Review of Quigley Down Under (1990) by Ben L — 12 Apr 2015

I'm pretty sure that if you ever asked me in my younger years if I liked Westerns I would have said "no way." However when it comes to films like Quigley Down Under I realize my Dad was indoctrinating me from a young age to like Westerns anyways. This is one of the films that he had me watch and I still like it to this day. What sets this one apart from others in the genre is that they move the action to the Australian outback. However in every way it seems to follow a traditional old west formula. Tom Selleck plays an expert long-range marksman who arrives in Australia to apply for a job working for Alan Rickman (a wealthy land owner.) However their relationship doesn't start out well when Selleck discovers Rickman wants his skills in order to help kill Aborigines. I like how they have equated the plight of native Australians with that of native Americans, despite the fact that you can tell they've simplified and Hollywood-ized the situation a bit. It's also worth noting that they never show the Aborigines having a moment of strength where they fight for their own cause, Quigley basically becomes their only hope of salvation in this film. But if you can get past that kind of stuff the story is an entertaining one.

I think Tom Selleck is great in the lead role. He should have done more Westerns, because his look and personality work well for that genre. Alan Rickman naturally plays a delightful villain. His distinguished accent and mannerisms are an excellent counterpoint to Selleck. Laura San Giacomo is the love interest, who's a bit off her rocker. I like how they slowly reveal her story and it's nice to see that, as we learn more about her, she becomes less annoying and more sympathetic. That's never an easy transition to make. The story is well crafted and I can never get enough of Quigley making those long shots with his rifle. There's almost something superhuman about his skill and it gives him a more powerful aura. Matthew Quigley is the kind of character I love seeing in films, the hero who fights with honor and only kills those who threaten the lives of others. The final showdown between the 2 lead characters is excellent and has a nice little twist that, while you might expect it, fits perfectly with the personality of the characters. I can't guarantee you'll love this movie, but it works well for me and is one that I can watch any time.