Much Over rated

Rating: 5/10 (25 October 2007)

At 160 minutes this glacially-paced film is at least 35 minutes too long. It's THE talkiest period western since "Ride the High Country" in the 1950s. WAAAY too much character development and not nearly enough gunplay. However, it has good period shootin' irons and leather, and sets the stage in Missourah. Not up to the standard of "Ride w/the Devil" but OK. Not enough Pounding Hooves, either, and hardly any Sweeping Vistas.
Several reviews laud the cinematography. I admit: I do not get it. The camera work is OK, but much of the story occurs in the bleary drearidom of winter.
Writing: the prologue is first rate. Some of the subsequent narration is pretty good.
Casting: good to excellent, especially the 2nd tier players who really do look/act low IQ, Ferrell types. As we might expect, James carville is perfect as a sleazy politician (!) and I've not seen Michael Parks since "Then Came Bronson."
Bottom line: if you see one western this year, miss this and catch the 3:10 to Yuma!