Film Review – NATIONAL ANTHEM (2023): Luke Gilford’s Entertaining and Thought-Provoking Drama Showcases Ambitious Themes

National Anthem Review

National Anthem (2023) Film Review, a movie directed by Luke Gilford, written by Kevin Best, Luke Gilford and David Largman Murray and starring Charlie Plummer, Eve Lindley, Rene Rosado, Mason Alexander Park, Robyn Lively, Joey DeLeon, Alexander Alayon Jr., Kimberley Pember and Delia Rawdon.

Director Luke Gilford’s moving and powerful film, National Anthem, is a movie like no other even though its story arcs are as old as time itself. On the surface, the plot is a coming-of-age story that has been done a million times before but the characters are different than we’re accustomed to and the movie digs deep to find the real meaning of life outside of simply finding romantic love and making money in America today.

Charlie Plummer stars in the movie as Dylan, a young 20-something in New Mexico, who is dealing with a mother named Fiona (Robyn Lively) who can be a bit irresponsible, especially when it comes to raising Dylan’s younger sibling, Cassidy (Joey DeLeon). The movie explores this family construct and the friends that Dylan and Cassidy encounter who will change their lives forever.

Dylan, a construction worker,  is trying to save up cash for a truck and is taking on odd jobs as the film opens. When Dylan goes to work for a ranch where several members of the LGBTQ+ community come together, Dylan’s life transforms as this central character realizes the beauty in the world while trying to put together money to finance part of a vision of Dylan’s own American Dream.

This film parallels the family Dylan finds on the ranch to the family that Dylan was born into. Fiona can be really hard to live with and depends way too much on Dylan to take care of Cassidy. She even takes Dylan’s hard-earned money. Fiona goes out and has fun a lot but it’s up to Dylan to show her the error of her ways by rebelling a bit, even if it means taking Cassidy along for the ride.

There are two amazing supporting performances in the film. One is by Eve Lindley as Sky, the vision of beauty that Dylan holds dear to his heart. Dylan and Sky engage in romantic banter and have physical chemistry but Sky lets Dylan know that there’s not a chance of a serious relationship developing between them. Sky is promised to the tough, but sincere, Pepe (Rene Rosado) but the pair, nevertheless, share an open relationship. Sky can have fun with Dylan. In fact, the three of these characters can have fun together but Sky and Pepe will always remain a serious item, for better or worse.

The other remarkable performance in the movie is by Mason Alexander Park as Carrie, an attentive listener and a good friend who gets to know Dylan. Carrie doesn’t identify as either a man or a woman but is free and lives life to the fullest despite this fact. Park’s performance has some great emotional range within it while Lindley’s turn as Sky is more matter-of-fact and open. Both performers simply shine on screen in their portrayals of characters who are vulnerable and therefore open to being hurt emotionally.

Sky has a horse which she holds dear to her and one night, Dylan and Sky are out together with the horse and things take a turn for the worse. Will Dylan and Sky be able to co-exist on the ranch or will Dylan be forced to find another path in life (alongside sibling Cassidy who becomes fascinated by the new community they discover together on the ranch)?

Charlie Plummer has the toughest role in National Anthem and comes up with another truly fleshed out performance within the picture. Plummer’s Dylan dons eye shadow in a mall store at one point and comes to terms with the depths of outward appearances and inner desires during the course of the movie. Dylan loves Sky but fate may have other plans for the couple than allowing them to be together.

Rene Rosado also succeeds as Pepe, a good person with a big heart hiding under a rough exterior. Robyn Lively plays the confused mom, Fiona, quite well, too, adding dimensions that make us understand her predicament while Joey DeLeon makes a definite impression on-screen as Cassidy. It’s a terrific cast that works well together as a whole.

National Anthem doesn’t have to be for everyone and, thankfully, it doesn’t try to be. Yet, at the same time, it’s hard to not care or relate to the characters in the movie regardless of one’s own personal preferences. The characters are fully-fleshed out and it’s a better picture as a result.

This is a film about family, friends and freedom of expression, above all else. We’re fortunate to live in a country like America where we are allowed to be creative and work hard to achieve our personal dreams. National Anthem reminds us of the dream to make money, the dream to love and the dream to find out where we fit in in this crazy world. It’s remarkably shot and is highly recommended for people who like complex films with dramatic substance.

Rating: 8.5/10

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