Welcome To The Rileys

Sometimes so much can be said with so little, and ‘Welcome To The Rileys’ is a case in point. This movie demonstrates that powerful dramas can be made by paring back that which isn’t absolutely necessary. 

There are great paintings that feature a single brushstroke. So why have two? The second is not only superfluous to the painting’s success, but may actually detract from it and make it less powerful. 

Everything about ‘Welcome To The Rileys’ embraces this philosophy. The opening shot of the movie is a static shot of a burning car. A car accident complete with all the carnage could have been chosen instead, but the single shot of a burning car gets the point across with elegance and economy. 

The tone and feel of this movie reminded me a little of an early Wim Wenders movie, ‘Alice In the Cities’, which is high praise. It shares that film’s leisurely yet focused pace and attention to detail.

There’s one sequence that stands out as my favourite. Lois, played by Melissa Leo, is driving from her hometown in Indiana to Louisiana to meet her husband Doug, played by James Gandolfini. Along the way she stops at a diner and a strange man strikes up a conversation with her. He flirts with her and she’s flattered, but admits that she’s not used to talking with strangers. He assures her by mentioning that in his line of work, talking to strangers is par for the course. They part on good terms, and as she heads toward the exit, she pauses to notice a small group of young women at a table in the corner of the diner. 

Later in the movie, Lois has a conversation with Mallory - a teen runaway - played by Kirsten Stewart, that starts out in much the same way as the conversation she had with the man at the diner, but this time, Lois opens up more and the audience can derive a lot of substance and meaning from listening to the difference between the two conversations. I found that to be an incredible touch.

‘Welcome To The Rileys’ is one of the most emotionally honest movies I’ve come across lately. There is no reliance on visual gimmicks or a showboating acting style. It trusts its audience to invest in the story, and its calm, confident minimalism is refreshing. The cinematography is impressive and features a fantastic use of colour, especially in the New Orleans locations.

I look forward to more movies from director Jake Scott; his is a talent to watch in the future.

Have you had a chance to see ‘Welcome To The Rileys’? Let me know what you think in the comments section below.