The Long Riders
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Movie Reviews of The Long Riders
Movie Review: Very believable - but not sure historically accurate
Summary: 4 Stars
I very much enjoyed this movie; and, the fact that the actors were in real life related, added some measure of believability to this movie. Not too sure if it is historically accurate however, but, I would definitely recommend it to any one interested in mid-19th century westerns that, for the most part, have their premise on historical figures that actually existed.Movie Review: A Magnificent Western
Summary: 5 Stars
One good example of a great movie Western is 1980's The Long Riders that was about the Jesse James gang and its ultimate downfall at Northfield, Minnesota in 1876.
The Long Riders is a movie where the producers went way out of their way to ensure high quality for their show. For instance, in most movies actors are cast as siblings without regard if they resemble each other. In this movie, real life brothers were cast as the brothers in the outlaw gang.
As a result, the roles of Bob Younger, Cole Younger & Jim Younger were played by David Carradine, Keith Carradine & Robert Carradine. The roles of Frank James and Jesse James were played by Frank Keach & Stacy Keach. The roles of Clell Miller & Ed Miller were played by Dennis Quaid & Randy Quaid. The roles of Bob Ford & Charlie Ford were played by Christopher & Nicholas Guest.
Not only did this casting result in brothers who actually looked like brothers, it also ensured that they acted towards each other on screen like brothers too. Even outlaws have families and loved ones too. This brilliant casting makes The Long Riders a classic Western. Of all the movies dealing with the Jesse James gang, this is the very best one. It is also historically accurate, which is an added bonus.
This is the very best Western of the 1980's and as such is heartily recommended.
Movie Review: A Gorgeous and Satisfying Movie
Summary: 4 Stars
I frankly fail to understand criticizing this movie based on its lack of historical realism. No one that I know of has ever held up "The Long Riders" as an example of a gritty western that shows history "as it really was." It's quite clearly a romanticized view of the James Gang, and unapologetically so. The cinematography is gorgeous and the Coles and Youngers, with the exception of the stylishly raffish David Carradine as Cole Younger, are handsome, clean, and stylishly dressed throughout. With that said, the movie is far more historically correct than most Westerns of the classic period. But sure, if you're a student of the period, you'll spot some rearrangements in the interest of the plot -- Frank has to be a sympathetic character for example, so Clell rather than Frank kills a bank teller in one scene.
What this movie does bring to light accurately is the rural setting in which the James/Younger clan did their business -- in fact it's hard to see why people think of it as a "Western," since it takes place almost entirely in the Midwest and since most of it was shot on location in Missouri. Must be the horses and the guns.
Beyond the uniformly strong performances, including a great small role by Dennis Quaid, I think the real strength of the Long Riders is its pacing -- if there's a scene too short or too long, I haven't spotted it. This is not just (or even primarily) a movie about robbing banks and trains. It's a movie about character and fate, and each scene gives new insights into the characters and their dilemmas. But sure, if all you want is action, go watch one of the Rambo movies. There are some great action scenes in this movie, but they are part of a whole, not the focus of the movie.
Many of the best scenes are quiet little bits of character exposition, like Pinkerton man James Whitmore Jr.'s wearily sarcastic interviews with the NYC newspaperman. The reviewer here who calls the approach "minimalist" is definitely on to something -- this is a film that shows you rather than telling you, and for such a big-deal Hollywood movie (the famous brothers, etc.), it's quite subtle -- a movie made up of connected vignettes. You've got to pay attention, but it rewards attention.
Is James Keach "wooden faced?" Absolutely. He looks eerily like Buster Keaton in this film, acting almost exclusively with his eyes. I guess that either works for you or it doesn't.
I do think the movie suffers on a small screen, and unless you have a killer home theater, you miss some of the impact of the excellent musical score (Ry Cooder's first significant film gig) and soundtrack. Overall, though, this film really hits the mark.
Movie Review: Why You Shouldn't Rob Banks for a Living
Summary: 4 Stars
There's nothing like a good shoot-em up western and this is one. Not a great film by any stretch, but a good one and very entertaining.You feel for this gang of outlaws much as you did for Bonnie and Clyde because you know their time is coming. The Pinkerton boys are on their tail but Jesse James is determined to continue robbing banks and scoffing at the G-men who want nothing more than to end this gangs' riding and robbing. The shootout at the bank in Minnesota climaxes the film and the use of slow motion and the tortured sounds of the gang members as they get shot while on horseback is very effective.My only real complaint is the fight scene in the tavern between Cole Younger(David Carradine) and his mistresses Indian husband because it seems out of character with the rest of the film. It was more of a nod to Carradines' fighting days on the TV series Kung Fu rather than having much to do with the Younger character. Outside of that it's a fun film and the use of brothers (Keach, Carradine,Guest) playing brothers is interesting and a bit unique.James Keach plays a good Jesse James, hollow-eyed and soft spoken...you can feel the danger in his character. Ironically, you find yourself rooting for the James gang over the government men who seek to undo them but justice must prevail in the end.....Anyway, it makes you think twice about robbing banksMovie Review: The Long movie...
Summary: 2 Stars
I love western movies. Even the ones about outlaws tend to show the better side of American values like Justice and a respect for hard work and individual effort. This movie does neither.
Not only is the writing uninspiring, but the acting is stiff, unexciting and generally not even memorable enough to remark on. The gimmick of the brothers playing brothers falls way short since none of the characters are developed enough for any connection to be made between them.
Overall, a lame movie. You're much better off buying the excellent, though over the top, "Tombstone." At least you won't fall asleep like I did during the Lonnnng movie... uh, Riders.