Legends of the Fall

I have to say that the Oscar winning cinematography just blew me away in Legends Of The Fall. With British Columbia standing in for Montana of the early 20th century it's not called The Big Sky country for nothing. My guess though is Montana now is a bit too developed now to get the proper feel for atmosphere in which Anthony Hopkins raised his three boys all of whom turned out quite different.

The three sons in Legends Of The Fall are Aidan Quinn, Brad Pitt, and Henry Thomas chronologically. Quinn is the solid and reliable eldest who becomes one of Montana's Representatives in Congress. They usually had and still have only two of them. Henry Thomas can't get out from under being the baby of the family. The other two are constantly looking out for him.

It's Brad Pitt as the middle son who is our brooding protagonist and the closest thing Pitt ever did on screen as a romantic idol. Brad's like something out of one of those romance novels.

The brothers start showing their differences when Henry Thomas brings home Julia Ormond as his intended bride. She gets all their hormones in overdrive and when Thomas fails to return from World War I the rivalry between Pitt and Quinn drives the rest of the film.

Anthony Hopkins who served in the Indian wars in the cavalry was disillusioned by said conflicts and built his own empire where the native Indians share in its bounty. His kids however grew up in the era of Theodore Roosevelt where you answered your country's call no matter what. And like TR all three Ludlow boys are imbued with the idealism of the Allied cause. All three go to Canada and enlist in their army and defy their father. It all becomes a Greek tragedy of sorts in the end.

The Oscar winning cinematography is just breathtaking. The vastness of God's earth will dazzle the viewer and you might become an instant conservationist. Legends Of The Fall also won an Oscar for Art&Set Design which is also wonderful and I think that TR's Sagamore Hill might have been a model used.

Sad though that Hopkins, Pitt, Quinn, and Ormond got no Oscar recognition for this film. Even watching it on television without the big screen Legends Of The Fall still blows me away.

I absolutely loved the movie, it's the second time I'm seeing it and I'm glad I did, because I love epic dramas...and this one well, not only did it have a great and an original storyline, it had a great cast also. But my favorite had to be Brad Pitt, his performance was engaging and I couldn't take my eyes off the screen, because I simply was fascinated by the way the story was constructed. I've read a few comments made here...and this film is everything but predictable. It has so many twists and turns that it just keeps you wondering until the end...where you feel like you've watched the film to its fullest and there's no more stories left untold, that's what I look for in a good film. Even though the story was tragic, it was a story of love, loyalty and family. I give it a 9/10...if you haven't seen this movie yet...SEE IT! You'll love it, even if you don't fancy Brad Pitt.

The raw passion of this movie is enough to make any serious movie enthusiast weep. I honestly can't believe this movie was not nominated for about 8 or 10 Academy awards. It also baffles me that some people think this was Anthony Hopkins worst portrayal. He was absolutely brilliant in this, as was Brad Pitt. THIS was the movie that made me take a look at Pitt and see that he's more than just a pretty face. After watching this, he became, and is still to this day, my favorite actor. In this movie he was rustic, yet thoughtful. He was strong and vulnerable. He had a great love for family(especially his father) and for a woman he knew should not be his. This film a true epic with history, talent, superior cinematography, and most of all(and what many movies of today lack).. closure.

Watch and wonder

I have enjoyed watching the film a number of times during several periods of my life and, as time goes by, I believe that it is gaining the general recognition it deserves! This is an epic drama about people dealing with personal demons within an amazing western scenery at the beginning of the 20th century in Western America. Everyone, including the father, the 3 sons and the "girl" is trying to heal the wounds inside. Tristan, the protagonist, is a wild spirit playing with fire, unable to form attachments for long. There is a constant battle going on inside him (between life and death, love and rage, passion and ethics, the visible and the invisible) affecting everyone around him. I would like to emphasize a point that I haven't read in other reviews: the boys' mother, even though hardly appearing on screen, has a key-role in the story: she practically abandons her husband and three sons, staying detached all the way, not even coming back for some major family events (funerals-weddings-births)! Such an abandonment causes tremendous emotional pain, relationship issues and deep trauma to everyone. The brothers are antagonistic, trying desperately to find their place in the world and prove their worth, one way or another: fighting at the war, excelling in politics, winning a woman's love and more! Tristan's magnetism seems to be so great that everyone (including us, watching) is willing to accept almost anything from him. He's something like a Sun for the women who loved him - they couldn't take their eyes off him, and we all know what happens when you stare at the sun... Does love conquer all? Sometimes yes, sometimes no... The movie is at times becoming overly dramatic, but I love it whatsoever. In my humble opinion, this is not a superficial soap opera - if you can read between the lines, there is a great analysis that can be done... Acting and cinematography are superb!

...but I must admit that I loved Legends of the fall. I understand that some people think it's corny and too romantic but if you like epic dramas this is the movie for you.

Reasons to see the movie: - Great acting. Anthony Hopkins makes a classic role as the US army officer gone anarchist father. Brad Pitt is perfect in the role as the wild one with an indian "stepfather". Aidan Quinn makes another great performance, and Julia Ormond is very good as the (tragic) woman they all long for. - The scenery. Magic. I want to have a farm in Montana! - The camera work. - The story. I guess I am a sucker for epic dramas. - A number of very, very good scenes. - The movie is a kick in the nuts to "civilized life" and state affairs. - The anarchistic attitude. - The character Tristan Ludlow. - The character William Ludlow. - The emotional ride.

Reasons to NOT see the movie: - You will be called a pathetic romantic if you like it. And you will most probably like it...