Released 19 March 2014
Shia LaBeouf and Evan Rachel Wood in Charlie Countryman. Photo courtesy of Millennium Entertainment.
Death follows poor Charlie Countryman, opening with what may be his gruesome final moments, contrasted against the soundtrack of a serene piano solo.
It’s this juxtaposition of sound and vision that sets the mood for this compelling but unusual comedy-drama starring Shia LaBeouf as a scruffy, dough-eyed soul who seems to lack any direction.
Moving back in time, we witness the peaceful death of Charlie’s mother and her spirit urging him to journey to Bucharest, the capital city of Romania. On route, the engaging passenger beside him dies; the man’s ghost progressing Charlie’s journey by urging him to seek out his daughter, Gabi.
Lodging at a youth hostel, Charlie meets drunken, stoned English travellers Karl (Rupert Grint of Harry Potter fame) and Luc (James Buckley from The Inbetweeners) before finally locating Gabi (Evan Rachel Wood), a cellist with a dark past. Despite her murderous ex-husband Nigel (Mads Mikkelsen) lurking jealously nearby, the two fall in love and Charlie learns that sometimes you have to risk all to live.
Matt Drake’s unhurried storytelling fills the screen with a collection of interesting characters and just enough danger to keep things moving along. The cast is stellar, never overplaying their characters’ quirks and, with the exception of the two comic relief companions, bring real depth to their roles. Fredrik Bond’s direction wisely lets the characters tell the story without too much interference.
Charlie’s Romanian adventure twists between party times, romance and the criminal underground. As these three worlds become increasingly intertwined, the story turns darker with some genuinely terrifying violence, forcing Charlie to ultimately put himself and his heart on the line.
With so many shades to it, The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman should appeal to romantics as much as those who enjoy the mystery and confusion of a slowly unraveling plot.
Reviewed by Rod Lewis
Rating out of 10: 8
The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman will be released on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital copy on 19 March 2014
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