A new Western you might enjoy: "Bone Tomahawk"
Wife and I streamed a Western made this year that went straight to DVD called "Bone Tomahawk." You'll have to search for it -- think we found it through Amazon Prime -- but it's worth a look.
This is another Western with Kurt Russell playing the lead, and he does a good job with it. "Bone Tomahawk" is a rescue-journey-into-the-heart-of-darkness story, as the sheriff of a small town and three other local citizens ride off to find a deputy and the wife of one of the searchers, who have been kidnapped by savages.
I say "savages" advisedly, for as the Native American resident of the town tells the group, "these will look to you like Indians, but they are not." They are remnant tribe of cave dwellers in the nearby mountains, renowned and feared for their violence, inability to communicate except through haunting, guttural screams, and worst of all, cannibalism.
Most of the movie is what you might call traditional Western, with the characterizations of the four men explored in great scriptwriting as they journey toward the lair of the savages, encountering almost crushing defeats along the way. The final encounter with their quarry is action-filled and at times gruesome, and though the film ends predictably it is satisfying nevertheless.
Watch especially for the performance of Richard Jenkins as "Chicory," an old man and "back-up deputy," who gives the group a heart, soul, and conscience. Russell's performance is solid as well, and the director (who is new to Westerns), includes some John Ford scene-making and also some understated references to other films I'm sure you'll recognize.
Four stars out of five, and it's good to see another Western coming out of Hollywood, even if this one didn't make it to the theaters after having a run at some of the local film festivals here and abroad.
__________________
Ukraine -- now more than ever
|