mayhem-54206

Written by the Coen brothers, so of course the bar is high, but I still wasn't sure what to expect with the film being comprised of a number of vignettes rather than a singular story. Each story is distinct, told in a different tone, and I was totally transfixed the entire time. This is the type of film which could have easily gone wrong in other hands, but I can truly find no fault in this film. As with their other work, it is both careful and thoughtful; there is tremendous attention to detail - not merely in the production itself (the covered wagons appear to legitimately be authentic, as though you can feel yourself a part of the wagon train), but also in the depth and delivery of the dialogue (the trapper's monologue in the final vignette; every word that's spoken between Alice and Billy on the westward journey, etc.), and in the actual sequence of the vignettes as well. (Would this have worked as well if the stories had been presented in a different order? I don't think so). Above all, the casting and acting is superb. It is extraordinarily rare to be able to pull together so many sympathetic characters in one film - I found myself invested in and rooting for all of them. I loved each one of the stories, and found myself wanting more by the time the credits rolled.

I give it ip to Gaga for taking on such an ambitious role as a non-actor (apart from her role on AHS, which I feel is more of an extension of some of the caricatures she has created for herself). Unfortunately, when she and Bradley Cooper are together (and of course they have many scenes together), it is obvious who the actor in this duo really is. She has stage presence, which comes through in the film's concert scenes, but otherwise doesn't fit. One can tell that they have genuine chemistry, but that is not enough to fill in the relationship development that should have occurred during the first third of this film. I disagree with the reviewers who have stated that the film runs long. I found that I kept thinking, "Oh, we're already to this part?" The relationship is taken for granted with no development whatsoever. Scene 1: They meet. Scene 2: They are already madly in love and on their way. I'm oversimplifying, but the lack of development in this area really took a toll on this film given that the relationship is essentially what the entire story is about. Good directorial debut by Cooper, and he does an amazing job with the role. He makes it look as though he's been singing, songwriting, and rocking the guitar his entire life, not merely just the months before filming. (I want to hear him sing more, in fact, but only if it can be in that gravelly Arizona twang he pulled off so well.) Still and all, the script is so thin it cannot be overlooked. Sam Elliott raises this to 6 stars.

What a completely fascinating and original storyline. It is true that it has a dark tone throughout, which can sometimes wear on you, but the plot turns are unexpected and manage to keep you engaged at all times. Casting is perfect all the way around. Even though some elements of the characters' lives may seem unbelievable, the mental degeneration that Dr. Chance experiences seems totally plausible, given the circumstances. I've never seen a piece of vigilante-themed work quite like this one.