Wildcat (2023) [Movie review]

“Wildcat,” a 2023 biographical drama directed by Ethan Hawke, delves into the life of renowned American novelist Flannery O’Connor. Based on her short stories and personal struggles, the film stars Maya Hawke as O’Connor, alongside a stellar cast including Laura Linney, Philip Ettinger, Rafael Casal, and Steve Zahn. With its recent wider theatrical release, “Wildcat” offers viewers an intimate portrayal of O’Connor’s journey to literary acclaim amidst her battle with lupus.

Talk to me about Wildcat

“Wildcat” presents a narrative that intertwines real and fictional episodes from Flannery O’Connor’s life, exploring her unique voice and unwavering Catholic faith. The story begins with O’Connor (Maya Hawke) imagining a melodramatic movie trailer featuring a crazed boarder, Star Drake, leading to various violent escapades. This whimsical introduction sets the tone for a film that oscillates between O’Connor’s vivid imagination and her real-life experiences.

As O’Connor wins a writing competition and travels to New York to seek a publisher for her novel, “Wise Blood,” she encounters resistance due to her refusal to outline her work. Her interactions with literary figures like Robert Lowell (Philip Ettinger), with whom she shares a complex romantic tension, further enrich the narrative. Lowell’s eventual marriage to Elizabeth Hardwick underscores the personal sacrifices and emotional isolation that O’Connor endures.

Upon returning to Georgia, O’Connor is diagnosed with lupus, the same illness that claimed her father’s life. Wildcat poignantly captures her struggles with the disease, including her reluctance to seek medical treatment and her gradual acceptance of her condition. Her relationship with her mother, Regina (Laura Linney), is portrayed with nuance, highlighting the tensions and deep love between them.

Through counsel with an Irish priest (Liam Neeson), O’Connor grapples with her faith and the challenges of her writing career. The film concludes with a reflective look at O’Connor’s final years, emphasizing her literary contributions and her enduring legacy.

Stranger Things kills it as the writer lady

Maya Hawke delivers a captivating performance as Flannery O’Connor, capturing her sharp wit, intellectual depth, and complex emotional landscape. Hawke portrays O’Connor’s resilience and vulnerability, making her journey from a young aspiring writer to a celebrated author deeply relatable and inspiring. What could have been a by-the-numbers biopic becomes something far more than I expected. Considering that Wildcat’s director and co-writer both worked on Blaze, you might say might expectations were quite raised.

However, what you get out of Wildcat depends on your ability to enjoy the actors and familiarity withe source material. Even in the deepest of Southern Gothic regions, Flannery O’ Connor has fallen off in terms of appreciation. But, I dig what the Hawkes and the other creatives pull off with bringing us into Flannery’s world. Even ending the film on a thankful note to pigs and their pituitary glands.

I love it when movies shoot in the local area

It feels like forever ago when I would see the cast and crew moving through the older areas of town and Shelbyville. There would be sightings at Le Moo or there was the time I ran into a few of them at Four Pegs. All productions that film in Kentucky have my forever gratitude, as AndersonVision has been friends with the Film Commission and their various components for ages. While some critics will poo-poo tax breaks, the ability to extend help in terms of allowing shooting is a PR boon that lasts for ages. Even for Muzzle….now streaming on Hulu.

Wildcat sounds amazing, but will I like it?

Biopics have had a weird backlash of recent. For every Bohemian Rhapsody out there, there are quite a few Blackberry offerings that show what you can do with the format. What works so much about Wildcat is that you come to understand every little part of what made Flannery into a talent and also such a confused young woman. She tries her best to work on her craft, but she also knows that the few people she connected with in life have moved on. Cal is a good guy, but he’s not the guy for her.

Her mom is racist, but she loves Flannery. The shadow of her father’s death looms so heavily over her, as she starts with the crutches that you can’t help but feel sympathy for her. If that’s not your sort of thing, then you might not like the movie. If you can hang with that, then Wildcat is right for you.

Pretty good for a lady that came to fame teaching chickens to walk backwards as a child. Don’t believe me? British Pathe recorded it in the early 30s.

Wildcat comes to VOD on July 12th, if you’re lucky there might still be an arthouse theater showing it near you!