“The Power of the Dog” starring Benedict Cumberbatch

directed by Jane Campion

Phil Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch), the protagonist in Jane Campion’s new movie  “The Power of the Dog,” isn’t a cowboy like Gary Cooper or Alan Ladd. Nope, black hats were made for this ornery SOB.

Phil and his brother George (Jesse Plemons from “Breaking Bad”) are Montana ranchers, living a manly man existence, until George develops a liking for Rose (Kirsten Dunst), a widow who runs a cafe where the brothers and their ranch hands often eat. George and Rose marry, which sends Phil into a jealous rage as he feels as if he’s lost his best buddy—and he proceeds to make Rose’s life a living hell.

Rose’s son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee) becomes the secondary target of Phil’s animus, as he is delicate, carves paper centerpieces for the table, and telegraphs, for all matters of speaking, as gay gay gay. He goes off to medical school and when he returns for the summer, a series of events occurs leading to a surprise and tragic ending.

There is a definite gay subtext to much of this film: shots of cowboys bathing in the river semi-naked, a hidden stash of “Physical Culture” magazine, the closeup scene of two men sharing a hand-rolled cigarette. But it is more of a comment on the meaning of masculinity in the Old West (movie takes place in the 1920s). Does it mean chest-beating machismo, or quietly gaining the upper hand in a war of wills?

“The Power of the Dog”—the title derived from a Biblical psalm—will not be everybody’s cup of tea. The pacing is glacial, and detractors have compared seeing it to watching paint dry. But such beautiful paint! The scenics are gorgeous (movie is shot in New Zealand, Campion’s home). The framing of some of the scenes is artsy (some may call it pretentious). And the score by Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead is unforgettably great.

TPOTD in fact was the perfect way to start the year in the dreary, rainy Northeast, where some of us, drying out from New Years Eve, could muster no more energy than to turn on Netflix. Want more razzmatazz?  The new “Spider Man” is supposed to be pretty good