Tierra Brava

Reviewed May 2011

It is as real as a movie can get but as boring too. It sets the tense mood and the look of the period perfectly and the discomfort the characters feel with their situation is easily connecting.

In 1845, a group of settlers looking for a place sets out to cross the desert acquiring help from a Stephen Meek. Well into their journey, they realize they might be lost. Not too keen on confronting Mr. Meek, they play along the route he takes them. Once the water runs out and with no idea of the next source, the inherent character of each traveler starts to show. To add to the drama, they catch and hold a stalking Indian as a prisoner. Unsure of his intentions, the group is in a dilemma either to kill him or seek help from him.

It starts quite leisurely setting the foundation for the rest of the movie. It glances through the routine of each person as well as introduces them. The pace hardly picks up as it move excruciatingly slow for the rest of the movie. Though it is intentional, it seems a content worth for 30 minutes is dragged to a feature length. Watch it only if you have nothing else better to do. The performances are decent from most and Michelle Williams characteristics reminds a bit of Evangeline Lily from Lost.

You might find some interesting things along the way but they are very few and very far.

"Is he ignorant, or is he just plain evil?" Three families decide to start a new life in 1845 Oregon. They hire master guide Meek (Greenwood) to lead them along the Oregon Trail. When a shortcut turns out to become dangerous Emily (Williams) begins to openly question his abilities. This is one of the rare westerns that have been released in the last 10 years. A good one, almost a great one. While this movie does have it's slow moments the scenery and acting (an all star cast) more then make up for it. This is one of the independent movies that I talk about when i say that big budget movies that are crap get more publicity then the little ones that need it, and are 1,000,000 times better. This movie also has two of my favorite underrated actors in it, Bruce Greenwood (in an Oscar caliber role) and Will Patton. This is one great movie. Overall, not only one of the best westerns in the last 10 years, but one of the best movies period. Watch this, it's awesome. I give it an A-

Would I watch again? - Probably

What shines; There are a lot of interesting tricks pulled by the director that you haven't seen before. At times I was very shocked and amazed at the reality of what these people went through on the Oregon Trial.

What blinds; One word. Slow. besides that your not going to find any happy or eccentrically gay characters here. The characters are pretty basic but Michell Williams and Will Patton are enjoyable along with the rest of the cast.

I gave this film a 9. The average American won't agree but if you're in to artistic movies, good acting, and nice aura based movies you will enjoy this.

I always enjoy this style film which is similar to There Will Be Blood and No Country for Old Men.

Sum= A MOVIE YOU WILL THINK ABOUT FOR DAYS.

It's 1845 Oregon. Three families Tetherows (Michelle Williams, Will Patton), Gatelys (Zoe Kazan, Paul Dano), and Whites (Shirley Henderson, Neal Huff, Tommy Nelson) are led by the mountain man Stephen Meek (Bruce Greenwood) who claims to know a short cut across a high plain desert. They struggle as their water supplies dwindle. When the group captures an Indian, the group is torn about what to do with him.

This is a slow pace movie with long uncut scenes. The style is minimalist. Kelly Reichardt is usually an indie director. That's what this is. It's nine actors and a crew out in the wilderness making a western indie. This is like a waking dream where we are waiting for something dire to happen. The acting is mostly reserved with a steady quiet tone. However I must object to the ending, and rate the movie lower because of it. It is not a proper ending.

It is interesting reading all of these angry people here, who seem to appreciate having seen an amazing film but don't understand why it does not have a 'three act structure' or Hero's journey. If you are a fan of early Michael Haneke or even Tarkovsky (to a lesser extent), then you will like this film. It is a very gentle observational piece which takes its time to even let you hear human voices. It wants you to feel the wind on the scrub desert or to hear the bubbling of the river.

To make a film like that, especially in America where the audience is weened on cleanly prepared stories that have beginnings, middles and ends, is brave, stubborn and amazingly lucky that Kelly Reichardt was able to raise the money to make it.

Fantastic. Unique, Beautiful.

But just do not expect to be 'told' what happens next, because nothing massively important actually does. Just like life really.