The Long Riders
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Movie Reviews of The Long Riders
Movie Review: Gimmicky, but it works -- just don't expect a classic
Summary: 4 Stars
Walter Hill's 1980 Western The Long Riders (his first film after the 1979 cult classic The Warriors) starts out with a gimmick -- the casting of famous Hollywood brothers as famous outlaw brothers -- but ends up as a fair addition to the genre (and it reportedly began its life as a musical!).
The main reason most people will get curious about The Long Riders is the cast. But look at that cast! It is likely to be the only place you'll see such a parade of prominent Hollywood families all together in one film.
Here's the lineup: David Carradine as Cole Younger, Keith Carradine as Jim Younger, Robert Carradine as Bob Younger; Stacy Keach as Frank James, James Keach as Jesse James; Dennis Quaid as Ed Miller, Randy Quaid as Clell Miller; Christopher Guest as Charlie Ford, Nicholas Guest as Robert Ford. (Jeff Bridges and Beau Bridges were originally offered the Ford roles but were reportedly unable to clear their schedules.)
Among this band of brothers, I was pleasantly surprised that James Keach -- whose work I was only passingly familiar with thus far and had found mostly unmemorable -- was the real standout. He draws the eye every time he is on the screen, not least because his face seems to have been carved out of rock. There's hardly a rounded surface to be seen, which just serves to make every emotion more intensely expressed.
In retrospect, this should not have been too surprising, given that the film was originally conceived by the brothers Keach as a vehicle for themselves. The familial aspect does serve to make the interrelations of the characters more palpable (unless that was just my own projection), and it's certainly worth at least one viewing, but The Long Riders is unlikely to be seen historically as anything more than a minor contribution to Western film.
Movie Review: STYLISH WESTERN
Summary: 4 Stars
I SAW THIS MOVIE AT THE AGE OF 15 ON THE BIG SCREEN WITH STEREO SOUND AND IT WAS TRULY AN EXPERIENCE.THIS REALLY ISNT A MOVIE SUITED TO THE SMALL SCREEN AS ITS EXPLOSIVE IMPACT IS CERTINELY COMPROMISED BY WATCHING IT ON THE TUBE. BUT SHORT OF A RE RELEASE I GUESS VIDEO WILL HAVE TO DO.
THE FIRST THING THAT STRIKES THE VIEWER IS THE RUSTIC, WINING ALMOST EERY SOUNTRACK BEAUTFULLY DONE.
THE FACT THAT VARIOUS ACTING BROTHERS PLAY VARIOUS OUTLAW BROTHERS IS AN EXTREMLY UNIQUE AND REALISTICLY NOVEL APPROACH.
BROTHERS LOOK LIKE BROTHERS, SOUND LIKE BROTHERS. I DISAGREE WITH ANOTHER REVIEW OF THIS FILM. I THINK THE CASTING WAS PERFECT AND VERY EFFECTIVE.
AS AN AMETEUR HISTORIAN OF THE OLD WEST, I THINK THE STORYLINE FOLLOWS FACT ABOUT AS WELL AS ANY DRAMATIC REENACTMENT IS GOING TOO.
AND THEN THE DIRECTION IS EXPERTLY DONE BY WALTER HILL WHO MUST BE A PECKINPAH APPRENTICE. THE CLIMACTIC FINALLY OF THE FILM IS THE GANGS BOTCHED BANK ROBBERY IN NORTHFIELD MINNESOTA WHERE YANKEE SQUAREHEADS SHOOT THE GROUP TO RIBBONS. THE SLOW MOTION WAS NOTHING NEW BUT SLOW SOUND WAS. YOU CAN HERE THE ZIPPING OF THE MISSILES JUST PRIOR TO THEIR SPLATTERING IMPACT INTO FLESH.
IF YOU READ THE ACTUAL ACCOUNTING YOU WILL FIND THE MOVIE PLAYS TRUE RIGHT DOWN TO ONE OF THE YOUNGERS GETTING SHOT THROUGH THE JAW.
THE STUNT WORK WAS NOTHING SHORT OF EXCEPTIONAL AND THE EDITOR DESERVES RAVES TOO.
THERE IS A LITTLE BRIEF NUDITY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT AS IT DOESNT WORK IN A WESTERN, BUT THATS ABOUT MY ONLY COMPLAINT.
THE MUSIC IS WELL WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION BY ITSELF.
TURN THE LIGHTS OFF, LIMIT DISTRACTIONS AND CRANK THE VOLUME. THATS THE ONLY WAY TO WATCH THIS SHOW.
OVERALL IT IS ONE STYLISH WESTERN DESTINED TO BE A TRUE CULT CLASSIC.
Movie Review: A flawed but beautiful western
Summary: 4 Stars
The script is a cliched mess, filled with lines that are forced retro-mythological and obvious, not to mention monosyllabic. Jesse's marriage proposal is a lumbering embarrasment.Several of the performers appear to sleepwalk through their roles. Although this isn't the case with the wry performance of David Carradine who delivers his finest peformance and the spicey Pamela Reed as an iron tough and manipulative Belle Starr.
And yet this film by director Walter Hill somehow works. The photography by Ric Waite is absolutely dreamlike in its frail beauty. The costume design is romantic without being frilly. The cutting is tight. Hill's framing is carefull and rich and most of all, Ry Cooder's magnificent score breathes poetry.
All of these technical elements add up to make a flawed, but rich western film well deserving of a bigger following. Personally, if I could walk out of real life and into the imagined world of a film, this film, along with "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", "A Hard Day's Night", "The Adventures of Robin Hood" and "Lonesome Dove" would be one that would be ideal.
The technical achievements of this film all work together to overcome its other limitations. It is a film that truly creates a unique atmosphere of a time and place that really didn't exist in history but rather in folk tales and American Legendary Dreams.
This DVD, although devoid of any extras (I would love to have Walter Hill's commentary!)gloriously transfers Waite's photography.
My advice is to buy Ry Cooder's soundtrack on CD, put in the DVD, turn down the sound and enjoy.
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: Riding on borrowed time
Summary: 4 Stars
Director Walter Hill's , " The Long Riders " , isn't your typical western. Cast with ingenious wit by Jane Fienberg and Mike Fenton ,and creatively shot by cinetographer Ric Waite , this 1980 film about the exploits of the James / Younger gang , stands out as a refreshing take on an age old tale. It is also important to note that this is one of the films that helped break down the barriers towards intergrating graphic violence into mainstream film. Fortunatly , the violence was justified in the story and the film still holds validation ,as one of the best westerns shot in the 1980's. Filming a movie, that features this many well known actors, would be highly unlikely these days and the casting marks the end of an era. " The Long Riders " features original music by Ry Cooder and the unforgettable cast of real life brothers , Stacy and James Keach , David Carradine , Keith Carradine , Robert Carridine , Randy and Dennis Quaid , Christopher Guest, and Nicholas Guest. The film also highlights cameo performances by James Remar ,Fran Ryan ,Harry Carey Jr. ,Kevin Brophy , and Pamela Reed. The music is great , the action scenes ( although dated ) are extremely original , the acting is good , and the direction is fabulous. "The Long Riders" , is definately one western that deserves it's recognition and a space in your dvd collection.