Falls just shy of its full potential, but I liked it anyway. This is one of "most fun" westerns I've seen of late, and I say that because it is quite different than the usual shoot-'em-up. It kept my attention throughout, not an easy task for most movies of late.
Sure, there's lots of bodies dropping like flies and some truly annoying "Just shoot him!" and "Why didn't you take that dead guy's gun?" moments, but this movie keeps you guessing as to who will be the next to turn up their toes. At one point during all the ranting about the money, I thought of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. (Wrong country, I know.)
At first it appeared that the premise of Mo trying to pass as a man was asking for too much suspension of disbelief. There seemed to be a lot of "giveaways" that I thought all the cowboys should be noticing. No chin stubble, no hints of a mustache? No Adam's apple? (Okay. Some guys don't have one, granted.) Those lovely slender hands?
But then I realized that, five years after The Civil War, when all this takes place ----- people of color were still considered "lesser than." Along with, say, waitpersons and luggage delivery technicians; persons no one seems to take particular notice of 99% of the time. Also, Mo's disguise actually worked pretty well, seeing as how her figure comes across as quite boyish to begin with. Carrying a firearm would certainly make her seem to register as masculine, at any rate.
Other reviews have, rightfully, waxed rhapsodic about the cinematography, the musical score, the actors and their performances. Yes. I agree on all counts. The writing sometimes seemed a bit lackluster, but it certainly wasn't bad. I rather enjoyed the majority of it.
Jamie Bell is a most excellent actor. I never thought of him as a Jesse James or Billy the Kid type, but he does a bang-up job here. Certainly steals every scene he's in. Admirable and enthralling performance in this film.
Nice role for Donovan, too. He's such a cool character, a class act all the way.
I was super surprised to see one of my all-time favorite actors appear on the scene: Michael Kenneth Williams. (If you haven't seen him in "Hap and Leonard," *please* give that series a go.) RIP Mr. Williams. It was strange to see you in a "new" movie, and makes my heart hurt --- but immensely happy to see you, just the same. You are missed.
Sure, there's lots of bodies dropping like flies and some truly annoying "Just shoot him!" and "Why didn't you take that dead guy's gun?" moments, but this movie keeps you guessing as to who will be the next to turn up their toes. At one point during all the ranting about the money, I thought of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. (Wrong country, I know.)
At first it appeared that the premise of Mo trying to pass as a man was asking for too much suspension of disbelief. There seemed to be a lot of "giveaways" that I thought all the cowboys should be noticing. No chin stubble, no hints of a mustache? No Adam's apple? (Okay. Some guys don't have one, granted.) Those lovely slender hands?
But then I realized that, five years after The Civil War, when all this takes place ----- people of color were still considered "lesser than." Along with, say, waitpersons and luggage delivery technicians; persons no one seems to take particular notice of 99% of the time. Also, Mo's disguise actually worked pretty well, seeing as how her figure comes across as quite boyish to begin with. Carrying a firearm would certainly make her seem to register as masculine, at any rate.
Other reviews have, rightfully, waxed rhapsodic about the cinematography, the musical score, the actors and their performances. Yes. I agree on all counts. The writing sometimes seemed a bit lackluster, but it certainly wasn't bad. I rather enjoyed the majority of it.
Jamie Bell is a most excellent actor. I never thought of him as a Jesse James or Billy the Kid type, but he does a bang-up job here. Certainly steals every scene he's in. Admirable and enthralling performance in this film.
Nice role for Donovan, too. He's such a cool character, a class act all the way.
I was super surprised to see one of my all-time favorite actors appear on the scene: Michael Kenneth Williams. (If you haven't seen him in "Hap and Leonard," *please* give that series a go.) RIP Mr. Williams. It was strange to see you in a "new" movie, and makes my heart hurt --- but immensely happy to see you, just the same. You are missed.