From the first panoramic scene of galloping horses over the verdant steppes of Wyoming (well its filmed in Canada), I knew this film held promise and it did not disappoints. Deliberately paced, patient personal studies and sufficient screen times between the lead characters builds a believable, human story out of the wild west. Thanks to another insightful poster, this film neither glamorizes nor caricaturizes the western experience and in so doing made many of the other westerns less real now. Pullman does nice job of directing and acting too. Diane Lane delivered the staid school teacher from the North character perfectly. Strong supporting cast especially the Judge. Agree with another poster, the ending ***SPOILER*** would have been more poignant had it ended with Pullman accepting the loss of his love and living with the adjudication that he had defended his personal honour in a way a man was supposed to in those days.
Review of The Virginian
