not. Questioning your sanity. These are just some of the themes explored in April Mullen’s Wander. I was fortunate enough to get a sneak peek before Wander hits theaters on December 4th. If you are wondering if Wander is worth your time, stick around, and I will let you know.
- The Plot: Wander stars Aaron Eckhart as Arthur Bretnik. You could describe Arthur as a conspiracy theorist. He is a former cop turned private investigator. He has a lot of demons. His only child was killed in a horrible car accident, and his wife suffered severe brain trauma in the same tragic accident. His friend, Tommy Lee Jones’ Jimmy Cleats hosts a conspiracy theory radio show. One night, Jimmy receives a desperate call from a grief stricken mother looking for clues to why her daughter mysteriously died. Now, it is up to Arthur to travel to the sleepy town of Wander, to do his own investigation. Wander might look like a sleepy town, but things are definitely not what they appear. Wander also stars Heather Graham, Katheryn Winnick, Raymond Cruz and Brendan Fehr. Wander is directed by April Mullen, and it is written by Tim Doiron.
- The Sleepy Town of Wander: April Mullen’s film is loaded with symbolism. The people of Wander represent the people in real life who get exploited. You see, like Hotel California, you can check into Wander, but you can never leave. A device is planted into the people desperate for a new beginning and a second chance. However, if you try to leave, the device will explode, and it will kill you dead. What exactly is going on in Wander? Of course, it takes a crazy guy to get to the bottom of it. The town of Wander could also hold the missing clues to what really happened the night Arthur’s life changed forever.
- Bat Shit Crazy: Arthur isn’t all there. He is slowly losing his mind. Sometimes, the viewer might have a problem decoding what is actually going on. For most of the film, you wonder who exactly Heather Graham’s character is. What is her relationship to Arthur? Why is she so willing to drop everything to help him? If you pay close attention, you will get clues to help you solve the overall puzzle. Pay very close attention to the clues about TLJ’s Jimmy Cleats. Is he Arthur’s friend or foe? The only thing for certain is Arthur has a cool dog, and all the key actors: Aaron Eckhart, Tommy Lee Jones and Heather Graham give very serviceable performances.
- Wrapping It Up: Wander comes very close to being a damn good movie. It gets wrapped up a bit too much it the complex story. Perhaps, we weave more webs than we should? Wander has a meaningful and powerful message, but will the average viewer’s attention span even pick it up? If you’re patient, Wander will reward you. If your mind tends to wander while you watch movies, perhaps Wander isn’t the perfect movie for you.
Bonus Bullet Points…
- Tag Team: Wander marks the fourth time April Mullen and Tim Doiron have collaborated to make a movie. Perhaps, you’ve seen Dead Before Dawn 3D, GravyTrain or 88?
- My Score: 3 out of 5 stars
- My Quote: Wander is loaded with twist and turns, and it will reward the patient viewer.
