Dark Waters. 2019. USA. Directed by Todd Haynes. Screenplay by Matthew Carnahan, Mario Correa. With Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, Tim Robbins. 125 min.
Todd Haynes’s masterful films (Carol, Far from Heaven, etc.) have often been described in relation to his perceived inspiration—Sirkian, for example. Dark Waters is perhaps the first of his films that can truly be described as uniquely “Haynesian.” This poignant procedural embraces both the themes (a polluted environment that is invisibly poisoning us, domestic Americana imploding) and the visual flair (exquisitely rendered by cinematographer Ed Lachman) that he is so admired for. Lead by a subtle yet commanding performance by Mark Ruffalo, this is a film for an era, such as ours, when the disposability of certain populations for the gain of corporations and government is made painfully clear. Courtesy Focus Features.