On one of my days off, I finally decided to watch The Guilty, a film I had missed since its 2021 release. Despite seeing the trailers and drawing inspiration from their visual effects for a client’s project, I didn’t get around to watching it until September 2024. This intense thriller, directed by Antoine Fuqua (known for films like The Equalizer series, Southpaw, Olympus Has Fallen, and Shooter), stars Jake Gyllenhaal as the lead character in the gripping remake of the Danish film of the same name.
Plot Overview
Reviewing a film like The Guilty without revealing spoilers is a challenge. The film focuses on Joe Baylor, a demoted police officer grappling with some undisclosed work-related turmoil. Assigned to a 911 dispatch desk, he finds himself conflicted when he receives an emergency call from a woman claiming to be kidnapped. The story unfolds against the backdrop of Los Angeles, where wildfires rage, adding to the tension.
In many ways, The Guilty can be described as an audio-centric or one-man film. Most actors contribute their performances through phone calls, yet they deliver the intensity the narrative demands. Notably, Paul Dano plays Mathew Fontent, a personal friend of the governor who calls dispatch about an alleged robbery by a prostitute. His quavering voice adds a compelling layer to the scene.
Ethan Hawke’s portrayal of Sergeant Bill Miller captures a distinct ‘who gives a $h*t?’ attitude in his interactions with the distressed Joe Baylor. One of the film’s standout quotes exemplifies this: ‘…political geniuses with ideas how to do our f*** jobs…”
The cast’s vocal performances elevate the film’s emotional stakes. Christiana Montoya’s Abby, for instance, conveys her distress with a quavering voice that resonates deeply, especially when she reads out numbers to Joe and later breaks down in tears. Riley Keough’s Emily Lighton also delivers a memorable performance, with her initial tone setting the movie’s momentum. Interestingly, even though I’ve watched the film a couple of times, I haven’t paid much attention to the music and sound effects. This perhaps underscores the compelling nature of the performances, which truly stand out on their own.
As for cinematography, it’s no surprise that Antoine Fuqua and cinematographer Maz Makhani deliver a visually compelling experience.
In summary, The Guilty is an exceptional film and stands out as one of Jake Gyllenhaal’s best performances, thanks to Antoine Fuqua’s direction.
I’ll conclude with a quote from Jake Gyllenhaal during an interview on Q with Tom Power: “…it’s movies like the larger scale movies, big huge movies that keep theatres alive, that keep people going to the theatres in a way to see movies like Nightcrawler; they work in tandem, and I think one doesn’t work without the other.
