Behemoth! Review: Pedro Pascal's Cello Drama Gets a Standing Ovation for Its Music and a Shrug for Its Story

Tony Gilroy’s first big-screen feature since “The Bourne Legacy” debuts at the New York Film Festival, and critics are already divided.

NEW YORK: Tony Gilroy has spent the last few years in a galaxy far, far away, building Andor. Now he’s back on the big screen with Behemoth!, a music drama starring Pedro Pascal as a cellist whose life is hitting all the wrong notes. The film premiered on Oct. 2 as the Centerpiece of the 64th New York Film Festival, and the first verdicts are in: wow for the sound, wait-and-see for the story.

Note: For optimal viewing on mobile devices, rotate the screen.

Searchlight Pictures will open it in US theatres on Dec. 4.

What Is Behemoth! About?

Pascal plays Alex Serian, a gifted cellist and former child prodigy raised by famously self-absorbed parents. After fleeing an orchestra job in Chicago and a messy affair with a wealthy patron (Olivia Wilde), he returns to his hometown of Los Angeles to find session work recording Hollywood film scores. He also has to deal with family business, including his mother’s (JoBeth Williams) failing memory.

Note: For optimal viewing on mobile devices, rotate the screen.

The title comes from a secret blockbuster whose score Alex helps record, and the film also looks back across two decades of his life through flashbacks. A late twist, the possibility that Alex fathered a young musical prodigy, gives the story its emotional spark.

The Good: It Sounds Incredible

Almost everyone agrees on the music. The orchestra scenes on Hollywood scoring stages, including a studio named after Barbra Streisand, are the film’s biggest thrill. A group billed as “The Behemoth! Collective” wrote the original score, and the lineup reads like an awards-night wish list: Michael Abels, Emily Bear, Lukas Frank, Michael Giacchino, James Newton Howard, Henry Jackman, Nami Melumad, Brandan Roberts and Alan Silvestri.

They cover everything from suspense to soaring romance, and the film also weaves in an art-rock song, a requiem, a cartoon theme, a harp concerto and cello etudes. Dolby Atmos makes it even more physical. If you love film scores, this is the rare movie that makes you listen.

Alexa Swinton, who plays a 15-year-old composer, is widely singled out as a standout. Kaya Ralls, a real-life musician in her first acting role, also earns praise, and Thomas Kretschmann gets laughs as a diva-like conductor.

The Not-So-Good: Passive Hero, Messy Timeline

The complaints are just as consistent. Critics say the film jumps back and forth in time so often that it keeps killing its own momentum. Alex himself is also a problem for some reviewers: he spends much of the movie reacting to other people, and even Pascal’s famous warmth struggles to fill the gap.

The women in the story get an especially rough deal. Olivia Wilde’s Carol, a wealthy arts patron who goes ballistic when Alex ends their affair, has drawn comparisons to Fatal Attraction. Eva Victor’s Nadia, the violinist Alex loved, leaves an impression but doesn’t stay long.

The family backstory, which includes Hank Azaria as a late father and Will Arnett as a podcast-hosting brother, also feels thin to some critics. The film hints at a chaotic childhood but never fully shows it.

Not Everyone Agrees

Here’s where it gets interesting. Reviews are far from uniform. One early rave calls Pascal’s work the best of his career and praises Gilroy’s writing and direction, while the festival’s own artistic director called the film immaculately crafted and described the lead performance as one of the year’s best. Another take notes that critics seem to agree on almost everything about Alex’s stillness, but not on whether it works.

In other words, one camp sees a quiet, soulful performance, and the other sees a hole in the middle of the movie.

What It Means for Pedro Pascal and Gilroy

For Pascal, the film is another test of his star power outside franchises. He’s usually the lovable hero with a big heart, and here he plays someone more withdrawn. If the performance connects, it could add a serious awards-season layer to his career. If not, it will still be a respectable stretch.

For Gilroy, this is a rare return to directing after more than a decade, and the Centerpiece slot at NYFF is a big vote of confidence. The film also proves he can step away from big franchises and make something personal. A warmer reception from audiences than from critics could help him greenlight future passion projects.

For Searchlight, the stakes are practical. Adult dramas can be hard to sell in December, with holiday blockbusters taking up screens. The film’s best marketing tools are the cast, the music and the festival buzz.

Awards Season Outlook

Behemoth! looks strongest in the craft categories. Original score eligibility could be tricky with so many composers involved, but sound is a clear contender, and the cinematography by Damián García, who worked with Gilroy on Andor, is handsome. Acting nods for Pascal and Swinton are possible, though a split critical response could limit the film’s chances in the biggest categories.

Also Read: https://ultapaltakhabar.com/oscars-2027-indias-marathi-entry-gondhal-faces-a-palme-dor-winner-a-golden-lion-champion-and-penelope-cruz-in-a-stacked-race/

Our rating: 3 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐

Here’s how I got there:

Music and sound: 4.5/5. It’s the film’s biggest strength.
Performances: 3.5/5. Pedro Pascal is watchable, and Alexa Swinton is a standout.
Story and screenplay: 2.5/5. The timeline jumps around too much, and the hero is too passive.
Direction and craft: 3.5/5. Polished and handsome, but it never fully commits to its own ideas.

The Verdict

Behemoth! is a film you’ll probably admire more with your ears than your heart. It’s polished, beautifully performed and packed with great music, but the story often hits its notes too softly. If you love film scoring or you’re a Pascal fan, it’s worth seeing on the biggest, loudest screen you can find.

Stay tuned to ultapaltakhabar.com for more Hollywood reviews, awards-season buzz and celebrity gossip.

Note: For optimal viewing on mobile devices, rotate the screen.

You May Like: