Film Review: THE FORGIVEN (2021): Ralph Fiennes and Jessica Chastain Are in Top Form in a Stylish Dramatic Thriller

The Forgiven Review

The Forgiven (2021) Film Review, a movie directed by John Michael McDonagh, written by John Michael McDonagh and Lawrence Osborne and starring Ralph Fiennes, Jessica Chastain, Matt Smith, Abbey Lee, Caleb Landry Jones, Christopher Abbott, Alex Jennings, Marie-Josee Croze, Fiona O’Shaughnessy, Said Taghmaoul, David McSavage, Mourad Zaoui, Ismael Kanater, Imane El Mechrafi, Ben Affan, Anas El Baz, Briana Belle and Omar Ghazaoui.

Ralph Fiennes and Jessica Chastain are at their very best in filmmaker John Michael McDonagh’s twisty drama, The Forgiven, which is one of the most stylishly made movies so far this year. It builds tension effectively and goes back and forth between its characters like a well-oiled machine, ultimately making a lasting impact on the viewer through the devastating revelations of the complex story line. Although the movie is easy to follow, it’s the inner personal thoughts of the lead characters that lead this movie on the path it takes to a conclusion which will definitely divide audiences.

Fiennes and Chastain play a married couple named David and Jo Henninger who have a bit of an age gap between them. David is revealed to have a bit of a drinking problem which ends up causing a major situation that will drive the plot forward. These two characters couldn’t be more different but have the long tenure of their relationship looming over their heads. Their marriage will be tested as details of the story start to come into view.

David’s gay friend, Richard Galloway (Matt Smith of Morbius) is throwing a party in a villa in the desert that David and Jo are heading to as the movie begins. When David accidentally hits a young man named Driss (Omar Ghazaoui) with his car, it is discovered that Driss has been killed. Ismael Kanater serves as Driss’ father, Abdellah who arrives to see that his son’s body is given proper treatment. While David must deal with the consequences of his actions by leaving the party, Jo learns about herself through exploring interactions with those around her, including another American man– a businessman named Tom (Christopher Abbott).

The surprising depth found in the performance which Ralph Fiennes turns in is very uniquely conveyed on screen in terms of the way the character’s major flaws help develop the plot. David is a man who carries guilt and knows he must face the consequences of his actions in one way or another. His interactions with Abdellah help shape the way the plot will ultimately be headed. David is either on a road to salvation or a road that will lead him to his own demise. He does, however, have control of his fate. This is the most interesting aspect of the picture.

There is a lot of both expressed and unexpressed sexuality in the performance Chastain gives in the movie. The Oscar winner is amazing here. Chastain has never been more vulnerable or more sexy on screen. Jo admits her marriage to the British David may be heading towards divorce and as Jo becomes sexually involved with Tom through their discussions and eventual physical intimacy, the movie takes Jo on a path that viewers simply will not see coming from the opening scenes of the picture.

Abbey Lee plays Cody, a female party-goer who offers some much needed comic relief as she lets herself go and just tries to have fun. There are a lot of other good performances here. Caleb Landry Jones is quite impressive as Richard’s partner adding layers to the part that are similar to the developments found in Smith’s performance who is proving he’s definitely a character actor to contend with these days. This part is a lot different than his villainous turn in Morbius. Smith is an accomplished actor for sure.

What makes The Forgiven such a smashing success is the individual performances of its lead performers. Taken together, they don’t work as well as they do on their own. When the characters are away from one another, they learn things about each other and themselves that are uncomfortable but shed light on why they may be finding a certain level of dissatisfaction in their marriage.

The Forgiven begins with the entire credits displayed right at the start so there’s nothing left to roll at the end. It’s an interesting stylistic choice because the movie has an ending which has a lot on its thematic plate so when it finally arrives, the lights simply come up. There are no more credits since they were played at the start of the movie. This choice may make conversation more probable to happen between audience members at the movie’s conclusion. This film leaves the viewer with an unsettling feeling that will keep you thinking long after the film has ended.

While this film explores the cultural differences of every central character it presents, the movie is most successful in how it handles its themes of facing the consequences of one’s actions. After the events of this film, there is no turning back for either David or Jo. As played by Fiennes and Chastain, they are unforgettable characters who will each be in a different place at the movie’s tragic conclusion. For better or worse.

Rating: 8.5/10

Leave your thoughts on this The Forgiven review and the film below in the comments section. Readers seeking to support this type of content can visit our Patreon Page and become one of FilmBook’s patrons. Readers seeking more film reviews can visit our Movie Review Page, our Movie Review Twitter Page, and our Movie Review Facebook Page. Want up-to-the-minute notifications? FilmBook staff members publish articles by Email, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest, and Flipboard.