This dark western epic was written and directed by Ed Harris. Harris also starred in this film alongside Viggo Mortensen, Jeremy Irons, and Renee Zellweger.
The story focuses on two friends who hire on with a local community to protect them from Randall Bragg (Irons) and his band of outlaw cowboys. Cole (Harris) and Hitch (Mortensen) make it clear that they're not in town to arrest anyone as they blast away at anyone who crosses the line. Things become more complicated as Harris falls for a flighty young widow named Allison French (Zellweger). She becomes a weakness for Harris as he continues to do battle with Bragg and his men. The film has a clear villain but a flawed hero making it a darker film than many westerns.
The films has a good story but falls short in execution. I would place a large amount of the blame on Zellweger who might have given the weakest performance of her career in this movie. She leaves me frustrated by her poor speech throughout the film. Harris also seemed a bit out of his element, although he managed to play his role well. The highlights of this film come from Irons who delivers an excellent performance as the twisted and deadly Randall Bragg. Mortensen is also excellent in his portrayal of the quiet sidekick.
Harris did the majority of the writing alongside Robert Knott and at times the dialogue seems as though they both wrote different scenes. In total I think that the film was a worthwhile watch that requires some patience. The pace can be slow at times but the cinematography and soundtrack are great to experience. I wouldn't rush out to watch this film, but it's worth a watch on TV or perhaps a quick rental.
I would rate this film a 3.1 out of 5 stars.
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