Wild Bill
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Movie Reviews of Wild Bill
Movie Review: Good action film
Summary: 4 Stars
Typical walther hill style : action, sophisticated violence and humour. May be too much of sergio leone influence . Very good jeff bridges actingMovie Review: "You don't ever touch another man's hat!"
Summary: 3 Stars
It is uneven films like 'Wild Bill' that make me wish that Amazon allowed half stars. While it has some outstanding scenes that I would not have missed, and Jeff Bridges deliveres a five star performance in the title role, it hits too many false notes, and as a whole is far too unconvincing to merit four stars. But when it is good, it is very good, and deserves a three and one half star rating.
Jeff Bridges' portrayal of Wild Bill Hickok is simply outstanding. He delivers exactly the right mix of flamboyant swagger, no nonsense toughness, and world weariness to breath life into the legend, and is the primary reason to see this movie. The film's early scenes, where Bridges gets to recreate several pivital episodes of Hickok's legend are superb; had the movie continued in that vein, it would be a classic.
Unfortunately, 'Wild Bill' abandons both the history and legend of James Butler Hickok for the greater part of the movie in favor of its own inovations on the tale that simply fall flat. Most of the story is told in Deadwood, the boom town where Hickok was killed, and it attempts to give explanation and motivation to young Jack McCall's murder of Wild Bill. This is not only unnecessary, as the tale already had a fitting ending (an unbalanced young coward murders a legend hoping to make a name), but destoys the credibility of the film, by adding silly scenes such as McCall and a gang of hired toughs holding Bill and friends hostage in a bar previous to the murder.
The impressive cast, like the movie itself, delivers unevenly. David Arquette does a fair job as the twitchy Jack McCall. Ellen Barkin fails as Calamity Jane - her attempt at acting both rowdy tough and sweetly sexy is about as successful as mixing oil and water. John Hurt plays Charley Prince, an English gentleman who is friend to Wild Bill, and narrates much of the movie; both the charater and the narration seem out of place in the tale. Vetern character actor James Gammon plays California Joe largly through speaking loudly, and is a disappointment. Christina Applegate's role as hard bitten prostitute Lurline is both woodenly acted and utterly superflous to the story. Keith Carradine has a one scene, throw away cameo as Buffalo Bill Cody. Bruce Dern, playing Will Plummer, an angry old man in a wheel chair who calls Wild Bill out, delivers the most entertaining performance in the movie next to Bridges, providing one of the moments that make this film worth seeing despite its many flaws.
Had 'Wild Bill' stuck to the legend rather than inovating, or had it attempted to get behind the legend to the history, this could have been an outstanding movie. The scenes that did stay close to the legend were outstandingly well done, and give a hint of what this film could have been. As is, I would still recommend that you check out 'Wild Bill', but rent, rather than buy.
Theo Logos
Movie Review: Spotty But Bridges is Great
Summary: 3 Stars
I have to agree with many of the other reviewers who feel that the movie is "spotty" - but Bridges is great..!
I've read quite abit about Hickok and the movie seems relatively accurate with respect to many of the historical incidents that pre-dated Hickok's arrival in Deadwood. In fact, it's the flashbacks that I enjoyed the most - the gunfight in the main square / street - with Dave Tutt / the accidental killing of his own deputy in Abilene / the "fight" with the soldiers in the saloon/ the gunfight with the McCandles crew and a few others.
I honestly don't know if Hickok really felt murderous when somebody mistreated his hat, but it was a nice touch.
And Jeff Bridges was great in the role. He talked the part and certainly looked the part (kudos to the wardrobe person who "dressed" Hickok - he/ she certainly did his homework - the clothes and hat were perfect..!). And the pearl handled 1851 Navy Colt revolvers tucked into a red sash around the waist was exactly Hickok's setup.
I think the movie captured the absolute fearlessness of Hickok. From everything I've read, the man had ice water running through his veins. His incredible prowess and marksmanship with his pistols - coupled with his complete indifference to the bullets whizzing by him during the gunfights contributed significantly to his legend. He was one of those guys who was truly a legend in his own time.
The movie dragged for me in the middle. The amount of time devoted to jack McCall - the twirp who shot and killed him - just seemed to drag on forever. Jack's inability to decide whether or not to shoot Hickok throughout the movie just seemed to be be stretched out to the point where I felt like grabbing a gun - entering the tv - and putting a windown in Jack McCall's skull.
Three stars might be a bit on the low side but 4 is probably too much - 3 1/2 is what this film is worth.
But if you love westerns as much as me, it's worth watching if only for Jeff Bridge's performance.
Movie Review: Wild Bill pulls off a good western
Summary: 3 Stars
Everyone seems to be a movie critic,and try to stay away from that,and consider myself much more of a movie/film enthusiast.If the movie sucks,I'll say it out right&point out all the major annoying flaws,if the movie is excellent...I inturn do the same and point out all the great stuff about it.
I've stated this before,and I'll say it again...good westerns are hard to come by.I don't know how acurate Wild Bill documents the final days of Bill Hitcock's life,so I'm sure alot of liberties were taken.However,this is a good western by "western film standards".Its hard to please everyone,and westerns I think are difficult to translate to the screen like Open Range,and Wyatt Erp.
Many western films tend to get too tied up into the plot,or the scenery...trying to get the audience to "soak in" the wild west.Wild Bill pretty much documents his last days/weeks,and how he might have lived them.Was he killed over a vendetta,or just because he made alot of enemies over the years?It's difficult to say.I don't think his actual life was documented very well,and you can't go by the old dime novels made back then.
I thought Wild Bill stuck to the important parts and cut out alot of nonsense.You see a gun fighter struggling with his demons,and ailing before his time(Hitcock suffered from glaucoma).He might have even dabbled with opium and chased the dragon as they say as well.
Wild Bill was very well portrayed by Jeff Bridges who managed to look a heck of alot like him.The film moves along very well,and it does'nt suffer what most other recent westerns typically do which is being extrodinarily long winded,slow&borring.This film is well worth watching,and if you like a semi biographical film with some great acting&action paced scenes,this one will satisfy any admirer of western films&history.
Movie Review: Decent, but Dreary, Detailing of the Wild Bill Myth
Summary: 3 Stars
I wasn't too overly impressed with "Wild Bill" the first time I saw it. I was expecting better from the great Walter Hill. The storytelling is a bit awkward and non-detailed, resulting in a less-than-captivating experience. Not to mention the pic comes to a screeching halt in the third act wherein Bill is held up in a saloon in Deadwood as his would-be killers consider knocking him off. This final act left a bad taste the first time I saw the film.
Yet, I recently gave the flick a second chance at the advice of a fellow Amazon reviewer, and am glad I dead -- I mean did (it must be the effect of the movie). The first half hour involves a series of insult-in-the-saloon-leads-to-gunfight type episodes; as mentioned above, not enough detail is included in these scenes to render them truly thrilling but they're enjoyable nevertheless. The second act settles down a bit, but is essentially more of the same.
Jeff Bridges is fine as Bill but, as written, the character comes off rather dismal and unlikeable. Ellen Barkin is well cast as Calamity Jane; Diane Lane is beautiful as Bill's one-and-only (past) love and David Arquette is good but annoying as Lane's vengeful son (and possible son of Bill).
"Wild Bill" offers a very unattractive and dreary Wild West. This is not necessarily bad in-and-of-itself, but the awkward storytelling prevents it from attaining greatness. Still, in this era where there are so few Westerns to enjoy, "Wild Bill" is a must for Western fans. In my opinion it's leagues better than the soporific and overrated "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," at least as far as maintaining your interest goes.