National Anthem ★★★★

Released: 9 December 2024 (Digital)

Director: Luke Gilford

Starring: Charlie Plummer

The American Dream is an ideal we’re all familiar with due to its everlasting presence in books, TV and film, despite the meaning of it changing over the years. Since its introduction back in the 1930’s, the idea of freedom and making a better life for yourself in America is something that’s still prevalent today, with many people adopting this mindset. Regardless of this theme’s popularity, National Anthem still manages to do something different with it, thrusting audiences onto a ranch in New Mexico inhabited by queer ranchers and rodeo performers looking for their own version of this dream. We follow 21-year-old Dylan, a construction worker with a troubled home life, as he gets more than he bargained for when helping out on this ranch leads him to discovering himself and forming many an unexpected friendship. A beautifully shot coming-of-age story with a stunning message surrounding inclusivity and finding your people, National Anthem is one of the year’s best indie gems.

Right off the bat, National Anthem showcases beautiful cinematography, making the most of its western location by placing it front and centre. Taking the time to show off the setting, with consistently gorgeous shots that effortlessly capture the vastness and heat of New Mexico. The colours pop, the ranch itself is aesthetically pleasing, the lighting stuns and the intimate camerawork allows us to feel close to these characters. Despite not shooting this movie himself, director Luke Gilford is most commonly known for his outstanding photography, so it’s expected that his directorial feature debut would look the part. Katelin Arizmendi (Swallow) does a great job behind the camera. Blending this with cowboy hats and boots galore, a fun country-esque soundtrack featuring the likes of Tim McGraw, plenty of horse riding sequences and even some line dancing, National Anthem makes for an immersive watch that undoubtedly transports its audience to this New Mexico ranch. It provides a slice of country living that many of us crave, and is the perfect location to set a character-driven coming-of-age story.

Our story unfolds through the eyes of Dylan, a 21-year-old who works incredibly hard to provide for his less than helpful mother and young brother. Tasked with bringing home the bacon and caring for little bro Cassidy, Dylan longs for a life of his own, where he can drive around in a van and see what the world has to offer. Charlie Plummer (Spontaneous) is utterly fantastic as Dylan, providing the emotion and nuance needed to master this role. Dylan is a quiet, lonely and driven individual who gradually comes out of his shell as the run-time progresses, with Plummer flourishing alongside his character. Exploring a world that is completely unknown to him including fluid sexuality, community-style living and drag performing, his acceptance and openness makes for a terrific, endearing character to follow. The rest of the cast are just as good, all bringing naturalistic, raw performances to the table that rarely feel like acting. Dylan’s love interest Sky is played well by Eve Lindley (After Yang), who immediately takes a shine to Dylan and invites him under his wing. Mason Alexander Park (Before You Know It) is also notable as Carrie, delivering a captivating monologue during the third act that beautifully ties the themes and story together. The cast is admirably inclusive, with all characters being allowed to just ‘be’, however they identify.

National Anthem‘s approach is very much a slow burn, slice of life drama that focuses on interactions, conversations and smaller moments between our characters. The script is more concerned with letting the audience think for themselves rather than spoon-feeding us, allowing the themes, ideas and overall messages to naturally come to fruition. Despite this laidback approach, it’s very meticulous with what it shows and tells us, honing in on those important interactions that build who Dylan becomes by the end of the movie. This adds to the naturalistic tone, as we’re often just watching our characters live their day-to-day lives; these little moments that seem insignificant to them hold power, as we as an audience know they are character-defining for Dylan and his peers. Through this intimate portrait of his pivotal time at age 21, the script gives an in-depth look into loneliness, parenting, love, sexuality, openness, the American dream, finding yourself and most importantly, acceptance. Each theme gets the appropriate amount of development and feels woven into the script naturally. Just by visiting a ranch to make a quick buck, Dylan not only finds a new group of individuals that give him a sense of belonging but gains confidence and courage, experiencing new things that help shape his identity. It is beautiful to see his story play out.

National Anthem is a competently acted, beautifully shot and incredibly well-written slice of life drama, with a focus on inclusivity and acceptance that’s truly commendable. With an important overall message that’ll stick with you long after the credits roll, a career-best performance from Charlie Plummer and expert filmmaking on display, National Anthem does not deserve to stay under the radar. Although the slow pace may not suit everyone, it has enough power and relatability to resonate with many. For those fond of coming-of-age stories, it’s a must-watch.