Oh boy. I have so many questions for John Patrick Shanley. One of which is simply, why? Why was this the story you wanted to tell. Remember, Shanley has previously given us a classic romantic comedy in Moonstruck, penning that screenplay, as well as writing and directing a stirring drama in Doubt. He’s a talented man, no doubt. His return to rom coms, however, in Wild Mountain Thyme, makes his other directorial outing, Joe Versus the Volcano, seem perfectly normal by comparison. This is the weirdest film of the year, almost defying any real definition or verdict. It kind of has to be seen in order to be believed. Make of that what you will. The movie is a romantic comedy, though describing this one is going to be tough. In short, it’s a tale of Irish star-crossed lovers. Rosemary Muldoon (Emily Blunt) is a feisty snd opinionated farmer who knows what she likes, what she doesn’t and more importantly, who she likes. Rosemary has her heart very much set on winning the love of her neighbor Anthony Reilly (Jamie Dornan). Should be easy, right? Well, it’s a rom com, so of course it won’t be. The problem here is that Anthony is a strange fellow, seemingly oblivious to his not so secret admirer. Apparently, he’s inherited a family curse of sorts, as well as possessing a secret he keeps close to the vest, so he’s never able to see what’s right before his eyes. However, when his father Tony Reilly (Christopher Walken) details plans to sell the family farm to his American nephew Adam (Jon Hamm), passing over his son, Anthony is finally jolted into pursuing his dreams. To be sure, Adam having eyes for Rosemary, as well as Rosemary considering the possibility that someone wooing her instead of the other way around might be appealing, gives him some extra incentive. Then, we find out Anthony’s secret, and it’s…a thing. I’ll say no more. As mentioned, John Patrick Shanley writes and directs, with music from Amelia Warner, as well as cinematography by Stephen Goldblatt. Rounding out the cast are Clare Barrett, Dearbhla Molloy, and more. Where to begin? The tone is so wildly all over the place, even before the absolutely bonkers reveal, that it’s hard to know what Shanley is going for. Everyone’s Irish eccentricities are turned up to about a million, making it almost cartoonish. The eccentric […]