Rating of
3/4
Madness and Mercy on the Plains
Chris Kavan - wrote on 02/11/15
Westerns, by their nature, are a tough sell for me. With a few exceptions, I'm usually left either bored or disappointed. The Homesman, however, is a western of a different sort. The main reason I was interested in this is that the setting is in my home state of Nebraska (though it looks like most of the film was shot in New Mexico). Back when it was known of Nebraska Territory - and it shows the dangers of the west don't always come from people on "Most Wanted" posters.
In a very small town, a trio of women (Grace Gummer, Miranda Otto and Sonja Richter) have fallen into various states of madness - depression, loss, abuse - it has pushed them all over the edge. The three are to be sent from the Nebraska Territory to Iowa (a journey of about five weeks) but the men of the town, presented as weak-willed and uncaring, aren't that willing to take the trip. Step in Mary Bee Cuddy (HIlary Swank), an unmarried yet a woman of strong (some may say too strong for the times), who takes on the task herself. She finds an somewhat willing companion in claim jumper George Briggs (Tommy Lee Jones), who is set to hang, but she saves him on condition he accompany her on this very dangerous journey. Also, the $300 he's promised helps cement the issue.
Thus, instead of a traditional western, we get a road-trip of a different sort. The emotional impact comes from how these characters (try to) connect. Loneliness is pervasive - in this dusty, barren landscape you need human contact and some decent human kindness. Much of the movie revolves around how we treat our fellow man - a run-in with a group of Pawnee, being denied access to a hotel and and a hunter looking for new prey - the few encounters with fellow humans outside their own group shows that mankind has many faces, and when you don't treat people with respect, it comes back around. Likewise, a major twist towards the end was unexpected and one of the most emotional moments on this journey.
Jones, who not only stars in the film, but also wrote, directed and produced - shows that he has as much talent behind the camera as in front of it. His character is not presented in the best light. Briggs is a man of few words, and is not driven by the good graces of his heart, but money. Granted, he may slightly change his tune, but even in the end, he's still the same man he was at the start. This is not a film with a lot of action - but you will surely feel the impact - there are a lot of scenes that will linger long after the film ends.
The supporting cast is likewise very strong - James Spader, John Lithgow, William Fichtner, Barry Corbin, Hailee Steinfeld, Tim Blake Nelson and the incomparable Meryl Streep all show up in small roles that leave big impressions. Besides the cast, the one thing that stands out is the excellent cinematography. Long shots of the dusty plains (once again, no actually Nebraska - but, hey, a pretty good representation none-the-less), sunsets and snow - it's beautifully shot. The music is also quite well done - utilizing some period-era songs, while also having a nuanced but evocative score.
In the end, The Homesman may be billed as a western, but it goes much deeper than I was expecting. With some fantastic performances, this certainly is one of the top moments in Jones' career and even if you avoid westerns, I would still recommend this one.
