Category Archives: Cowboy

2016, Action Film, Action Hero, Bloody scenes, Contract Killing, Corruption, Cowboy, Crude Talk, Frontier Life, Gangs, Greed, Horses, Mercenaries, Miners, Murder, Netflix DVD, Police Corruption, Psychopath, Revenge, Small Town, Sociopath, Suspense, Violent, Western

The Magnificent Seven (2016)

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From IMDB:

Seven gunmen in the old west gradually come together to help a poor village against savage thieves.

With the DVD from Netflix you can watch, read, and listen in at least seven different languages.

In 1954 Akira Kurosawa co-wrote, edited, and directed the film “Seven Samurai“.

In 1960 Jul Brynner, Eli Wallach, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson and others starred in the film “The Magnificent Seven“.

In 2016 Antoine Fuqua directed yet another version. This time some of the actors are:

  • Denzel Washington as Chisolm
  • Chris Pratt as Josh Faraday
  • Ethan Hawke as Goodnight Robicheaux
  • Vincent D’Onofrio as Jack Horne
  • Peter Sarsgaard as a “magnificent” sadistic, greedy, sociopath Bartholomew Brogue. In some ways, this part steals the show.

You already know the story: Nasty Brogue kills and terrorizes a small town in order to steal their land and enslave their menfolk for his mine.  One by one Chisolm recruits his band of seven “Samurai” who then have a week in which to prepare for battle against a giant gang of Brogue’s hired guns. During the ensuing battle zillions of people die by gun and knife and arrow (one of the seven is an American Indian). Some of our heroes die (prepare to weep) but needless to say justice prevails. Shucks – you knew there had to be a happy ending somewhere.

Indeed the devil is in the details which are very well done. As I may have mentioned before I am a sucker for plots involving good guys versus bad guys. Such a guilty surge of joy I felt each time a bad guy got shot. Of course, the good guys never missed their shots.

As  kid every Saturday I got an allowance of 30 cents. For 20 cents I could go to the movies which inevitably showed one or two cowboy films. For the remaining 10 cents I went to the Five-and-Dime store, read every comic book but one, namely “Captain Marvel Junior”, which I then purchased. Had they shown this version of “The Magnificent Seven” and had my mother gotten wind of just how violent a film it is, then I would not have been allowed to see the film.

What fun!

 

2012, 2013, 2014, Abduction, Addiction, Alcoholism, American Indian culture, Based on a Book, Bloody scenes, Car Chase, Cowboy, Crime, Divorce, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Drugs, Father-daughter relations, Forensics, Horse story, Love Story, Murder Investigation, Netflix Streaming, Race Relations, Revenge, Stalker, TV Series, Western

Longmire (2012)

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From Netflix:

Based on the Walt Longmire mystery novels by Craig Johnson, this contemporary crime thriller focuses on a Wyoming sheriff who’s rebuilding his life and career following the death of his wife.

First review was for Seasons 1-4. See below for later seasons.

IMDB offers a better summary:

Walt Longmire is the charismatic, dedicated and unflappable sheriff of Absaroka County. Widowed only a year, Longmire is a man in psychic repair that buries his pain behind a brave face and dry wit. Struggling since his wife’s death and at the urging of his daughter, Cady, Longmire knows that the time has come to turn his life around. With the help of Vic, a female deputy new to the department, he becomes reinvigorated about his job and committed to running for re-election. When Branch, an ambitious, young deputy decides to run against him for sheriff, Longmire feels betrayed but remains steadfast in his dedication to the community. Longmire often turns to close friend and confidant Henry Standing Bear for support as he sets out to rebuild both his personal and professional life, one step at a time.

“Longmire” is available on disc or streamed from Netflix. There are three seasons: Season 1 offers 10 episodes. Season 2 offers 13 episodes, and Season 3 offers 10 episodes. Seasons 3 and 4 can now be streamed from NetFlix.

Seasons 3 and 4 both end with serious cliff-hangers. Stay tuned for season 5.

