Malkovich and Rockwell are Perfection in Wild Horse Nine

Name: Malkovich and Rockwell are Perfection in Wild Horse Nine
Uploaded: 2026-09-04T19:38:51-07:00
Description: ild Horse Nine is a film that grapples with the questions we ask ourselves as we grow older and how or if

Every year, there is chatter and speculation about what the first major TBA screening will be at the Telluride Film Festival. Well, this one was so hot that nearly 200 people were turned away. The anticipation ended when the film announced to be screened was Martin McDonagh’s latest, Wild Horse Nine (which was recently nominated for a Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.) Set shortly before the 1973 Chilean military coup, the film follows veteran CIA agents Chris (John Malkovich) and Lee (Sam Rockwell).

The longtime partners with dark pasts are dispatched from Santiago, Chilé to Easter Island (Rapa Nui) by their bureau chief, MJ (Steve Buscemi) on a vacation with a twist that occurs when Chris forms a bond with two rebellious local students. This chance encounter threatens to derail the mission and send the trip sideways in more ways than one.

Without question, Malkovich and Rockwell’s rapid fire dialogue and stellar chemistry gives vibes of The Odd Couple – CIA edition. One never tires of their monologued convos and quips coupled with poignant tear streaming moments. Their banter is bar none thanks to the screenplay brilliantly crafted by McDonagh, who leaves no stone unturned or unspoken between these two men.

Malkovich brings a physicality to the most simple of dialogue that makes Chris fascinating to watch, while Rockwell mastering eating, drinking and talking at warp speed is all a master class for anyone even attempting to call themselves an actor.

McDonagh’s using the premise of the JFK Assasination coupled with the impending assassination of Chile’s leader as plot points, while infusing a soundtrack with everything from Hank Williams to Harry Belafonte is pure genius. Not to mention, the breathtaking cinematography from Ben Davis.

One more thing about that screenplay. McDonagh’s dialogue about women’s equality hit hard with the recent passing of Gloria Steinem. And then there’s dialogue where Chris is giving advice to the young college student on how to avoid from being murdered telling her to kill everybody in a uniform and never get out the car. Yet, Chris’ comments about how no one remembers the names of the one Black person you kill, but kill a white one and the world goes crazy really resonates in 2026.

Steve Buscemi is in a class of his own as MJ, the CIA bureau head whose affection for “smack” has him nodding off in the middle of every important conversation (sound familiar). But, it is a small, but mighty turn from Mariana di Girolamo and Parker Posey that will surely have tongues wagging.

At its core, Wild Horse Nine is a film that grapples with the questions we ask ourselves as we grow older and how or if those questions lead to regret. It’s a complex, beautiful film that will leave audiences, laughing, crying and most of being entertained at how being human is just living one day at a time until time runs out.

Produced by Searchlight Pictures, Wild Horse Nine will be released on November 6, 2026.