One of the films I was quite taken with at Sundance this year was Craig Zobel's latest, “Z For Zachariah,” and now that we're six months into the year, it remains one of the films I've most enjoyed this year.
It's a simple movie, and I get the feeling that fans of the Robert C. O'Brien novel may have some difficulty with the adaptation, but it packs a powerful punch thanks to Zobel's expert work with his trio of lead actors. Chris Pine is sly and insinuating in his role as the guy who stumbles into and potentially spoils a sort of post-world paradise that Margot Robbie and Chiwetel Ejiofor have made for themselves in a valley that was somehow skipped when the world ended. Ejiofor is going to break a lot of hearts with his work as the guy who liked being alone in the world, and who is sure that as soon as Robbie is offered a choice, he won't be the choice she makes.
It's Robbie that makes this one really special, though. I've been writing about how impressive her work is since “The Wolf Of Wall Street,” and I think she single-handedly elevates “Suicide Squad” with her casting in the role of Harley Quinn. Watching Paul Dini's delighted reactions to her on social media is my favorite thing about “Suicide Squad” set photos so far. If anyone has the final word on whether or not they think Harley is being done properly, it would be the creator of the character. Robbie has managed to demonstrate remarkable range in just a handful of films, and while she is a striking young woman, she manages to disappear into the roles she plays. She has a great ear for accents and voices, and her work in “Z” is particularly subtle and affecting.
We've got the new exclusive debut of the one-sheet for the film today, and I'm really pleased to be able to present it:
I'd direct your attention back to my review of the film, our interview with the cast which is embedded above, or the longer interview with Craig Zobel that our own Katie Hasty conducted.
“Z For Zachariah” is in theaters on August 21, 2015.