The work of two people stand out here: the actor Christian Bale and the cinematographer Masanobu Takayanagi (Silver Linings Playbook, Warrior, The Grey, Spotlight, etc.) Bale plays an Army Captain who agrees to escort a dying Cheyenne war chief and his family through treacherous lands. The general and the chief, being old enemies, embark on a journey where their conflict seems the least of their worries. The cinematography is lush and reminiscent of the classics of the Western genre. It is a harshly stunning film you should watch.
"The bare script seems written by telegram, reducing the characters to pieces on a historical chessboard, and the portentous pace and lugubrious tone of Cooper's direction take the place of substance."
— Richard Brody
"If there's one major oversight in this film, for all its epic scope, it's that despite its sincerely felt subject matter, everything is seen throughout from the viewpoint of the white folks."
— Philip Kemp
A legendary Native American-hating Army captain nearing retirement in 1892 is given one last assignment: to escort a Cheyenne chief and his family through dangerous territory back to his Montana reservation.
Gave me back hope for cinema. It’s proof that there is room for things that are not commercial, for emotion, beauty and sentiments. Simply great cinema.
I sat enthralled by much of the film – from the stunning cinematography to many of the performances. But the penultimate scene of the film absolutely floored me; I’m still not sure I’ve processed it fully, much less accepted it. I would still recommend the film so everyone can decide for themselves.
What a GREAT BiG MOVIE about a simple story.