Watch Old Joy

Old Joy is a drama film from 2006, directed by Kelly Reichardt, which explores the friendship of two old friends who reunite for a weekend camping trip in a forest in Oregon. The film stars Daniel London as Mark and Will Oldham as Kurt, who have been friends since their college days. Mark is now a married man and soon-to-be father who works as an environmental engineer, while Kurt is an itinerant musician who lives a bohemian lifestyle.

The plot of Old Joy is simple and straightforward. Mark and Kurt, who have not seen each other in several years, plan to spend a weekend together in the wilderness, hoping to escape their urban lives and reconnect with each other. They pack their camping gear and head towards a hot springs resort in the Cascade Mountains. Along the way, they encounter picturesque landscapes, scenic vistas, and small-town Americana.

As they trek deeper into the woods, their differences become more apparent. Mark is preoccupied with his forthcoming fatherhood, while Kurt seems content living a life of transience and rootlessness. Their conversations are punctuated by long pauses and awkward silences, and the tension between them is palpable. They soak in the hot springs, where they chat with a group of hippies, but their time there does not seem to heal the rift between them.

Despite their differences, Mark and Kurt try to relive their old adventures. They hike along the forest trails, smoke marijuana, and talk about their past exploits. However, it becomes apparent that their past glory days are behind them, and they can never recapture the carefree spirit of their youth. The film’s slow pace and minimalist approach give ample space for contemplation and introspection, and the audience is left to ponder the complexities of male friendship and the meaning of nostalgia.

The film is shot in naturalistic style, with long takes and hand-held cameras that immerse the audience in the stunning beauty of the Pacific Northwest. The lack of a musical score and the ambient sounds of the forest create a sense of authenticity and rawness that is rare in contemporary cinema. The performances of London and Oldham are subtle and nuanced, and they capture the mood of middle-aged ennui and melancholy perfectly.

Old Joy is a meditative film that explores the fragility of human relationships and the passage of time. It is a film that asks more questions than it answers and leaves a deep impression on the viewer's mind. It is a cinematic experience that rewards patient viewers who are willing to engage with its themes and subtext. Old Joy is a quiet masterpiece that deserves to be seen by anyone who values introspective filmmaking and subtle storytelling.

Overall, Old Joy is a poignant and introspective film that showcases the immense talent of Reichardt as a director and the understated performances of its actors. It is a movie that resonates with audiences on a personal level and invites them to reflect on the value of friendship, the nature of masculinity, and the lure of nostalgia. Old Joy is a gem of independent cinema, and it deserves to be celebrated for its honesty, authenticity, and contemplative mood.

Old Joy is a 2005 drama. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8 and a MetaScore of 84.