Spellbinding

Rating: 9/10 (12 August 2010)

This is not a sappy chick flick whatsoever like the poster seems to indicate. Its viewpoint is decidedly masculine. A family saga with many dimensions and profound themes. Love, death, jealousy, revenge and redemption. Filled with melodrama and tragedy, this sweeping epic set in early 1900's Montana is at it's core a soap opera for guys, a tremendously dark journey both beautiful and brutal. Big sky country meets father/ son issues. A bold and masterful James Horner score wrenches your senses throughout. There is no doubt that we are all splintered souls. Herein lies the haunting echoes of Cain and Abel and a brother's broken bond. And what exactly is behind a father favoring his wayward son? Warning: this motion picture is too strong for children. How quickly life passes us, almost unnoticed, and how things taken for granted disappear before we even have a chance to glimpse their presence as they melt away. A strong Native American theme underscores this film, hinting at our inner mystical voice. This movie is nothing less than a spellbinding feast for the soul. There's something very special here. Be prepared for unforgettable buttons to be pushed.