BlazeLime Strong and Moving!

MusicChat It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

PiraBit if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Wuchak RELEASED IN 2010 and directed by Kelly Reichardt, "Meek's Cutoff" is loosely based on the real-life story of vain trail guide Stephen Meek (Bruce Greenwood) leading three couples of settles and a boy away from the Oregon Trail and through the Oregon desert in 1845 where they find themselves lost and struggling to survive while they try to trail-blaze a new path with a Native along for the ride, who may or may not be for them. Michelle Williams plays the female protagonist while Will Patton plays the main male settler. Zoe Kazan, Shirley Henderson, Paul Dano and Neal Huff are also on hand as settlers.This movie is similar in tone to 2014's "The Homesman" in its sense of boring realism and the harshness of what it was like to be a traveling settler in the Old West. People complain about the ambiguity but it's the point: The movie's not actually about the outcome of one particular group or another; it's about the awful vagueness that settlers had to face, which increased with each step that took wagon trains further away from settled territory until they went too far to turn around. They faced setbacks, illnesses, injured oxen, broken wheels and steppe fires, all of which exposed them to possible death before anyone so much as came close to Oregon City and areas nearby (Portland was founded in 1845). Over the next hill any settler might find riches and happiness in a new land or s/he could find suffering by way of thirst, disease, beasts and Native attack. The film's successful in helping you experience this reality on the comfort of your sofa or recliner."Meek's Cutoff" is unconcerned with either the events that led to the settlers departing the Oregon Trail or what happens to them if they eventually rejoin it or pave a new way. The focus switches to their relationship with the Native (Rod Rondeaux). The events placed the pilgrims in an uncertain life-or-death situation wherein their collective facade of Christian European supremacy is threatened and evaporates in the parched landscape as they are forced to trust a heathen savage. (While Meek seems to exaggerate the torture tactics of Native Americans at one point, which understandably makes the other travelers seriously paranoid, it IS historically documented that many tribes used torture tactics on their captives, including other tribespeople).If any of this trips your trigger, you'll probably appreciate this Western. Yet the film's lack of closure is frustrating because the movie sets up a plot with obvious stakes (Will they live or die? Will they find water or won't they? Can the Native be trusted or not?). The viewer should NOT have to look up the real events to find out what happened. If you can handle this kind of opacity, though, this is a worthy modern Western. Just don't expect any quick-draw shootouts, saloons, cavalries, sheriffs, stampedes, saloon babes, etc. because this is the farthest thing from that kind of Western.THE MOVIE RUNS 104 minutes and was shot in Burns & Hines, Oregon. WRITER: Jon Raymond.GRADE: B-

The Couchpotatoes It's not the traditional western with the usual villains and good cowboys, with the shooting, the saloons etc. But it's a story about the first settlers on their way to Oregon. It's nice to see the rough life they had like 150 years ago. It was for sure not a trip for the weak with the constant struggle and searching for water. The movie is nicely shot and along with the good actors it makes the movie enjoyable and realistic. If you are looking for a western with the traditional shootings then this one is not for you. There is not a lot of meaningful conversations but it all adds up to the story. I only gave it a six just because of the ending that I didn't like that much. For the rest I enjoyed the movie.

harrison-jfondren I said it all in my summary. Unfortunately, I have to write ten lines of text to have a bona fide review. That's more lines than the characters had in the movie. I'm sure walking to Oregon was really boring. At least the director brought that out in the movie. You have to give him credit for doing it in a creative way. I'd rather walk to Oregon than watch this movie again. While I was a bit annoyed that it just ended without any resolution, in retrospect, I'm just glad it ended. If only that Indian had put the settlers out of their misery at the end. At least then it would have had an interesting ending. I mean, an ending.

meritcoba "What a curious movie," Kristl said when the credits rolled."It was boring," Henry exclaimed waving his hands around in an agitated manner, "Nothing happens. A group of settlers travel through a desert landscape trying to find water and escape it. Eventually they capture an Indian who might know where they can find water. The movie ends abruptly as it started. With no introduction and no conclusion. Like you just get to see a part of a story.""Perhaps that is what they meant to show?""Well, they showed it in a boring way.""I liked the movie. Even though it starts and ends suddenly. A movie that takes its time. Not too much dialog. And there is something happening. The Indian and the guide Meek are opposites. Both offer the settlers a way out, but both can not be trusted to deliver. The Indian because he is considered a hostile and they can not understand him and the guide because he does not know what he is doing.""But it's not very exciting.""And there is this part in which you see the relation between the men and the women. When they are 'voting' the women have no vote apparently. I like the way it felt much more realistic than most westerns.""Okay, but regardless of that.. nothing much happens in the way of fighting or overcoming obstacles. Hell, there isn't even an proper end to the story," Henry said."Some movies can be interesting without fighting. I think that it is a neat movie. Very small cast. Mostly relying on the story, situation and acting. There isn't a real good person or bad person. Just believable humans in a bad situation who have to make decisions with little to go on.""I would rather see a more action kind of movie next. You can have good movies with action.""Uhm that is true, but sometimes it is nice to see a movie that is different.""Why?""Because maybe we can learn thing or two. Or broaden our horizons. Or feel human.""Perhaps some people find that nice. I rather have an action packed movie. Or a thriller. Or something exciting happening.""I like all kinds..""As far as I know you like all kinds of movies, but not many of them," Henry winked at Kristl.Kristl laughed."How many did you actually like.""Actually I can like a movie and be critical.""Really? How can that be. Like give an example.""Well, this movie I liked, but it is also a very slow movie and I feel like it misses something that would make it pop. Like something that grips you.""It lacks gun-toting kick ass girls with pigtails wearing short skirts," Henry grinned."Hmm.. maybe. Maybe what it lacks is that I never get attached to the characters. Not involved with them. While it is true it has only a very small cast.. the amount of characters is actually too high to get involved.""That is a contradiction…""Not at all. What I mean is this: normally a movie revolves in essence around one or two characters. While all the others are added in. In this movie none of the characters in the story has a leading part. And since everyone gets as much time as any other, there is not much time to get you involved with any one of them. Maybe a little bit with one of the woman. In fact, I can't recall their names, except for Meek's name.""You are right.. I can't recall their names.""So the movie feels like a distant movie observing a group of people traveling through a desert and that distance makes it hard to care," Kristl said, "So I like the movie and I am critical about it.""I am more simple. I don't like the movie. It is boring.""Okay. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions.""I hope so..and just to wash away the taste of this rather boring movie, we have Doom next.""I do not play computer games, Henry.""I meant the movie.""Ah. alright. We can take a look at that one. If you want to.""Yes..And it has an actor in it called The Rock.""That sounds...impressive.""You bet."www.meritcoba.com