In Westerns, the law inevitably comes to town.
The sense of freedom provided to pioneers pushing past the existing American systems of the late 19th century simultaneously bred a violent outlaw culture that took what it wanted. The tension in that dynamic—the need to establish a sense of justice in a lawless land—fuels classic Westerns. Even if there are questions about the ends justifying the means in morally grey stories like “The Searchers” and “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance,” there is rarely a question about whether or not this society was on a course that needed to be corrected.
But what do Westerns look like in the 21st century, when the West is won and the internet makes even the most desolate of places part of the global community?
Neo-westerns like “No Country for Old Men,” “The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada,” “Sicario,” and “Hell and High Water” flip the script, showing us a West where the law exists but is either too corrupt, compromised, or ill equipped to take on the shifting morals of the modern world.
This erosion of the lawman mystique continues in Ari Aster’s “Eddington,” a darkly funny satire coming to The Triplex this week. Set in the early days of the pandemic, it follows its titular small New Mexico town as tensions spill over from online message boards to the streets when their disillusioned sheriff runs against the incumbent mayor.
It is a story that suggests a new kind of lawlessness. Long gone are the black-clad Lee Van Cleefs of classic movies—in the hyper-connected, fractured world we live in, everyone is a bad guy if you go down the right rabbit hole. It is a new frontier for truth, one that questions if any sort of “lawman” will be able to save the day.
Now Playing
“Superman”
A soaring new take on “The Man of Steel.”
Eyes up here! Director James Gunn (“Guardians of the Galaxy”) brings his kinetic love of comics to one of the most iconic figures in American pop culture with “Superman”! A new take on the story of Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and the citizens of Metropolis sees Kal-El (David Cornsweat) trying to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage while dealing with the mounting pressures of being the protector of Earth.
“Jurassic World Rebirth”
A terrifying dinosaur-filled adventure.
Gear up for director Gareth Edwards’ (“Rogue One,” “Godzilla”) new take on the iconic franchise that sees a group of scientists and mercenaries (including Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and Jonathan Bailey of “Wicked”) venture into the dinosaur hot zone to extract the genetic material needed to make a life-altering drug.
Coming Soon
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps”
Director Matt Shakman (“Wandavision”) brings a retro-futuristic spin to the first family of comics with “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”! When Earth becomes targeted by ravenous space god Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner), it is up to Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) to do what they do best: save the world.
Starts July 25.
“Up, Up and Away: The Rise of the Silver Age of Comics”
In the midst of this superhero summer, we are taking a look at the cultural and political influences that shaped the creation and evolution of characters like “The Fantastic Four” and “Superman” in “Up, Up, And Away: The Rise Of The Silver Age Of Comics.”
Join Brendan Mathews, author of the novel “The World Of Tomorrow,” joins us for a discussion about the history of comics as they transitioned from the post-war “Golden Age” into the “Silver Age” of the 1950s and ’60s that saw superhero stories becoming more nuanced and political.
July 27, after the 4:15 p.m. screening of “Superman.”
Triplex Movie Trivia!
Pop quiz, hotshot: Join Triplex Creative Director Ben Elliott for a night of movie trivia on July 30! Put together a team, grab some drinks from our concession stand, and join us for four rounds of trivia in The Triplex lobby starting at 8:30 p.m. Seating is limited, so get there early!
July 30, at 8:30 p.m.
