Date: February 12
Location: Clifton Living Room
2007 could be remembered as the year of the Western, with astonishing films such as No Country For Old Men and There Will Be Blood topping critics lists and the Oscars. This gorgeous, meditative tale continues that trend. It's a shame it was lost in the mix (save for Casey Affleck's much-deserved Best Supporting Actor nomination). I've read and heard much criticism that the film is too "slow" — and I can see that, up to a point. It is definitely long, and more concerned with talk than action. But I was riveted from the first frame to the last.
The movie reminded me a lot of the book Manhunt, about the events surrounding Abraham Lincoln's assassination. It has a fascinating attention to detail, both of the period and of the circumstances surrounding James' murder. The events that follow the assassination were particularly fascinating (and new) to me.
Finally, major kudos to cinematographer Roger Deakins, whose work here is at least on par with his amazing work on No Country For Old Men. Deakins has been nominated by the Academy for both films and it will be a crime if he cancels himself out and the trophy goes to somebody else.
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