South of Heaven (2021) | Film Review

The “convict trying to go straight” cliché is an often-utilized storytelling device for one simple reason: it’s compelling. Who among us hasn’t thought about teetering outside the restrictions of the law, only to catch yourself before you fall? Many of those that failed to brace and have found themselves incarcerated for overstepping society’s boundaries ultimately served their time, and rightfully deserve to begin their lives again. A fresh start. They are the ultimate underdogs we need to believe in, that we desperately want to see steer themselves clear of any future lockup. In South of Heaven, Jimmy Ray has an even deeper incentive to stay on the side of righteousness; his beloved fiancé Annie has terminal lung cancer with less than a year to live.

Fresh off all the Emmys for his much-buzzed about Apple TV series Ted Lasso, Jason Sukeikis carries that southern drawl on with him as the beleaguered Jimmy Ray. Newly paroled, Jimmy is focused on doing anything he can to stay away from any semblance of trouble, while simultaneously preparing to honor his promise and finally marry his devoted Annie (Evangeline Lilly). Unfortunately, Jimmy Ray’s parole officer, Schmidt (Shea Whigham), has something a bit more nefarious in mind.

It turns out that Schmidt has a bit of a honeycomb operation of sorts, and he needs Jimmy to step up and handle specific services for this operation, or else Schmidt might perhaps stumble upon reasonable grounds to send Jimmy packing back to prison. Jimmy is trapped and makes a conscious choice, one which quickly spirals and leads to several others that eventually zig-and-zag all over the narrative landscape.

In order to avoid spoilers, let’s just say that Jimmy’s trajectory veers wildly throughout this tale of violence and happenstance. Brought into the mix is Mike Colter’s Whit Price, a stately local kingpin of sorts who often arrives with a Zen-like demeanor and an entourage of henchman. As the film progresses, predictability is left by the wayside while chaotic tension takes the wheel.

A quick glimpse of South of Heaven’s IMDb description might lend one to assume this is a riff on an unknown Nicholas Sparks novel. Instead, director Aharon Keshales’ film feels more akin to a lite Coen Brothers affair. Blood Simple with heart. The script (written by Keshales along with Kai Mark and Navot Papushado) begins as a slow-burn, where Jimmy and Annie’s complicated relationship is allowed to breathe for the first 30 minutes or so as Jimmy adjusts to normalcy.

This early confidence in setting up our primary protagonists and their complicated relationship is pivotal once the plot hits several sharp right turns followed by hard stops and a few blown red lights. The road Keshales and company takes is frequently the one less traveled, leading to a refreshing game of “what’s gonna happen next”, something all-too-often lacking in today’s cinematic offerings. At the center of everything that transpires, though, is Jimmy’s unwavering devotion to that initial promise of Annie receiving a proper wedding.

It will come as no surprise to any fan of Jason Sudeikis that he has dramatic chops. Even in his previous comedic efforts, Sudeikis has always carried that element of warmth behind the eyes. There is an empathic quality to Sudeikis’ performances that immediately endears him to an audience, even in those snarkiest of roles. It suggests the very same twinkle Robin Williams exuded as he began to emerge as a dramatic anchor. Ted Lasso has served as the branch that has led Sudeikis to Jimmy Ray, a role where he finds an ample opportunity to break out of his comedic wheelhouse and shine.

There is one scene in particular that stood with me long after the film’s conclusion. It is a brief scene where Jimmy has had to resort to desperation and briefly replaces his otherwise ever-present politeness with simmering rage, expressly threatening the one character in the film who should not be trifled with. It is a moment that stood out because it showcased an element to Sudeikis’ talent not frequently seen before. And it left me excited for where his career veers to next.

As Annie, Evangeline Lilly is an absolute angel. That should come as no surprise honestly, it’s right there in her name. What is unforeseen about Lilly’s take on Annie is how fiercely genuine her portrayal is. When first meeting Annie and learning of her terminal cancer, there is a woundedness in her eyes. Yet as we become more familiar with her character, it is instead the look of resolute stillness. Annie has prepared for her fate, she is both embracing it and confronting it head-on. As Annie, Lilly glows throughout the entirety of the film, this perpetual light somehow giving us all an additional reason to root for Jimmy’s plight.

It is difficult to speak too much of the rest of the cast without diving into spoilers, but if you already know Shea Whigham is one of the best character actors working today, then you can expect Schmidt is one to watch. Mike Colter portrays Price as a complicated beast, and a duality of sorts emerges. Partly a loving husband and father, while secretly harboring a tinge of sociopathic tendencies. Colter’s role requires the audience to invest in several course changes throughout the script, and he manages to glide his role to conclusion effortlessly. Thankfully, Keshales continues to allow his characters to embrace their moments, as in a touching scene where Price and Annie share deeply affecting cancer stories, developing even a man like Price into a person of relatability.

South of Heaven truly does carry an embarrassment of riches in regards to its actors, and director Aharon Keshales has delivered another winner. Though the conclusion might challenge some viewers to forgive its choices, I was personally enthralled from beginning-to-end with Jimmy and Annie’s adventures. After a year-and-a-half of scattershot movie offerings, the options are aplenty again. And South of Heaven deserves to land on your must-watch list.

Follow our further discussion on South of Heaven via this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast: