Review of Meek's Cutoff (2011) by Hm F — 04 Jun 2011
Methodically paced-period piece rallies against the conventions of the Western and offers a very gritty take on the wagons-west tale. The movie weaves a hypnotic spell over its viewers with its slow pace that illustrates the minutia of this type of journey.
The beauty barren landscape is sadly not on display in a super wide format, but one feels a close intimacy with the characters on screen with the 1.33 : 1 format. You literally feel like you're peeking through a window looking into the past.
The cast is excellent, especially Patton, Williams and Bruce Greenwood in Wild Bill garb and ego to match. Any weariness with the pace of the film will either pay off or frustrate you once you arrive at the end of the film where it is Meek's Cutoff indeed.
The compelling image of the half-dead, half living tree is otherworldly after the desolation of the rest of the movie. The film offers few answers for the conventional movie lover, but the meaning of its litmus test finale has more to do with you the viewer then the movie makers themselves.
This review of Meek's Cutoff (2011) was written by Hm F on 04 Jun 2011.
Meek's Cutoff has generally received positive reviews.
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