Brian Cox stars in “Mending the Line,” a drama that is currently trending on Netflix in the United States. According to FlixPatrol, the film is the sixth most-watched title on the platform only one day after its release. Meanwhile, “Iris Wish” with Lindsay Lohan is still at the number one spot.
To a new generation, Cox has been most recognizable as the patriarch of the Roy family in HBO’s drama series “Succession.” However, the multiple-award-winning actor has appeared in several important films over the years, such as “Manhunter,” “Troy,” “Braveheart” or “Zodiac.”
In “Mending the Line,” Cox shares the screen with Sinqua Walls, best known for the comedy “White Men Can’t Jump,” as well as with Perry Mattfeld, Patricia Heaton and Wes Studi. Here’s all you know about this movie that grapples with the aftermath of war, and its physical and psychological wounds.
‘Mending the Line,’ a thoughtful drama about war
Helmed by Joshua Caldwell and written by Stephen Camelio, the movie follows Marine John Colter (Walls) who is injured during combat in Afghanistan. Now in a V.A Medical Center in Montana, he learns how to fly fish with Ike Fletcher (Cox), a Vietnam veteran.
The movie was released in 2023, to positive reviews from critics. It currently holds an 80% approval on Rotten Tomatoes with 20 reviews. Owen Gleiberman from Variety praised the cast’s performances, especially Cox’s, and wrote that, despite the film’s TV aesthetics, “it delivers a truth about those who have served, about the reality of the demons that can linger in them, that’s tough and moving.”
Another positive review came from Gary Goldstein of the Los Angeles Times, who praised the fly-fishing sequences, calling them “lovely and magical,” as well as the cinematography from Eve Cohen. He was also pleased with the strong cast.
In an interview with Screen Rant, Caldwell said that in order to get the film right, he and the team did a lot of research, including talking to veterans. He also said that he hoped the film could serve as a “dialogue” for the audience.
“If this movie in some way can connect to those vets, or connect to somebody that knows a vet, and creates a dialogue and creates a connection between them and gives these guys an opportunity to try and find peace. I think that’s ultimately what we’d like to see,” he told the outlet.
