Incredible story ruined in this abysmal movie

Rating: 2/10 (26 June 2007)

What's bad? Perhaps no one thing. A combo maybe: The overall feel is a cheap Disney made-for-TV job where little Amanda learns that it's wrong to lie when she tells an untruth about the hired man, who later turns out to be gentle with horses and has saved money for his pregnant sister.
The screenplay is like something from Lifetime: stilted, badly paced, bitingly obvious, dull.
Direction: several major scenes build up to a climax (yup, it's drama). You see it happening but when you get there, it's flat. Selleck Westerns have more intensity. Ron Howard has more depth.
Soundtrack: My favorite. Much like one of those god-awful Ford Westerns where heavy strings help you see the grandeur of the vast plain (or John Wayne's impending gunfight). Here it comes in at the smallest scene. Say, to watch the brothers walk around and look at each other as they leave for war.
Casting was my real favorite: Pitt is the rough and tough woodsman who was taught by the Indians. He has long hair and that pretty Brad Pitt face - but now and then they smear some blood on him for realism. Otherwise it's like watching Natalie Wood with her Prom Queen makeup in The Searchers.
Special effects: On a par with a low-budget middle-European film: there's a shot, pause, a soldier clutches his chest, pause, he flies backwards from the impact. Watch the shootout in the penultimate scene at the ranch Aiden Quinn is the practical business guy/ politician who strives for dad's love. Henry Thomas is a wimpy non-entity 3rd brother. Julia Ormond is the love interest from Boston w/ a Brit accent. She gives great camera stare.
At the very least, it would be a better movie if Pitt & Quinn switched roles. Quinn is a good actor and can show a hard edge. Pitt is OK but likes to smile and look pretty more than be a bad guy.
Oh, Anthony Hopkins. One of the finest working actors. He's not bad in this. He never is bad. But this is a nothing role.
No problem if you find you're not following the story. It's narrated by the old and faithful Indian friend.
The narration is unpredictable so you need to get tough and FF without worrying about it.
To recap: bad script, bad direction, childish special effects, horrible miscasting, dull and unnecessary narration, painful soundtrack.