Movies

Kelly Reichardt's western 'Meek's Cutoff' is dour, unmelodramatic, realistic, claustrophobic, and ultimately unresolved. These qualities are (along with its striking use of the semi-desert of eastern Oregon) the film's strengths; but ultimately, also its weaknesses. While there's atmosphere, not a lot happens; and while the film is pleasingly un-glib, there's not too much characterisation either: the braggart explorer, the Puritan settlers, the mysterious native, none of the characters go far beyond stereotype, even if their micro-behaviour is impressively restrained and convincing. As a piece of recreated history, the film has merits: but as dramatic entertainment, it's sadly guilty of not even trying.

In 1945, a group of people travels along the Oregon trail while battling harsh conditions. Nothing the travelers face is as harsh as what the viewers of this film are confronted with: the risk of paralysis from boredom. One waits for something to happen. Can we have an Indian attack? No, then how about one seriously deranged rabbit that terrorizes the travelers? Maybe a downpour that floods the plains and drowns everybody? No such luck. We watch them trudge along for mile after mile after mile. Inexplicably filmed in 4:3 aspect ratio, it is surprising that it not in sepia tone or a silent film...oh, wait, it is practically a silent film, with sparse, boring dialog.

Slow, meaningless, little dialog, and less acting. I'd pass on this one.