What's all this then?
I saw the movie for the first time in the theater. It started out with the slow pan around the small shack and I started thinking to myself, this is going to be another crappy, slow western. Then the movie decided to prove me wrong. The opening gun battle jump starts the film, it made me jump out of my seat with it's suddenness. Then, when Emmett walks out of the shack, and the panoramic view just keeps getting wider and wider, I knew that I was in for a treat. I can't understand the posters that complain about the acting, as most of it seemed perfect for the characters, with the exception of the settlers heading to Silverado, I will admit that there is some very bad acting there, including Rosanna Arquette, who I found highly annoying, and Jeff Goldblum as Slick. And I also can't understand peoples knocking Kevin Kline's performance. Comparing him to actors past just doesn't work, he doesn't try to stare like Eastwood, or swagger like Wayne. If anything, he brings a Zen element to the character that I could only compare to Redford as the Sundance Kid, as someone previously compared the film to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. And Paden does not, in my opinion, have romantic feelings for Stella, rather a genuine affection for a person with a similar attitude, and a dislike for the attitude and lifestyle of Hannah, which, as he states, is a hard way of looking at life. I found the writing to be quite good, the cinematography to be excellent, the production design and costumes to be the most authentic I've seen in a western and the editing quite well done. The best part for me was the Paden/Cobb storyline, two men with similar backgrounds and genuine affection for one another that have gone down different paths that make them reluctant enemies. Costner was refreshing as Jake, Glover stoic and determined to protect his family and friends, and show that, yes, there were black cowboys (30% of them by some estimates). Even Scott Glenn, who I usually find to be a bit on the wooden side, puts in a very decent performance. A great many fine actors in supporting roles, my faves being John Cleese and James Gammon. This movie literally had something for everyone and I think that 7/10 is low, though not quite 10/10.
Today, my jurisdiction ends here. Pick up my hat.
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dave-holvey
18 years ago
this film is one of the best films i have ever seen although i can understand why some people think it discrases westerns, it may not be the most serious western film ever but i thought everything about it was good the acting, the story, the cast, the locations and even the soundtrack it all fits in well together.
i give this film a 9/10 i liked it that much.
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angel-magician
18 years ago
This is a most pleasurable romp through the wild west. Of course there is not enough of KCostner to suit me. I would much rather see a lot more of him than all the others put together. I first saw this on tv and then raced out to buy the video. Now have it on DVD and love it. Great western.
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