Turn of the century western of Americana

Rating: 7/10 (14 February 2008)

This is quite an excellent film. Anthony Hopkins anchors a fine cast to the tarmac of the Montana pre-world-war I countryside with an epic fatherly performance as Colonel William Ludlow. Ludlow has 3 sons, who are raised to be real men sometime before, during, and after the first world war on a ranch somewhere in Montana. Aidan Quinn plays his eldest son, Alfred, and gives a stirring performance. All 3 sons (the other 2, played by Brad Pitt and Henry Thomas) have an affair with the same woman (played ably by Julia Ormond) at some point during the picture. Brad Pitt, as Tristan Ludlow, the 2nd in line, is wild at heart, but ably seems to underline the emotional familial texture of the film. His performance is pretty good, though his 20th century modern style is sometimes too apparent (IMO). The movie is a tad long and drawn out, and takes the viewer through a series of tragedies. Tears will fall from the watching of this one. The musical score bothered me some for it's melodramatic stylizing, but the cinematography was among the best ever put upon the screen in capturing the beauty and wonder of the Rocky mountain scenery. The storyline is very well developed, engendering pathos and energy throughout. Give kudos to director Edward Zwick for this movie. For it's length (almost 3 hours) he holds it all together quite capably.