Stillwater

Never revealing the true-life inspiration for its story, Stillwater is more than just a straightforward story of perseverance and redemption.

Rather, this character-driven drama from director Tom McCarthy (Spotlight) digs beneath the headlines of the decade-old ordeal of American college student Amanda Knox, who was jailed in Italy for the 2007 killing of her roommate, then was later freed following legal intervention.

Telling a more intimate tale, alongside its cynical outlook on the justice system and a callous indifference toward outsiders in Europe, the film resonates with humanity and compassion.

Bill (Matt Damon) gives off redneck vibes as a deeply religious, blue-collar former roughneck on an Oklahoma oil rig whose estranged daughter, Allie (Abigail Breslin), is imprisoned in Marseille, France, on a murder charge.

When Bill pays a visit, Allie again maintains her innocence and provides new evidence to support her claims, although her attorney (Anne Le Ny) doesn’t take them seriously. So Bill takes it upon himself to investigate behind the scenes.

Hampered by more than just a language barrier, he finds an unlikely ally in a local theater actress (Camile Cottin) who acts as his translator and confidant, with Bill even turning into a mutually therapeutic father figure to her young daughter (Lilou Siauvaud). But his quest comes with a cost, both literally and figuratively.

As his obsession over the case intensifies, Bill must navigate his own pent-up rage and regret. When his edges start to soften, he realizes that freeing Allie is only a small part of his purpose in France.

Damon’s understated and quietly powerful performance elicits sympathy even as we learn the dark layers of his family history, along with his method for using temperamental outbursts to mask his emotional scars.

Meanwhile, McCarthy’s attention to detail gives the film a lived-in feel. He captures both the lush coastal scenery and the gritty urban landscapes with visual flair.

The richly textured screenplay delves deeper than the usual culture-clash elements that come with the territory. The central mystery remains compelling despite the tendency to diverge into wayward subplots.

Mild contrivances enable Stillwater to resolve itself too neatly, and the film too eagerly dispenses with subtlety in the final act. Yet while its broader ambitions remain muddled, at least the emotional impact doesn’t become lost in translation.

Rated R, 139 minutes.