Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: NORMAL [Toronto International Film Festival 2025 - Toronto, Canada]
Bob Odenkirk, like his contemporary Liam Neeson, have found a second life in certain ways through the action genre but through very different lenses. After his "Nobody" films, Derek Kolstad, who also created John Wick, offered another possibility to Odenkirk. "Normal" [Midnight Madness] is a different kind of film but still allows Odenkirk to kick above his weight though maybe in a different physical scenario. This story builds very slowly in the beginning almost trying to lull the audience before it loses its mind a little bit. Odenkirk said at the Q&A that this is what intrigues him above these kind of action elements. You have to see these characters in these quiet moments before they lose structure in perhaps a way that would make them feel safe. Odenkirk plays Ulysses, a man who comes into the town of Normal, Minnesota as an interim sheriff when the one before him dies when he freezes to death. Now granted there is a scene in a Yakuza den in Japan right before so one already knows there is going to be shenanigans happening at some point. The locals in Normal seems ambitious in a off-putting way but also bumbling, especially Deputy Blaine (played by Billy MacLellan who channels Will Forte). Ulysses just wants to get by but things just don't add up. A little bit of a misstep turns the place into a war zone but it takes a moment to get there. It almost in a way takes too long. Henry Winkler shows up as the mayor of Normal and drops an F-bomb or two to get the party started. There are certain tells (like Lena Heady running the bar) which speaks to a deeper mythology.
Ben Wheatley, who directed the shark sequel "Meg 2: The Trench" for Warner Brothers understands the bedlam aspect of this. And the aspect of Odenkirk doing close quarters combat works though (again) it is not on the "Nobody" level. The issue now is that everyone will compare an Odenkirk action film to that (like they do the same with Keanu and John Wick). While the killings come quick and furious, it is when Alex (Jess McCleod) shows up with a real bone to pick (as well as a gun and some whiskey), that there becomes more of a sense of depth. The reality though that the film alludes to and actually finds great irony in is that there is always bigger fish on the water....and it depends on whether or not the bloodletting continues unabated. The final resolution actually is quite fun though despite its inevitably. Kolstad understands motivation and the nuggets of flashback within the story really gives a nice bump to the characterization (which again Odenkirk alluded to in the Q&A). And again that essence takes place in a quiet moment where Ulysses shows his cards (partially) because he also has something to hide. "Normal," like "Nobody" which Kolstad also wrote, does have a good concept depending on what one thinks is the "goodness of man." "Normal" simply looks at it as an episode where people who didn't have enough wanted more but ended up getting the short end of the stick. But then it is a smiling Odenkirk just hitting back. B
By Tim Wassberg
