Review of Jeremiah Johnson (1972) by Julius C — 26 Aug 2010

Why has not the man responsible for making this film what it was not done another of its genre? John Milius gave this film a tone and blueprint which has made it immortal. More than anyone attached with the film his presence is seen in its fruition. Why has not Milius, who so loved the film "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" and who recognized Leone's immortal work long before Americans knew it existed, why has not Milius done his own effort in this genre? I admire John's work, and when I think about this - it disappoints me. Great monologues from interesting characters, little dialogue from Jeremiah himself, making him more interesting. The Leone movies had the characters who were already myths, here Milius crafts a man becoming a myth. I love it.

I grew up in the great Rocky Mountains of the west. The only thing other than news or sports that would ever require the television set to be on would be a western. This one was my old man's favorite, so I had a good diet of it. There were many western films that I had a steady dose of. I love John Wayne who was larger than life, which made the bad films he was in watchable, the good films he was in great, and the greats... immortal. But as the westerns became more modern, their value would dip... I called them coastals, defined as Westerns made by people from New York or California who understood nothing of the genre and loved everything. This might have been the last great American made western. The few westerns made recently are enjoyed more for their novelty than their ability. There is no Duke to play the part anymore, the western went the way of the dodo with his passing. The Coen's are making the effort to revive it with True Grit, and while I suspect it will be a better movie than its predecessor, I fear it will be less magical. Still, I hope it draws audiences to appreciate the genre, and who better than Milius to capitalize on a moving public sentiment than to finally do a film in a genre for what should have already been his legacy... dammit John.