Once you start down the “Longmire” path you will almost certainly be hooked. Running throughout the series are themes such as the murder of the wife of sheriff Walt (Robert Taylor), his relation with his daughter Cady (Cassidy Freeman), his friendly rivalry with his deputy Branch (Bailey Chase), and the antagonism between the white men and the nearby Cheyenne reservation.

Plot lines, scripts, acting, and local color are all excellent. Of course there is violence and a small bit of gore (headless horse, anyone?), but after all this is a “modern” Western. Only Walt is the Luddite who refuses to own a cellphone.

You won’t be sorry, DO NOT MISS!

SEASON 6:

Season 6 has 10 episodes, each running between 60 and 70 minutes.

There are two parts to this season:

Part 2 involves several topics:  tracking down heroin dealers targeting the the Indian reservation which involves Jacob Nighthorse and  Malachi Strand;  Sheriff’s assistant Victoria ‘Vic’ Moretti must face up to her father; Walt’s daughter Cady runs into trouble with the tribe and finds a love interest;  Sheriff’s assistant The Ferg has challenges with a bank robber and romance;  Henry Standing Bear plays a major part.

2012, Cowboy, Gangs, Mayhem, Nudity, Quentin Tarantino, Race Relations, Revenge, Sadism, Satirical ultra-violence, Slavery, Torture, Violent, Western

Django Unchained (2012)

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From NetFlix:

Accompanied by a German bounty hunter, a freed slave named Django travels across America to free his wife from a sadistic plantation owner. Quentin Tarantino directs this modern-day spaghetti Western.

Excuse the horrible pun, but this film is just too black and white. At least you know who the bad guys are (hint: they are white). However, there is at least one bad black guy Samuel L. Jackson (who plays the black-hating black house master). Today in public life we still have blacks who hate blacks (hint: think Supreme Court).

As usual violence is spelled “Quentin Tarantino”. During the entire film Django never misses a shot and each shot produces something like a giant tomato exploding. Additionally the dynamite is lots of fun. By the end not one white man or woman has survived.

Even the satire is not so subtle. There is a somewhat funny scene involving KKK sheets reduced to unsuccessful white hoods. In Candyland the white women are obvious stereotypes.

Just 165 fun minutes of exploding body parts.

2010, Cowboy, Crime, Crude Talk, Dysfunctional Lives, Explicit sex, Frenetic, Grim, Motorcycles, Nudity, Plot Twist, Revenge, Suspense, Trailer Life, Violent, Vulgar, Wonderful acting

Killer Joe (2011)

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From NetFlix:

Dimwitted drug dealer Chris hires Killer Joe to ice his mother for her insurance. But Chris is broke, so Joe demands his sister Dottie as collateral. Dottie’s not about to be treated as chattel, and Killer Joe soon wishes he’d never taken the job.

Is it my imagination or are films getting more violent and more sexually explicit as the years go by? If sex and violence offend or disturb you, do NOT see this film.

Having warned you about the pitfalls, nonetheless this is a very well-made film that held my attention. Beginning with an introduction to a trailer trash environment, morality continues to take a downward spin. Even the premise that Chris sees nothing wrong in hiring Matthew McConaughey to kill Chris’ hated real mother (and his step-mother is no prize either) shocked me.

Every character looks a bit worse for wear except Matthew McConaughey as Killer Joe and Juno Temple as Chris’ 12-year-old sister Dottie. Chris’ father is played by Thomas Haden Church who has been appearing in films since his parts in the TV series “Wings” and “Cheers”.

Acting is excellent with special mention for Killer Joe and Dottie.

McConaughey is a well-dressed (when he isn’t stark naked), smooth talking hired assassin cleverly disguised as a sheriff. WARNING: There are several scenes in which McConaughey vividly acts out sexual arousal (lusting for Dottie or humiliating Gina Gershon who is Chris’ wicked stepmother) and at one point reaches orgasm. His acting in these scenes is perfection itself but could be very disturbing.

