A Matt Damon film released last year to relatively little fanfare and lukewarm box office receipts has proved a storming success with US home audiences – shooting straight to number one this week.
American-based subscription service Hulu were as surprised as anyone when Stillwater rocketed up the charts.
The movie sees Matt Damon star as an Oklahoma oil rig worker who travels to France after his estranged daughter was imprisoned for a murder she says she didn’t commit.
Battling a complicated legal system as well as cultural and language difficulties, our hero soon builds a new life for himself as he embarks on a quest to clear her name.
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With a so-so 6.6 rating on IMDB and a healthier 74 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Stillwaters’ successful ‘second life’ has certainly caught showbiz insiders by surprise.
Overlooked at the Box Office – the film failed to recoup its modest $20m budget, grossing just $19.7m worldwide – its delayed success will seem justly deserved by many critics, who were quick to praise the film's subtleties.
Directed by Oscar-winner Tom McCarthy, there was a general consensus that Stillwater makes for a thoughtful character study, but a rather less satisfactory action thriller.
Audiences generally praised the drama and performances but felt it was hampered by a slow pace and unsatisfactory ending.
Anyone expecting a slam-dunk, high-octane tour de force such as Damon's stellar Bourne franchise will certainly be left wanting.
As well as Matt Damon, Stillwater stars Camille Cottin, Abigail Breslin, Lilou Siauvaud, Deanna Dunagan, Idir Azougli, Anne Le Ny, Moussa Maaskri, and more.
Of course, it won’t be long before we see Damon back in our movie theatres.
He’s widely tipped to reprise his role as ‘actor Loki’ in Marvel's new Thor: Love and Thunder, set to hit the UK on July 7.
Stillwater is available to stream in the UK through Sky Go, Now TV Cinema and Virgin TV Go and to rent via AppleTV.
