National Anthem (2023) – Review and Summary
Luke Gilford’s queer cowboy movie “National Anthem” exudes so much warmth that it bursts from the screen and wraps its arms around you.
“National Anthem” General Information
| Director | Luke Gilford |
| Screenplay By | Luke Gilford, David Largman Murray, and Kevin Best |
| Based On | N/A |
| Date Released (Film Festival – NewFest) | October 17, 2023 |
| Genre(s) | Drama LGBT+ |
| Film Length | 1 Hour, 40 Minutes |
| Content Rating | Not Rated |
| Noted Characters and Cast | |
| Dylan | Charlie Plummer |
| Sky | Eve Lindley |
| Pepe | Rene Rosado |
| Fiona | Robyn Lively |
Content Rating Explanation
“National Anthem” is currently not rated, but features mature themes, profanity, and sexual content.
Film Summary
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Luke Gilford’s “National Anthem” presents a slice of Americana life by celebrating the western landscape and the family we choose. This coming-of-age story may feel familiar as Dylan navigates a new community and a budding romance, but it also examines and challenges tropes in the western genre and the queer community’s relationship with the American western archetype.
“National Anthem” follows Dylan (Charlie Plummer), a 21-year-old construction worker trapped by the responsibilities of having to grow up too fast. Dylan’s mom, Fiona (Robyn Lively), suffers from alcohol addiction and leaves Dylan to take care of his younger brother and the house. Dylan leads the life of Sisyphus, forced to shovel rocks each day without an end in sight.
By chance, a cowboy named Pepe (Rene Rosado) offers a group of laborers, including Dylan, a job. Dylan takes whatever job he can, but finds himself in a world and community that excites him. He starts working for a queer ranch, a place of endless genders and sexual identities. Dylan is reserved and feels as if he’s boring, but when he meets a trans-woman rancher named Sky (Eve Lindley), her fearlessness and passion for life attract Dylan and open him up to a new side of himself. As Dylan explores his own identity and sexuality, he also must confront his mom and his past.
Gilford’s directorial debut is a beautiful depiction of self-realization and the American West. The wide shots of the gorgeous landscape and the handheld closeups of two brothers loving and protecting each other make the movie feel like living in someone’s memory. “National Anthem” ushers in a new era for LGBTQ+ cinema, one that doesn’t have to explicitly make a political statement but confidently tells an intimate story about discovering who you are.
Character Descriptions
Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, and character descriptions may contain what can be considered spoilers.
Dylan
Dylan is a young man yearning for a place to belong without having the time to search. As he’s forced to be the sole caretaker of his family and house, the responsibility leaves Dylan isolated, repressing any chance at joy. This all changes when he meets Sky and the queer rodeo.
- The actor is also known for their roles in “Lean on Pete” and “Looking for “Alaska.”
Sky
A barrel racer who loves her horse, Sky is an expert at the ranch, and her free spirit and open embrace of life allow Dylan to do the same. While Sky is in a relationship with Pepe, her mentorship with Dylan begins to develop a romance.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Dispatches from Elsewhere,” their role in “After Yang,” and their role in “Bros.”
Pepe
Dylan’s colleague who introduces him to the ranch. Pepe seems to be involved with multiple people and his complicated relationship with other ranchers hints that while he’s a good friend, he makes for a difficult romantic partner.
Fiona
Dylan’s mother, who spends most days and nights drunk, and brings a new stranger home. Dylan may hold a lot of repressed anger towards his mom, but he also fears what she thinks of his newfound identity as well.
Review
Our Rating: Positive (Worth Seeing)
Notable Performances or Moments
Charlie Plummer and Eve Lindley Provide Bursts of Joy and Reflection
There are moments where “National Anthem” feels like a documentary. In part due to the camera choices and cinematography. But Plummer and Lindley create such a lived-in performance that these people and their complicated relationship feel more honest and relatable than any other romance film this year.
Highlights
Gorgeous Depiction of American Landscape
Director Luke Gilford understands the quiet awe of the Southwest. He allows characters to be swallowed up by the natural beauty of the desert at the magic hour. The cinematography in “National Anthem” connects the atmosphere to its characters by portraying the landscape in wideshots that look gentle, vulnerable, and capable of so much beauty. The scenes make you want to breathe in what you see on the screen.
Redefining the Western Genre
Western films traditionally have stereotypical displays of masculinity: repressed emotions, violence, a code of justice by way of the gun, and few words. The cowboys are charming rebels with all the answers. “National Anthem” is a western, but one that presents what masculinity should mean in 2023: making brave choices in discovering who you are, sharing your affection with someone else, and sometimes that means wearing make-up. Dylan, Sky, Pepe, and especially Carrie (Mason Alexander Park) are all cowboys and charming rebels today.
Who Is This For?
If you enjoy coming-of-age stories, romance stories, or LGBTQ depictions, you might enjoy “National Anthem.”
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