Juno Temple as the 12-year-old Dottie also plays her part to perfection. She is a naive girl who hates the trailer life and desperately wants to escape. Her opportunity arrives in the person of Killer Joe who takes her as his sex partner as payment for killing Chris’ mother. Yes, this is a grim plot.

Be prepared for plot twists and a surprising end. You might send me a comment about that ending.

There must be something wrong with me because I could not stop watching.

1999, Corny, Cowboy, Fantasy, Gangs, Mediocre, Religious Theme, Supernatural

Purgatory (1999)

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From NetFlix:

Big guns Eric Roberts, Sam Shepard, Donnie Wahlberg and Randy Quaid star in this offbeat Western, in which a band of rowdy outlaws ride into the town of Refuge, a settlement where no one carries a gun, there’s no jail, and swearing is not allowed. The desperadoes hatch a plan to take over the nonviolent town, only to discover they’re up against the legendary — and long since dead — Wild Bill Hickok, Jesse James and Doc Holliday.

Aw shucks, just give it a B and watch the shoot-out. It may take you just a short while to figure out just what the town of Refuge is really about (Hint: consider the film title).

Sam Shepard is Wild Bill Hickock. Eric Roberts is a really nasty Blackjack Britten. Randy Quaid is Doc Holiday. Donnie Wahlberg (who plays a detective in many of the “Saw I-II-III-IV” films [and no, I have never seen a Saw film]) is Billy the Kid.

If you want to see some really ugly villains, this is the film for you. However in the final analysis this film does not merit your full attention.

2011, Acceptable for children, Acceptable Trash, Cowboy, Mayhem, Sci-Fi

Cowboys and Aliens (2011)

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From NetFlix:

Scott Mitchell Rosenberg’s graphic novel series leaps to the screen as amnesiac gunslinger Jake Lonergan (Daniel Craig) stumbles into the Wild West town of Absolution, where he’s confronted by potent enemy Col. Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford) and a terrifying problem: invading aliens. Aided by the lovely Ella (Olivia Wilde), Jake rallies a posse of the townspeople, Dolarhyde’s minions and local Apache warriors to fight off the extraterrestrial threat.

While flying us to London British Airways showed this film. Acceptable trash such as this is just fine for an unthinking air flight where the best outcome might be going to sleep.

Daniel Craig should stick to better films such as Defiance (2008). Maybe he is tired of being James Bond.

Harrison Ford was 69 years old for the filming. For me he will always be Indiana Jones.

Kids will love it!

1969, Acceptable for children, Cowboy, Gangs, Old-Fashioned, Revenge, Violent, Western

True Grit (1969)

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From NetFlix:

John Wayne landed one of his last great screen roles as crusty lawman Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn, who reluctantly helps teenager Mattie Ross (Kim Darby) pursue her father’s killer. True Grit is more a character study than many of Wayne’s formulaic Westerns. The rousing final showdown between Wayne and the villains adds to the Duke’s long list of outstanding movie moments.

After seeing the 2010 version with Jeff Bridges I wanted to compare the two versions. By and large the two stories are the same with some differences:

  • Instead of the formal, flowery, exaggerated speech patterns of 2010, the language in 1969 is more down to earth.
  • In 1969 Mattie Ross is immediately attracted to La Boeuf played by Glen Cambell. Sad to think that now Glen Cambell suffers from Alzheimer’s disease.
  • There are boarding house scenes in 1969 missing from 2010
  • The endings are very different in 2010 Mattie Ross is a dried up old maid come to claim Rooster’s body. In 1969 the film ends with Rooster and Mattie looking at the family burial site that Mattie has prepared for her family, including herself. She then invites Rooster to be buried there as well, seeing as how he has no one else. Our hero then jumps on his horse “strong enough to jump a four rail fence” and rides off after jumping a four rail fence. This was truly an “aw shucks” moment in history.

Given the energy I will try to get a copy of the book by Charles Portis to at least learn just how the characters did speak. Still, writing is not speaking and I wonder if we can ever know how Americans spoke in our early history.

