Can you really think of a better acting duo on paper than Sam Rockwell and John Malkovich? When I heard Martin McDonagh was putting the two of them together for a new project, I knew we were in for something pretty unique. McDonagh has a knack for taking simple setups and turning them into gold purely through the way his characters talk to each other, and Wild Horse Nine is no different.

The story essentially follows two CIA agents heading out on what seems like a trip to Easter Island. John Malkovich plays Chris, an older agent who has cancer that is causing him dementia. Because of this, he is slowly losing his mind, forgetting where he is, and just blurting out whatever he wants without a care in the world. Alongside him is Sam Rockwell as Lee, a younger agent who has basically been tasked with accompanying him. But Lee actually has two jobs here. The head of the CIA, a bloke called MJ played by Steve Buscemi, has told Lee to secretly squeeze information out of Chris about a past mission before his memory is completely gone. At the same time, Lee genuinely loves Chris like a mate, so he wants to make sure the poor guy enjoys his final days and gets to see what Chris keeps calling "the big heads". Lee is stuck juggling this loyalty to his friend with his orders, which makes for a brilliant dynamic.

To be honest, the chemistry between Rockwell and Malkovich is easily the best part of the whole film. Malkovich is hilarious as Chris, purely because he just does not care who he offends anymore. There are some scenes where they are standing by the famous stone statues, and Chris is chatting away, annoying all the tourists who are trying to soak in the history, calling them "the big heads" instead of what they are actually called. It felt very reminiscent of In Bruges, having these two mismatched blokes in an odd location where they probably should not be, just bouncing off one another. You can tell Rockwell is trying to keep some level of CIA professionalism alive while still caring for his pal, and the dialogue McDonagh gives them elevates the whole thing to a point where you could happily watch them talk all day.

Now, as much as I loved the banter and the emotional side of Chris coming to terms with his final days, there was one thing that felt a bit off to me. There are these wild horses roaming around the island, and Chris kinda forms a connection with one of them. Then something happens to this horse that is never really explained properly, and it just felt very jarring to watch. Maybe I am just not deep enough to understand what the deeper meaning was supposed to be, but for me it was a bit weird and felt like it needed a lot more clarity.

Before wrapping up, I have to mention the score by Carter Burwell. McDonagh has used Burwell on pretty much all of his films, including In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths, Three Billboards, and The Banshees of Inisherin. It really reminds me of the relationship Christopher Nolan has with Hans Zimmer, where as soon as the music starts playing, you immediately recognise that specific tone and know what kind of film you are watching. While I do not think this particular score is quite as memorable as In Bruges or Three Billboards, it still fits the movie perfectly and really helps set the mood.

All in all, Wild Horse Nine is a classic McDonagh film. It drags slightly in a couple of places, and the main story between them is not quite as captivating as In Bruges was, but it is still thoroughly enjoyable. It just proves that when a director has brilliant writing, great dialogue, and top-tier actors who can carry it, you do not need much else. Films like this are few and far between these days, and I definitely recommend checking it out.