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May 09, 2017LAURA WOLFE GARDENER rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
I highly recommend this film. 1) It depicts circumstances about an event in the history of the Oregon Trail. 2) It has a (nearly) all-star cast, though not necessarily big Hollywood names. 3) Bruce Greenwood is a tremendous veteran actor though he's nearly unrecognizable in this film. I could tell by his eyes, however. I would see anything that he is in. 4) Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan are a real-life power couple and work in some films together, such as this film. They are both actors (and writers, producers) to follow. 5) This film is slow-paced but effectively. One gets a feel for the day-in, day-out slog that would have been the slow progression over uneven terrain during the trek west. In this way, it has a near-Bergmanesque tempo. The film meanders. I'm also reminded of some of the films that Robert Duvall did during the 80s: Stone Boy and some of his 'Westerns'. 6) There are some amazing vistas throughout the film: gorgeous sunsets and wide open expanses of land. 7) I suspect that a lot of people won't have the patience to truly savor this glorious piece of movie-making. Our movie-going culture is used to fast-pace, crash and bang. However, those who allow themselves to slow down are in for a fine film-watching experience. 8) I took off half-a-star because I felt that some of the characters could have been better developed and the actors made better use of.