McVeigh: A Toothless True Crime Thriller (Early Review)

The basic requirement for any film, good or bad, is to make audiences feel something and that feeling often remains long after watching. Similarly, when it comes to films based on true stories, they at least have to make an effort to make audiences care about the source material rather than assume they are coming in with previous knowledge. Operating on a surface level, devoid of subtext and nuance, McVeigh will have audiences feel nothing as they are kept at arm’s length. Lacking any sort of depth, the film merely goes from scene to scene without much to connect them together. Meanwhile, operating on a subdued level throughout, that consistent down tone and the seeming lack of energy coming from everyone on screen, providing little in the way of excitement. Over the course of its 90-minute running time, the result will inevitably lead to check-outs, most likely only resonating with those with any fascination about Timothy McVeigh and/or the Oklahoma City bombing. However, for any true crime buffs interested in the case, there are countless other true crime documentaries out there that can offer up more insight than this.

As mentioned, McVeigh is centered around the titular man, army veteran Timothy McVeigh (Allen) goes about his plan to strike back at the United States government following the aftermath of the Waco, Texas massacre of 1993. Indoctrinated by far-right ideology, he is built up as having an axe to grind as the 1990s saw a rise on the left and left-wing ideology. With a psyche full of slights and grievances, his story was yet another case of a man trying take his country back from those he perceived as slighting him, one can only assume as the film offers audiences no other choice but to assume and infer based on what little is given. Going from gun show to gun show, meeting plenty of unsavory characters, including his partner Terry (Gelman) and confidant Richard Snell (Tracy Letts). Basically a series of conversations, involving vague planning and ranting about how the United States was slipping away, the film is all talk and little action. As that talk adds up, the subdued dialog and low-energy delivery will test the patience of audiences. While it is clear what the story is ultimately leading to, the film, and its lack of depth, presenting audiences next to nothing to engage with. Using exposition instead of diving deep into Timothy’s psyche, his true motivations are unclear as he goes through the motions from scene to scene.

Satisfied with skirting the surface from beginning to end with McVeigh’s story, the film’s inability to pick a side for who objectively was not a good person is confounding. Afraid to approach the character and the truth behind what he did, one can’t help but wonder what the point of the film was. That being said, it is very possible for other audiences to have a polar opposite reaction to McVeigh and McVeigh. Setting the story against a gloomy backdrop and using camerawork to try and pull audiences into his state of mind, flaws in the writing and direction make it difficult to go on that journey with him. If not for some poor creative choices, the film may have had a different fate. In spite of poor direction, the dialog and performances are fine all around. However, they will just leave audiences wanting more.

At the end of the day, McVeigh is a toothless true story crime thriller that brings nothing to the table through its inability to take any risks.

still courtesy of Tribeca

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.