In 1885 New Mexico, a frontier medicine woman forms an uneasy alliance with her estranged father when her daughter is kidnapped by an Apache brujo.
Basically a reworking of “The Searchers” plot line. and while this film is not a good as the John Wayne classic, it still is a fine western adventure. Tommy Lee Jones is one of the few modern actors that truly looks like he belongs in westerns. A very good movie.[/quote]
A revenge/pursuit western, set in the aftermath of the Civil War. Southerner Liam Neeson and his hired guns are chasing Pierce Brosnan from the snow-caped mountains of Oregon to the sun-baked plains of New Mexico.
Why Neeson is on Brosnan’s trail we learn only relatively late in the movie, and the intended ‘twist’ is a bit of a let-down, leading to a heavy-handed, over-symbolic finale. Otherwise it’s a good western, beautifully shot and quite compelling.
I have never been a fan of Neeson or Brosnan, but they both turn in a decent performance. Still, they play second fiddle to the landscape: the film seems to underline the futility of man and his aspirations in the majestic world he’s thrown in. Taking the setting into account, there clearly are references to contemporary American society, once again struggling with painful war experiences.
There are some pictural references to spaghetti westerns (The Great Silence and Once upon a Time in the West in particular) but with its deliberate pace, strong emphasis on landscape and sudden outbursts of graphic violence, the film reminded me most of the Aussie Eastern/Western The Proposition. So if you liked that one, you’re very likely to enjoy this one too.
Last non-spaghetti ‘western-of sorts’ … The Proposition. Thought it looked good, thought most of the acting pretty good ('scept for Hurt’s overacting) - but somehow left cold. Maybe I didn’t really care or believe in any of the characters. Not sure about this one.
Minnesota Clay. Clearly a pre-Django Corbucci. Stiff directing and a stiff Cameron Mitchell. Not a total drag though. It provides as much entertainment as the average western. Fernando Sancho was the most fun. Georges Rivière did alright as the bad guy. The vengeful gunfighter turning blind was an ok plot device. Overall however, the stiffness and the American feel to it didn’t do the movie much good.
Watched El Topo last night with some friends. It was funny to listen my mate next to me who was constantly trying to figure out what the hell was happening in the film. Possibly the best film ever made!
“The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” (1962)
-James Stewart, John Wayne
Senator Ranse Stoddard returns to the city of Shinbone in the Wild West, to go to the funeral of his friend, Tom Doniphon. To a journalist, who’s wondering what the senator is doing in Shinbone, he tells how his career started as “the man who shot Liberty Valance”. As a lawyer he came to Shinbone to bring law and order to the west by means of law books. When the stagecoach is held up by outlaws, he is savagely beaten by Liberty Valance. He survives the attack and is nursed by his future wife, Hallie. Hallie is being wooed by a local rancher, Tom Doniphon. Ranse teaches the people of Shinbone to read and write, all the while trying to find a way of bringing Valance to justice. He finally takes up a gun and faces Valance in a menacing shootout…
One of the greatest western films ever made. Great cast, excellent acting and terrific action. A true classic.
VERA CRUZ (1954) was on the box yesterday. I’d never seen it before and thoroughly enjoyed it. Great Mexican scenery, twisty plot, fine performances and a great final shootout. Gary Cooper as the man with honour, and Burt Lancaster magnificently hammy as the mean hombre without a good bone in his body.
Watched Django and Sartana… Showdown in the West in German. Once again a fun Fidani movie. Gordon Mitchell is hilarious as the gang leader, who picks fights with his mirror image. Don’t know if his character is supposed to be schizophrenic or just plain stupid. Fact is that he can’t read or write either. Anyway, Mitchell alone is enough reason to watch this movie. Gori’s music is pretty good, reminiscent of what he did in Era Sam Wallach. And then there’s of course Sartana AND Django. I have now seen three Fidani’s, and it’s clear the mn was no Sergio Leone. However, all three I found entertaining.
“The Searchers” (1956)
Ethan Edwards, returned from the Civil War to the Texas ranch of his brother, hopes to find a home with his family and to be near the woman he obviously but secretly loves. But a Comanche raid destroys these plans, and Ethan sets out, along with his 1/8 Indian nephew Martin, on a 5 year-long journey to find the niece kidnapped by the Indians under Chief Scar. But as the quest goes on, Martin begins to realize that his uncle’s hatred for the Indians is beginning to spill over onto his now-assimilated niece. Martin becomes uncertain whether Ethan plans to rescue Debbie…or kill her.
In my opinion, this movie is damn near perfect. Not only is this Wayne’s best film, but it’s probably the best American film ever made. Great cast, scenery, action and acting. A true classic.
Too much idiotic/childish John Ford humour in The Searchers.
Often a great film, but not even Ford’s best western. The end is inconsequent, but if it were consequent we hadn’t got this wonderful closing shot.
watched Cjamango this evening, thought it was ok, it couldn’t help thinking that the voice used for Ivan Rassimov would be suited better for a Steeve Reeves style character in a Peplum than as a western character
Gatling Gun '68 widescreen - English audio.This is a high rated SW with a Hammond B3
fueled score.Gatling has been kidnapped & the North wants him with his revolutionary
gun to help bring conclusion to the Civil War.The film reminds of a noir styled western
with the investigation work & intrigue.Strong performances by Robert Woods,Evelyn
Stewart & old noir actor John Ireland.
Saw Howard Hawks’ Red River in the cinema Monday. I’m glad I hadn’t seen it before cause how many chances do you have of seeing such a great classic on the big screen for the first time…
“Pursued” (1947)
-Robert Mitchum, Teresa Wright spoilers
Mitchum plays a jaded Civil War vet who’s pursued into the west by inner demons from childhood and real life killers in the present. His love for his stepsister (Teresa Wright) leads to a fatal gunfight with her brother. Angry and intent on seeking revenge on their wedding night,Wright marries Mitchum, but the arrival of a mysterious stranger out to settle a score with Mitchum sidetracks her and leads to a startling conclusion.
Very weird western. Light on action and heavy on melodrama. It’s kind of a western soap opera. Beautiful black and white cinematography give the film a mystery kind of atmosphere. Very different but entertaining.
