cwjohnsonjr

This is the first film I have seen in a while that felt like cinema. The opening montage of shots of the airplane was something I have not seen in film in quite a while. The cinematography is breathtakingly beautiful and poetic. Expect to see cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt nominated during Oscar season. J. D. Dillard also deserves an Oscar nomination for his ability to visually portray human emotions. The acting is great, allowing the actors to establish presence and bounce off each other. The story of friendship and brotherhood is extraordinary. There are a few pacing issues but they're not distracting. The film did not feel over two hours long. Definitely worth catching on the biggest screen you can.

What's impressed me most of the 12 Westerns in 12 Months project is the quality of the camerawork and cinematography, and Tales of the Natchez Trace is no exception. It is clear that the director, Travis Mills, and his crew put a lot of thought, time and effort into getting the best shots possible. Like in Wilderness Road, some of the shots look just like a painting. One shot of a keelboat on the river is particularly gorgeous. Issues that plague and distract viewers in most low budget filmmaking endeavors, like everything looking too bright and washed out, are missing from Tales.

Tales tells seven stories that took place along the famous Natchez Trace, a road that is important to American history and western settlement as the Oregon Trail. The stories involve both the famous, Mike Fink and Merriweather Lewis, the infamous, John Morel and the Harpes, and both famous and infamous in the case of Andrew Jackson. Mills shows great creativity to portraying this overlook history. His choice to show a comic story after a tragedy is great writing. I also like composer Alex Schoepel including holiday music elements during the fight between Annie Christmas and Mike Fink.

My only complaint is that it is too dang short. I didn't want it to end. John Murrell deserves his own movie. So, if you want to see more movies about the Wild East east of the Mississippi, take the time to watch Tales of the Natchez Trace and send a message to the film industry that we want see more untold history told on the big screen.

This portrayal of the untold story of the Harpes and Samuel Mason is well worth your time, and the price. The cinematography is stunning and beautiful. Some of it looks like a painting. One scene around the campfire on the banks of the river looks like it was painted by Homer Winslow. Overall the acting is great, although the performances of a few day players were lacking. Jeff Buchwald as Preacher Eli, Creek Wilson as Samuel Mason and John Marrs as Captain Ballenger were particular good. The costumes were magnificent and it is obvious that the production spared no expense in finding the most historically accurate material, designs and fabric as possible. I especially liked the uniforms of the Spanish soldiers. You can tell that everyone involved in the project were passionate about the subject matter.

I did have one problem with the writing. While the story does start off introducing us to Mason, we don't see him again for nearly an hour and then most of his back story is given in an exposition dump. Most of the story has been focused on the Harpes up until then. Then we don't see them again for about thirty minutes while we see Mason go down the path of crime until he meets Little Harpe. It makes the film slow down and drag. I would have preferred that in the first hour that the film had intertwined the stories of Mason and the Harpes as he tries to avoid being associated with them and then the second act ending with them ganging up together. However the filmmakers were trying to give an historically accurate timeline in the chronicling of the events. I respect that and won't take a star off.

Again, I highly recommend you checkout this indie gem out. Many reviewers will unfortunately focus on the lacking elements common to low budget filmmaking and therefore give The Wilderness Road a negative review. Please ignore them. The film industry is one of the few businesses in which quality of product matters less than quantity of money brought in by the product. Many talented filmmakers have seen their dreams dashed when their well made product failed to make anything financially. People are always complaining about how Hollywood isn't making anything new or original. The Wilderness Road is the first Western that features the history of the Natchez Trace, a road that has as much importance in American history as the Oregon and Santa Fe Trail. It is also the first that historically portrays the folklore and frontier legends of Samuel Mason and the Harpes. The only other time they were featured in cinema was Davy Crockett and the River Pirates. While that was a fun romp, The Wilderness Road treats these early American serial killers with the seriousness and respect that the subject matter requires. Hollywood has far too often ignored the frontier lore, settlement and wild west atmosphere east of the Mississippi in early American history (1780-1830ish). You can help send a message to the film industry that we want more original content based on forgotten American history by supporting The Wilderness Road.