The Integrity of Joseph Chambers (Melbourne International Film Festival) ★★★½
THERE’S something special about the films of American writer/director Robert Machoian that is hard to explain.
He has only made five films to date and I’ve only seen the last two.
Quietly powerful studies of small-town rural communities and the male psyche is the shorthand but apt description of 2018’s The Killing of Two Lovers and now The Integrity of Joseph Chambers in 2022.
The latter film again stars Clayne Crawford in the lead role. In Machoian’s 2018 film, Crawford played a man trying to keep his emotions in check while seeking to rebuild his marriage.
This time he is Joe, a husband and father determined to prove his masculinity to his wife, others and himself by setting off on a solitary hunting trip.
From the outset we can see that Joe is ill-equipped for the task. His wife and friend try to make him wait a week when he can be accompanied by a more experienced hunter.
He has a set of new clothes for the trip but can’t load the ammunition into his rifle properly. He also holds the gun in a manner that makes the audience expect he will accidentally shoot himself before he even sees an animal.
An incident with life-threatening implications does occur which leaves Joe confronting not just what it means to be a man but also to be a human being.
Crawford is very good and has a couple of particularly strong scenes. Once again Machoian has a minimal cast with Jordana Brewster and Jeffrey Dean Morgan having small roles.
Of particular note is the sound design by Dane Peter Albrechtsen which seems to electronically duplicate the myriad of forest sounds to help create atmosphere and tension.
As a small, independent release, The Integrity of Joseph Chambers will struggle to gather an audience, which is a shame because it’s sufficiently different to warrant your attention.
There is a 2018 film called Leave No Trace starring Ben Foster which is similar in tone and approach and has slowly gathered a strong following. Perhaps Machoian’s film will do the same.