The Departed and Kingdom of Heaven screenwriter William Monahan debuted his first directorial effort back in 2010 with London Boulevard starring Colin Farrell and Keira Knightley. While it didn’t make much of a splash, he’s now back with his follow-up, Mojave, starring Garret Hedlund and Oscar Isaac. Following a man trekking into the desert, soon coming to find a doppelganger-like antagonist who takes him into a vortex of criminality and violence, we now have the first trailer ahead of a theatrical release next month by A24.
We said in our review out of Tribeca, “Through exchanging more words in a few moments than they did in all of Inside Llewyn Davis, Garrett Hedlund and Oscar Isaac give a pair of committed lead performances in Mojave, respectively playing a privileged Hollywood icon and a mysterious malevolent force. The sophomore directorial feature from accomplished screenwriter William Monahan (The Departed, Kingdom of Heaven) dabbles in a peculiar clash of genres and subject matter: a noir thriller, a dark comedy, a western, a behind-the-scenes jab at the film industry, and an existential exploration of one’s perceived reality, among other things. While not all of these work cohesively, Monahan’s particular rhythm of language makes Mojave a bizarrely compelling watch.”
Also starring Louise Bourgoin, Walton Goggins, and a brief Mark Wahlberg cameo, check out the trailer and new images below.
In this intense classical thriller, from an original screenplay by Oscar-winning writer William Monahan (The Departed), a violent artist, Thomas, (Garrett Hedlund) has an ominous encounter in the desert with a homicidal, chameleon-like drifter, Jack, (Oscar Isaac). Jack follows Thomas back to his privileged L.A. home life, holding a dark secret over his head as he attempts to infiltrate and destroy his seemingly-perfect life. Thomas must come to terms with his own insecurities and self-doubt to protect himself and his family, and go head-to-head with his nemesis in a riveting two-man clash that plays out in exciting and unexpected ways.
Mojave hits DirectTV on December 3rd and theaters on January 6th.