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Ethan Hawke’s ‘The Weight’ Draws Strong Early Notices After Sundance Premiere

Early reviews praise a 1970s-style, character-driven adventure anchored by Hawke’s stoic lead.

Overview

  • Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe star in a Depression-era tale about a father who agrees to smuggle gold for a warden in exchange for a chance to reunite with his daughter.
  • Critics describe a rugged, old-school outdoor thriller that favors human-scale stakes and practical set pieces over spectacle, with Hawke’s performance singled out as a standout.
  • Hawke says the shoot was “one of the hardest summers” of his life, citing freezing water, dense woods and tick worries during location work.
  • The film was shot over six weeks in Germany’s Bavarian forest doubling for Oregon, and marks Padraic McKinley’s feature directing debut.
  • Producers and reviewers note a fast indie turnaround of roughly four and a half months from prep to edit, with the Sundance launch positioning the film for distribution and possible awards consideration.