In 2013, the award-winning television show Breaking Bad came to a close. Charting the journey of Walter White from mild-mannered chemistry teacher to ruthless criminal mastermind the show was a pop culture phenomenon that was (and still is) considered to be one of the greatest television shows ever alongside the likes of The Wire and The Sopranos.
Such was the success of the show that it led to a follow-up prequel show, Better Call Saul, following the fortunes (and misfortunes) of Jimmy McGill on his path to becoming crooked lawyer, Saul Goodman. Still going strong with the release of its fifth season on the horizon, fans are eager for more from the Vince Gilligan’s Albuquerque set saga. Finally, it has arrived with a sequel movie in the form of El Camino.
Picking up directly after the events of the season finale of Breaking Bad, Jesse Pinkman is speeding off to freedom with a cathartic roar in the titular El Camino. Now on the run from the law, Jesse not only has the authorities to contend with but his own inner demons.
Life Without Walter White
In Breaking Bad the focus of the show was Walter White and his journey but throughout it all, Jesse was the heart of the show. Watching his soul being chipped away through manipulation and poor decision making was tragic. In the film’s flashback prologue, Jesse has a conversation with an old Breaking Bad favourite about wanting to put things right but he is told that is something he can never do.
Herein lies the crux of the film as Jesse has to learn to live with his past but that is not to say he is beyond redemption.
Although several years have passed since the end of the show, Aaron Paul slips right back into his iconic role with ease. It’s a real testament to his performance given how his character was meant to be killed off early in the show. Having escaped from a hellish neo-nazi compound, Jesse is now a shell of a man suffering from PTSD.
Seeking a fresh start at life he lives with his former mentor’s shadow looming large over him. Many thought that a sequel to Breaking Bad wouldn’t work without the character of Walter White but Paul proves naysayers wrong with a stoic yet soulful performance.
The Return of a Few Familiar Faces Along with a Few Surprises
Under the stewardship of Vince Gilligan (as writer and director) El Camino maintains a lot of continuity with Breaking Bad both in front of and behind the camera. A lot of the series regulars make their return (along with a few surprises along the way).
One such figure that stands out through a series of flashbacks is sociopathic villain, Todd (played by a returning Jesse Plemons). The unsettling childlike manner at which Plemons plays the malevolent figure stands out as a highlight in the film as there is always an air of unease anytime he appears onscreen.
In his final film role, Robert Forester makes a return as vacuum expert/”disappearer”, Ed. Despite it being only a small role it serves to exhibit how he great a character actor Forester was by speaking volumes without saying much at all.
Gilligan continues to prove that he is a master storyteller with a razor-sharp (yet thoughtful) script that maintains elements of humour. A hallmark which contributed to the success of the show. In the director’s chair, he creates moments of genuine tension that are up there with some of the show’s greatest moments, particularly towards the end with a Mexican standoff.
Show regular, Marshall Adams returns to apply his expert cinematography to the film. With sprawling desert landscapes and shots that could be lifted directly from a Sergio Leone film, he instils a neo-western feel throughout. As well as this Dave Porter also returns to score the film with some atmospheric music that perfectly conveys Jesse’s inner turmoil.
Verdict
It would be very easy to dismiss El Camino as being just an extended episode of Breaking Bad, made to cash in on a loyal fanbase and to an extent this is true but this is overlooking how it is a gratifying epilogue to a crime epic, giving closure to the tragic figure of Jesse Pinkman. On top of this, it also leaves the audience eager to see what the brilliant Vince Gilligan cooks up next.