2010, Could be boring, Cowboy, Revenge, Western

True Grit (2010)

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From NetFlix:

After drifter Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin) murders her father, 14-year-old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) hires alcoholic U.S. Marshal Reuben “Rooster” Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) to help her exact revenge. The disreputable lawman still has grit, though, and mounts an epic search. Joining the duo on their quest is a Texas Ranger (Matt Damon) who’s also hunting for Chaney in this updated Western that received multiple Oscar nods, including Best Picture.

This “True Grit” is the third that I can find where the two other versions were made in 1969 and 1978. Probably I should revisit one of those older versions because this 2010 version is almost boring.

Quaint language might be fun to listen to. But I wonder if anyone ever in the history of the United States ever really spoke like that.

Jeff Bridges offers an eccentric character whereas Matt Damon just plods. Probably there are many 14 year old girls who could read the lines just as well as Hailee Steinfeld. Josh Brolin is a credible Tom Chaney. Sorry, but there is just nothing special about the acting.

Moreover, the sequence of events is just that, without offering any tangible suspense. Even the violence seemed pro forma. And the ending seemed pointless.

Have I missed something ? Try an older version.

1964, Cowboy, Old-Fashioned, Revenge, Violent, Western

A Fistful of Dollars (1964)

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From NetFlix:

The first film in director Sergio Leone and star Clint Eastwood’s “Man with No Name” trilogy finds a world-weary gunman in a town torn apart by warring gangs. He agrees to work for both sides, ultimately pitting the two factions against each other. Marianne Koch and Gian Maria Volontè co-star in this groundbreaking Western, inspired by filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s classic Yojimbo and featuring a famous score by Ennio Morricone.

47 years ago, when Clint Eastwood was 34 years old, this historical spaghetti western made quite a splash. And to think that today Clint Eastwood is still going strong as an actor and director.

When the film begins, the lines delivered by the Mexican bell-ringer are very stilted and I was tempted to stop watching. But there is still something very watchable in this film. Could it be the violence ? At one point Clint gets beaten to a pulp by those nasty villains who laugh menacingly while they do it. Probably the fun of the film is watching both the American and Mexican gangs being wiped out slowly but surely. That Clint sure knows a lot of neat tricks!

Sex is not an issue and is, in fact, very chaste and traditional. Our Clint will surely help a beautiful damsel in distress and at the mercy of that villainous Ramón.

Call it a film history lesson or whatever, but I had fun watching!

2010, Conspiracy, Could Be Hard To Watch, Cowboy, Dark, DO NOT MISS, Grim, Plot Twist, Revenge, Suspense, Violent, Western, Wonderful acting

Red Hill (2010)

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From NetFlix:

After being shot on duty, police officer Shane Cooper (Ryan Kwanten) moves with his pregnant wife to the quiet Outback town of Red Hill, where surly sheriff Old Bill (Steve Bisley) is downright unfriendly and Shane’s first day on the job turns into the worst day of his life. When killer Jimmy Conway (Tommy Lewis) escapes from jail and heads for Red Hill, the police try to track the skilled hunter, and Shane soon realizes something is very wrong.

Not a detail is out of place in this suspenseful and violent Australian cowboy sheriff film about an aborigine escaped from prison and intent on killing every single lawman in the dying town of Red Hill.

Ryan Kwanten is the only actor I will remember from this film and he was terrific. Those of you with vampire tastes will recall that Ryan Kwanten was the irrepressible Jason Stockhouse in the TV series True Blood (2008). His tender scenes with his very pregnant wife are touching. My only objection is that he is physically a bit too much of a superman, overcoming all obstacles while severely wounded. But don’t let that stop you from watching.

How dull: aborigine escapes and shoots a lot of people. Not at all ! First this killer’s hunting (he can smell his intended victims) and shooting skills and his amazingly clever instincts make him a formidable enemy. HOWEVER, the plot has an amazing and very emotional twist that holds you to the end.

In my book, this violent film is an Australian masterpiece. Don’t miss it!