Review of Legends of the Fall (1994) by Filipeneto — 27 Jun 2018

This film tells the story of the lives of Colonel Ludlow and his three children (Alfred, Samuel and Tristan) in the prairies. Marked by passions and conflicts, their lives are intertwined with one women for whom the three brothers fall in love (although they don't engage her at the same time, obviously).

The film was thought of as a romantic drama of epic proportions and the script, in fact, exaggerates in sentimental appeals in addition to being overly ambitious. The use of big landscape plans, despite being a very attractive cinematography feature and giving the film a more accentuated elegance and beauty, further reinforces this addictive and almost senseless sentimentality, that permeates the entire film, not to mention the soundtrack.

The soundtrack is beautiful, but it was used as a permanent romantic leitmotiv and it ends up wearing it and wearing down the public as well. Edward Zwick may now be famous but, when he directed this film, he had no experience with filmmaking, having limited himself to making some mild comedy movies for TV market.

This inexperience and willingness to show off in the cinema are probably the origin of such a great film, so epic, so dramatic and so unbearably mushy. I must even mention the quality work developed by Anthony Hopkins (a veteran who shines in the role of the old colonel, as expected) and Brad Pitt, who performs regularly in the role of Tristan, the rebellious son, even if the latter actor cannot survive the wave of sentimentality and have his character transformed into a out-of-time romantic hero, eternally in conflict with the world around him.

Either way, it's a watchable movie, especially for couples on Valentine's Day or on similar moments.