I am usually skeptical of industry hype, but this wonderful frontier indie is as every critic said- easily the best film of 2020 (as of July). It is a story of rising up when circumstances conspire to keep you down. It is a story of ingenuity and downfall from greed. It is a bromance for the ages.
Pacing is slower than necessary, but no more than one would expect from a Studio A24 production. You can fast forward through the first few minutes and not miss anything, but I enjoyed wondering why there was a modern ship passing through a movie about 1800's Oregon.
Audiences who appreciate cinematography and leisurely strolls through the lives and struggles of 1800's settlers will be entertained. Those expecting modern pacing, shootouts, and explosions will be sorely disappointed.
I am glad there wasn't much swearing or overt racism except for the scene where everyone stared in disbelief that King dared to talk to the Factor. Every character is a lovely shade of gray. I wanted everyone to wash their dirty hands while eating, but germ theory was still 50 years out.
A few caveats- this is shot in letterbox and is nowhere near 4K resolution. The story is predictable, and the main characters make some very dumb decisions. You have to be in the mood for darkness, both literal and creative. This isn't a Disney movie as you will realize within the first 5 minutes.
Pacing is slower than necessary, but no more than one would expect from a Studio A24 production. You can fast forward through the first few minutes and not miss anything, but I enjoyed wondering why there was a modern ship passing through a movie about 1800's Oregon.
Audiences who appreciate cinematography and leisurely strolls through the lives and struggles of 1800's settlers will be entertained. Those expecting modern pacing, shootouts, and explosions will be sorely disappointed.
I am glad there wasn't much swearing or overt racism except for the scene where everyone stared in disbelief that King dared to talk to the Factor. Every character is a lovely shade of gray. I wanted everyone to wash their dirty hands while eating, but germ theory was still 50 years out.
A few caveats- this is shot in letterbox and is nowhere near 4K resolution. The story is predictable, and the main characters make some very dumb decisions. You have to be in the mood for darkness, both literal and creative. This isn't a Disney movie as you will realize within the first 5 minutes.