Ain't Them Bodies Saints

The story of "Ain't Them Bodies Saints" is far from watertight, leaving behind such gaps and blanks both plot-wise and character-wise that it never became a thoroughly satisfactory work of narrative. However, the performances by the principal cast of Casey Affleck, Rooney Mara and Ben Foster are so dedicated and imbued with such natural volatility and spirituality you can't help sinking into their ineloquently constructed but nonetheless captivating world. Said world, set in rural Texas with indefinite time frame, is created by director David Lowery with aplomb. Proving his great sense of style and innate understanding of genre sensibilities, the movie not only looks fetching but blends elements of revenge thriller, relationship drama and old-fahioned western to mythical effects, sprinkling something unnameably appealing in the air that's menacing, poignant, charged. Also conducive to the overall feel of a modern-day parable is the terrific score provided by Daniel Hart. With a mixture of prickly percussion, rhythmic soul and sizzling beats, it's smartly timeless work that intrigues, entrances.