Oregon, 1933. Samuel Murphy is torn from his daughter and sent to a brutal work camp. Warden Clancy tempts him with early release if he smuggles gold through the deadly wilderness. How far will Murphy go to see his child again?<br /> Padraic McKinley’s tense, atmospheric Depression-era drama follows a group of desperate convicts on a journey through a physically and morally treacherous backcountry. Set against the stark beauty of the Oregon landscape, <em class="film">The Weight</em> draws on the introspective action cinema of the 1970s to depict a gritty survivalist scenario supported by brothers Latham and Shelby Gaines’ score and Matteo Cocco’s cinematography. Ethan Hawke gives a muscular performance as the film’s reluctant but resourceful hero, while Russell Crowe is quietly menacing as his foil. Julia Jones brings dignity and defiance to her role as Anna, the sole woman in the group.