El Camino (2019)
El Camino is a bit peculiar as it experiences a reversal of fortune. Conventionally, film is considered the more prestigious medium; yet in this case, the television source material is far better constructed than its film counterpart.
While Skinny Pete and Badger helping Jesse is heart-touching, it also strains credulity. Somehow, with a manhunt coming down on him, no one thought to check the homes of Jesse's known friends? This would be forgivable if the movie did not spend so much time conveying the urgency of Jesse's situation and the high-profile nature of the manhunt.
A good literal and metaphorical detail is Todd keeping the spider from the show as a pet. However, it should be noted this exists as an extended metaphor for Jesse which grows tiresome and heavy-handed.
The best part of the movie is when Jesse confronts the vacuum repairman who also specializes in new identities. The back and forth is compelling and results in a few funny moments. There is also nuance, as the vacuum repairman chooses to repel Jesse, but does not aid in his capture. The scene between Jesse and Walt in the diner is also a highlight, though a bit damaged by its awkward placement.
The film suffers from an overreliance on the audience accurately recalling the details of the show. While culturally groundbreaking, most viewers cannot recall the show beat-by-beat. Subsequently, as noted above, the placement of flashbacks can be jarring and disorienting.
The story, though clear in objective, is a meandering mess. The film mostly serves as a victory lap and an excuse to revisit beloved characters. Tension is near non-existent as the events in the flashbacks are partially established; when Jesse points a gun at Todd, it may as well be bereft of bullets. The viewer already knows that Jesse doesn’t pull that trigger.
As a continuity weakness, make-up and costuming attempts to bring our characters back to life were not generally successful. A number of actors are accruing seniority beyond that of their character; others no longer resemble their original characters due to facial/physique changes. In contrast, Walt and Mike were perfectly rerendered, and their performances by Bryan Cranston and Jonathan Banks seemed fresh off the set of Breaking Bad.
Pieces of El Camino are interesting, but the film as a whole is mildly disappointing. The events feel loosely strung together by Jesse's plight, but also like loose change Vince Gilligan shook from the pants he wore while making Breaking Bad. Interesting as supplementary material but not really possessing its own identity, El Camino will remain for die-hard Breaking Bad fans.