Mickey and the Bear Review
It’s April in Anaconda, Montana, and headstrong teenager Mickey Peck (Camila Morrone) is doing what she can to keep her single, veteran father (James Badge Dale) afloat, navigating his mercurial moods, opioid addiction, and grief over the loss of his wife. Secretly, Mickey fantasizes of going to college on the west coast and finally living life on her own terms. When Hank’s controlling, jealous behavior turns destructive, Mickey must decide between familial obligation and personal fulfillment as she puts everything on the line to claim her own independence.
R: For substance abuse, language throughout and some sexual material
Runtime: 1 Hr and 27 Minutes
Production Companies: Thick Media, Shorelight Media
Distributor: Utopia
Director: Annabelle Attanasio
Writer: Annabelle Attanasio
Cast: Camila Morrone, James Badge Dale, Calvin Demba, Ben Rosenfield, Rebecca Henderson
Release Date: November 13, 2019
Camila Morrone. Holy crap. What a powerhouse. This is her second feature film as a lead and you know what? Give her all of the roles. All of them. She deserves them all. At the age of 21,
Morrone stepped on the scene last year in the underrated R-rated comedy, Never Goin’ Back where she shined alongside Maia Mitchell and showcased her comedic chops, which she displayed perfectly. Now we get to see her crack at drama as Mickey, a determined and strong high school senior attempting to navigate her life while being her dad’s keeper/caregiver and pursuing her own dreams. She’s on an outstanding winning streak, nailing both comedy and drama and the range of emotions and personalities she tackles. It’s evident that she’s going to rule the industry soon. As a fellow Gen-Z person, I stan. With this being her second role, I am ecstatic and eager to see where she ends up next as an actress, for she’s superbly talented. At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if she wins an Oscar faster than her boyfriend, Leo DiCaprio.
As I briefly explained, Mickey’s world is set in the toxicity of men. Between her problematic war veteran dad Hank (struggling with PTSD and drug addiction), her obnoxious fuckboi boyfriend Aron, and just being in the Midwestern state of Montana, you root for her throughout while urging her to:
Given its midwest setting, those are all the reasons she’s got to chain herself to her podunk town... until a British transfer student named Wyatt enters the picture, who Mickey (and the audience) immediately fall for. And who can blame her? He is the only decent person who enters her life with charm and kindness. The more time she spends with him, the more she focuses on her own aspirations, which is well-developed as the relationship forms. If only her dad wasn’t such a problematic mess.
If the self-centered, schizophrenic, drugged up characteristics of Shia LaBeouf’s James Lort in Honey Boy was mixed with Ben Foster’s harrowing and dimensional PTSD survivor Will from Leave No Trace, you’d have James Badge Dale, who is a frightening revelation as Hank Peck. It may sound like a contradictory statement, but he’s so captivating with his bravado and larger-than-life portrayal of this character that keeps you on your toes. Most of the intense scenes in the movie come courtesy of him. When he appears on screen, you begin to sweat because either “shit is going to go down” or “he’s just not going to give a shit.” There’s a long line of terrible fathers in film, and Hank continues the tradition in a very humane kind of way. Attanasio’s direction elevates his performance as well. There is a 360 shot at a carnival where Dale is just going off and you’re at the edge of your seat the whole time.
What I love about the film that Attanasio does a fantastic job on is the establishing of the dynamic between about Mickey and her dad. Albeit, it’s hella problematic, but there is a genuine bond and love they share, making for some true tender moments that enhance Mickey’s internal conflict. It’s never really dramatized and is maintained to be down-to-earth. At times you empathize with Hank, who you believe loves his daughter, and when his mind is in the right headspace, you see that. It’s heartbreaking to witness his regret of what their relationship evolved into and the burden he becomes. It’s another father-offspring relationship that emotionally wrecked me and will do the same to you.
What benefits the film the most besides the cast and their outstanding performances is Annabelle Attanasio’s screenplay and direction. For this being her directorial debut, she does a great job establishing her central character through her actions and decisions rather than her dialogue while making her this enticing person you both empathize with and root for. A lot of the conflict may be external given how well it lays down the groundwork, but in the midst of it all, through Mickey’s perspective, you feel her internalized emotions. What makes Mickey even more captivating is how much she holds her ground and is scrappy enough to not take shit from anyone that sets her back as she takes charge to ensure her father’s safety while trying to pursue her own career. While you don’t support Mickey’s decisions sometimes, you understand where her emotions and her actions are coming from. There is an emotional moment that happens 2/3 of the way in and... let’s just say that once you see that scene, which features a car in the foreground, you just deeply sigh. But it’s an understanding sigh.
I love the cinematography by DP Conor Murphy who makes Montana appealing and stunning. He does a great job with how this small town is presented to show the detachment the lead feels for her town. It showcases Mickey’s mundane life very well while experimenting with color in several interiors. The cinematography and shot composition is also a huge benefit for the narrative’s subtle moments.
The film clocks in at 87 minutes and my only true complaint is its ending which I feel is very abrupt. A very triggering event occurs in the final five minutes of the movie and right when your emotions are heightened and you’re anticipating what is to happen next… it cuts to black. The most crucial and horrific thing occurs and then it ends… and you’re left wanting more. I love short films that get straight to the point of its narrative, and this was a very poignant one that is well-paced, but that conclusion can be extended a bit longer to see what decision Mickey ultimately makes after that scarring experience in the final frame.
I give the film this though: the majority of the films during my time at SXSW managed to put a smile on my face. Annabelle Attanasio’s directorial debut, on the other hand, wrecked me... as in emotionally wrecked me. After a streak of humorous features, I did need a good ol’ emotional breakdown. I saw Mickey and the Bear the day after my 21st birthday, which meant it was legal for me to purchase alcohol after I watch a depressing movie to wash away the emotional pain, a thing I had always wanted to do for such a long time. This was the movie that initiated that for me. Yes, I will treasure this movie for being the first movie to get me drinking my emotions away, a notion that will continue on for the rest of my life.
With a poignant, grounded, and authentic story elevated by incredible performances by James Badge Dale and Camila Morrone - who is on a hot streak - Mickey and the Bear serves as an impressively welcoming debut by writer/director Annabelle Attanasio.
Rating: 4/5 | 81%
