Movie #21: National Anthem

Pretty boy Charlie Plummer has done it again! He must (should never) be stopped! Truly the people's princess of indie movies. Step out of the way, Lucas Hedges! 

"National Anthem" was a phenomenal film directed by Luke Gilford in 2023 starring Plummer as Dylan, a construction worker in New Mexico with troubled family life desperately looking for an escape. One day, he gets picked up to work at a ~unique~ ranch, where he meets the gorgeous Sky played by Eve Lindley. From there, he begins to bond with this group of ranchers who provide him a space to be himself. This movie had been on my list for a while, so I was so excited to watch it!

A film done with such grace, such truthfulness, it brought tears to my eyes. The story was more than a romance; it was about letting go of other's preconceptions of you to allow yourself to be true to you. Dylan struggled with being open even within himself, which repressed him and his sexuality. He lived such a rigid life due to the instability of his home and in this film, we see him, what for the first time, being free. He lets go what is holding him back.

My favorite scene was when Sky was applying the blue shadow to his face. It was a beautiful moment between them, but I was only filled with anxiety. I could tell that as soon as Dylan remembered where he was, he would retreat. To him, your local Walmart was too public of a place for a man to wear makeup. I also enjoyed when Dylan performed drag for the first time. He was truly doing what he wanted, with no inhibitions. Even in all the makeup, he was his true self. It was a magical scene to watch. I want to perform in drag now. 

The dolls were dolling!!! Lindley was so spectacular! I have never seen her in a film prior, and I quite enjoyed her flirtatious vibe. She exuded confidence in a way I could only imagine, and I could feel her charm through the screen. Another standout was Mason Alexander Park, who played Carrie. They looked so good in this film, and I even shipped them with Dylan...Carrie was the support that Dylan needed and provided him with the honest truth. 

This is such a special film because there is such a lack of representation of southern queer and trans people in media. People like to write off the south to be only bigots, but in truth it is so much more. There are queer people, trans people, POC people, and indigenous people that live and thrive in these places. To completely ignore them due to loud hatred is unacceptable. There is so much overlooked diversity in the south and it was lovely to see it display explicitly on screen. 

Ugh and that montage of queer and trans folks in love and being themselves truly made me sob. I am about to cry writing this as well. Queerness comes in so many different forms and looks different on everyone. It is important to acknowledge that there is no one way to be queer and no one has to prove their queerness. As queer people, it is important to learn about queer and trans histories and listen to those that fought before us. 

It is PRIDE so you HAVE to watch this!!! It was on Hoopla which you can get free with your library card. 

Love is love is love is love is LOVEEEEEE!!!!