The Benedict Cumberbatch Netflix Western That’s Surprisingly Disturbing
Benedict Cumberbatch is a highly regarded and well-respected leading man, appearing in a wide range of films from intense, personal biopics such as The Imitation Game to his many appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Strange. In 2021, Cumberbatch starred alongside real-life spouses Jesse Plemons and Kirsten Dunst in The Power of the Dog, which is available to stream on Netflix now. The film serves as a highly cerebral western drama, winning dozens of accolades through its film festival circuit.
Benedict Cumberbatch is an aging cowboy in the Western The Power of the Dog, now on Netflix.
The Power of the Dog was written and directed by Academy Award-winning New Zealand filmmaker Jane Campion. The film is based on a 1967 novel of the same name, written by American Western author Thomas Savage. Benedict Cumberbatch and Kirsten Dunst spent the shoot method acting by refusing to speak to one another, as well as learning to play the banjo and the piano, respectively, according to IMDb.
Benedict Cumberbatch was initially cast for the role of Phil Burbank when production first began in 2019. Elizabeth Moss and Paul Dano were originally slated to portray the other two leads, Rose Gordon and George Burbank. Paul Dano was forced to drop out of the project amid scheduling conflicts with Matt Reeves’ The Batman.
After Elizabeth Moss dropped out of the film for unspecified reasons, Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons were brought on to join Benedict Cumberbatch in The Power of the Dog. Plemons is best known for his work as Todd Alquist in the hit AMC series Breaking Bad, as well as his prominent placements in films such as Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman, I’m Thinking of Ending Things, and Judas and the Black Messiah.
Kirsten Dunst, on the other hand, is best known for her work as Mary Jane Watson in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, which spanned from 2002 until 2007, as well as a number of roles in projects such as Fargo, Hidden Figures, and On Becoming a God in Central Florida.
The Power of the Dog follows brothers Phil and George Burbank, portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch and Jesse Plemons, respectively. The brothers serve as a pair of wealthy ranch owners in early 20th-century Montana. When George meets a local widowed inn owner, Kirsten Dunst’s Rose Gordon, he becomes immediately smitten with her, much to the chagrin of his cold-hearted brother.
Benedict Cumberbatch remained fully in method while filming as Phil Burbank, who accuses Rose of staying with his brother just for their money.
Benedict Cumberbatch remained fully in method while filming as Phil Burbank, who accuses Rose of staying with his brother just for their money. Phil also torments Rose’s teenage son, deriding him as a weak and effeminate young man. This tension only grows after George and Rose get married, causing Rose and her son to move into the Burbank Ranch.
Over the course of a year, Benedict Cumberbatch bullies Rose into becoming an alcoholic, making her unable to perform as a pianist, a feat that once brought her great joy and prestige. When Rose’s son, Peter catches Phil in possession of a number of homoerotic magazines, it begins to become clear exactly why the rancher holds such a harsh and rough exterior towards outsiders. Having been caught and accepted by Peter, Phil begins to warm to the boy, even opting to teach him how to lasso cows and ride a horse.
Before long, Phil and Peter have bonded, while Rose’s growing alcoholism gets worse and worse, turning her into a shell of her former self. Peter even reveals that his biological father had a horrific struggle with alcohol as well, prompting him to eventually hang himself. Benedict Cumberbatch brings a great deal of range and emotion to the previously abusive character, softening the plight of Rose’s child.
Unfortunately, tensions do not get repaired between Phil and Rose, resulting in a traumatic and emotional third act. The choice made by Benedict Cumberbatch and Kirsten Dunst to remain in character around each other on set paid off with the dynamic between their characters, which can be hard to watch at times.
Benedict Cumberbatch was praised by critics for his performance in The Power of the Dog.
The film was a massive critical success, garnering a 94 percent certified fresh rating on the review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes and taking home a host of awards from a number of festivals before premiering on Netflix in December of 2021. Jane Campion’s direction and Benedict Cumberbatch’s performance were specifically praised by critics. The Power of the Dog is available to stream on Netflix now.
