Normal With Bob Odenkirk Is an Instant Classic in Action

      Normal, which premiered on Sunday at SXSW, features a well-known premise: a new sheriff has arrived. Fortunately, this sheriff is portrayed by the iconic Bob Odenkirk, recognized for his roles in Mr. Show, Breaking Bad, and Better Call Saul, ensuring a character filled with depth and dark humor found in unexpected places. The screenplay is co-written by Odenkirk and Derek Kolstad, creator of John Wick, promising a sharp, surprising, and uniquely humorous narrative.

      Yet, I was still unprepared for how utterly enjoyable Normal turned out to be. Contrary to my initial concerns, it isn't merely another thriller featuring an ordinary individual with a special set of skills stemming from a troubled past— a trend that has been well explored by Liam Neeson, Odenkirk, Kolstad, and others and surely deserves a pause.

      Normal takes a different approach. Odenkirk's character is a law enforcer who diverges from the typical portrayals seen in recent films; instead of confronting conflict, he overcompensates by avoiding it entirely.

      That is, until he can no longer do so.

      The film's first reel serves primarily to set the scene, while what follows is tremendously rewarding. (While the term "first reel" is often used to describe the "first act," in this instance, it literally refers to a reel—SXSW showcased the film in 35mm at Austin’s beautiful Paramount Theatre, enhancing the overall experience of Normal.)

      During his introduction, director Ben Wheatley pointed out that the film is a concise 90 minutes long, eliminating the need for a bathroom break. He maintains a graceful and joyful pacing throughout.

      In attendance at the film's SXSW screening were Bob Odenkirk, Derek Kolstad, and Ben Wheatley.

      The film's intricate buildup is filled with multiple Chekhov's Guns. This term refers to the narrative principle that every element introduced must eventually play a significant role in the story.

      “You plant a seed to bring to creative harvest,” Kolstad remarked during a Q&A following the screening.

      Odenkirk receives a shared story credit with Kolstad, who penned the script. During the Q&A, Odenkirk explained that his primary contribution involved establishing the foundations as his character, Ulysses, explores Normal, a forgotten Minnesota town marked by a peculiar mix of vacant storefronts and unexpectedly vast wealth.

      “I was able to infuse ideas into the initial sections, capturing the town's quirky essence, where things feel off, humorously so, and the locals seem charming but there’s an underlying issue,” Odenkirk described. “Derek is very receptive to suggestions, encouraging thoughts like, ‘What about this?’ ‘What about that?’ Thus, I've always felt free to share ideas with him.”

      “Iron sharpens iron,” Kolstad added. “The best idea prevails.”

      The notion for Normal came about while Kolstad and Odenkirk collaborated on the 2021 film Nobody, which marked Odenkirk's transition to action hero after years in comedy and television drama. During a filming break, Odenkirk inquired about Kolstad’s other projects.

      Bob Odenkirk takes on the role of the conflict-averse sheriff in the small town of Normal, Minnesota in Normal. Magnolia Pictures

      Collaborating with producer Marc Provissiero, they fleshed out Normal and agreed to serve as executive producers. After completing last year’s Nobody 2 in Winnipeg, they swiftly began filming Normal, despite the plummeting temperatures in the Canadian city. The frigid weather ultimately plays a vital role in crafting the film’s setting and enhances the atmospheric quality of its dramatic action sequences.

      Odenkirk derived inspiration for the town and its residents from Garrison Keillor’s 1985 work Lake Wobegon Days and the 1971 small-town satire Cold Turkey, directed by Norman Lear. Kolstad, on the other hand, drew ideas from the intricate fatalities depicted in the Final Destination films.

      In summary, one could describe Normal as combining elements of Lake Wobegon Days and Final Destination, in the most positive sense. Don’t forget to include the weather, too.

      Kolstad, hailing from Wisconsin, and Odenkirk from Illinois, are both familiar with harsh Midwestern winters. Director Wheatley, who is British, felt he was equipped for Winnipeg's severe winters but discovered otherwise as temperatures dipped below 30 degrees during production.

      “My Canadian friends were warning me, ‘It’s gonna be cold,’” Wheatley recalled, initially skeptical.

      “And then as we were shooting in town, I stepped out from my heated trailer only to feel my nose starting to crack as it froze, and when I turned around, I noticed the frost accumulating on everyone’s eyelashes,” Wheatley chuckled.

      He was attracted to Normal not just for the strong talent involved, but also for the opportunity to explore a different genre. He adeptly shifts between comedy, thrillers, and horror, and Normal