I approached this film after seeing the other great movies of Michael Cimino (Deer Hunter, Thuderbolt and Lightfoot) with more than a little trepidation. It had as stink of infamy that is brought up every time a movie goes wildly over budget (Titanic, Waterworld etc.). I sat down on a weekend night, turned on the answering machine and I prepared to watch this 220 minute bench warmer. Does the film deserve it's infamy? No. I can think of a number of different films that were a lot more deserving of that title. I was surprised to see that the film had a great cast and they hold up their end of the bargain. There is no majorly weak performances. The problem with this movie, which details the Johnston County Wars of 1890, is its lack of focus. Individual scenes grab you, but as a whole there is something lacking. Also, try to watch a widescreen version if you are able to find it. The pan and scan copy does no justice to the breathtaking cinematography.
The film could use some editing, but don't we say that about every film over three hours? Basically this film is one that should be watched in history class. It portrays one of the ugly episodes in the pursuit of the American Dream, but fails to maintain excitement for the whole picture.
The film could use some editing, but don't we say that about every film over three hours? Basically this film is one that should be watched in history class. It portrays one of the ugly episodes in the pursuit of the American Dream, but fails to maintain excitement for the whole picture.