There are so many technical things wrong with this movie, from the horrible bland washed-over photography that looks like a tv show from the early 1990s, to the poor choice of camera lenses on the wide-angle shots resulting in grainy closeups, to the cheap set design with clothing that doesnt fit the era, to the horrible dialog that also doesn't fit the era, to the limited cast with almost zero extras (Guadalajara, Mexico had more than 50,000 residents at the point in history that this movie is supposed to have taken place, yet there are only about 20 people living there in the movie).... I know that this movie was filmed during Covid so there were many restrictions in place, but if your movie is going to be this horrible "because of Covid" then you just shouldn't make it.
None of this explains why these A-list actors absolutely don't give a crap about filming this movie. They deliver all of their lines like they hate to be alive. The only actors not doing this are the supporting cast and extras.... how sad. Especially from Waltz and Dafoe. I see everyone speaking about Rachel Brosnahan as if she is an A-list actor.... but she is not. She has been in a few completely forgettable movies and then mostly tv episodes (not TV series, just TV episodes). The one thing she did that received compliment is the Marvelous Mrs Maisel, but that doesn't prepare her for a western movie. In this movie she is probably the worst actor, but its a close 3-way tie with Waltz and Dafoe. Benjamin Bratt steals the show, if that can be said about anyone.
The most overrated aspect of this movie is Walter Hill. I don't know what alternate universe we live in, in which Walter Hill is considered some amazing mind-blowingly great director, but he is not. And this movie proves it. He hasn't written anything good since the Aliens franchise, and that's basically the only good thing he produces now as well. His post-Aliens works have been accused of racism and seismic (you really need to look not further than his 2016 film The Assignment, in which gender reassignment surgery is the topic of conversation. But this movie he really throws the woman under the bus and makes her out to be the worst person she could possibly be.... for no reason. Actually we get no reason for anyone or anything.... no backstories, nothing.
Let's be honest... there is only one good thing about this film. Just one. And that is.... the score. Xander Rodzinkski is still rather unknown, but he has done a lot of amazing music. With this movie he is still getting things figured out, but I know his next western will overly impress.
Can anyone tell me why Walter Hill ended the movie by pretending that this was "based on true events"...? So weak. Because its not. There isn't anything to allude to this being based on true events. Because the west was not this bland and boring, that is for sure.
None of this explains why these A-list actors absolutely don't give a crap about filming this movie. They deliver all of their lines like they hate to be alive. The only actors not doing this are the supporting cast and extras.... how sad. Especially from Waltz and Dafoe. I see everyone speaking about Rachel Brosnahan as if she is an A-list actor.... but she is not. She has been in a few completely forgettable movies and then mostly tv episodes (not TV series, just TV episodes). The one thing she did that received compliment is the Marvelous Mrs Maisel, but that doesn't prepare her for a western movie. In this movie she is probably the worst actor, but its a close 3-way tie with Waltz and Dafoe. Benjamin Bratt steals the show, if that can be said about anyone.
The most overrated aspect of this movie is Walter Hill. I don't know what alternate universe we live in, in which Walter Hill is considered some amazing mind-blowingly great director, but he is not. And this movie proves it. He hasn't written anything good since the Aliens franchise, and that's basically the only good thing he produces now as well. His post-Aliens works have been accused of racism and seismic (you really need to look not further than his 2016 film The Assignment, in which gender reassignment surgery is the topic of conversation. But this movie he really throws the woman under the bus and makes her out to be the worst person she could possibly be.... for no reason. Actually we get no reason for anyone or anything.... no backstories, nothing.
Let's be honest... there is only one good thing about this film. Just one. And that is.... the score. Xander Rodzinkski is still rather unknown, but he has done a lot of amazing music. With this movie he is still getting things figured out, but I know his next western will overly impress.
Can anyone tell me why Walter Hill ended the movie by pretending that this was "based on true events"...? So weak. Because its not. There isn't anything to allude to this being based on true events. Because the west was not this bland and boring, that is for sure.