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10

ProteusDec 3, 2014

Great great movie. Tommy Lee's stamp is all over this. Unpredictable and weirdly realistic story. Original characters. Original story. Go see this movie

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5

foxgroveNov 26, 2014

Although The Homesman is beautifully crafted with some striking visuals its uneven tone has a detrimental effect on the movie's end result. Things start promisingly as we observe Hilary Swank going about her daily life on the farm, but asAlthough The Homesman is beautifully crafted with some striking visuals its uneven tone has a detrimental effect on the movie's end result. Things start promisingly as we observe Hilary Swank going about her daily life on the farm, but as soon as she starts trekking across the prairie to Iowa with Tommy Lee Jones and three mad women in tow the interest quickly starts to dissipate. By the end I felt as if I had been on the journey with them and wasn't far off crazy myself. Swank and Jones are a good pairing with the latter providing some fitfully amusing moments. Swank is at her most outstanding in a very moving scene in which she asks Jones to marry her.
Contrary to what the critics have been saying the film is at its best when the surprise exit of a major character allows the film to remove itself from the boredom of the plains. The introduction of other players, notably James Spader (hamming it up deliciously) and Meryl Streep each in their own singular scene, injects some much needed drama into proceedings. This last half hour does, in fact, hint at how good the film could have been had it taken another route.… Expand

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6

jeremypDec 7, 2014

A bleak and depressing story that never lifts itself out of it's deep cynicism. The actors are superb but the material drags them down. What really kills the film is the empty roles given the three "madwomen" reduced mostly to catatonicA bleak and depressing story that never lifts itself out of it's deep cynicism. The actors are superb but the material drags them down. What really kills the film is the empty roles given the three "madwomen" reduced mostly to catatonic stares, which robs the story of badly needed central solidity, and then it gets worse.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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6

TVJerryDec 9, 2014

Tommy Lee Jones directed and stars in this film about an intense, independent pioneer woman (Hilary Swank) who volunteers to deliver three mentally unstable wives back to a more civilized place. Jones plays the shiftless reprobate who sheTommy Lee Jones directed and stars in this film about an intense, independent pioneer woman (Hilary Swank) who volunteers to deliver three mentally unstable wives back to a more civilized place. Jones plays the shiftless reprobate who she enlists to help her on the strenuous trek. The story unfolds in small episodes that provide short glimpses into their characters and situations they face. It's a bleak time and the threats they face are continuous. The film's mood reflects this (although Jones manages to give his character a few comic flashes). It's a sometimes uncomfortable journey (in both senses), but not especially intense or emotional. Still, if you have a taste for frontier stories you might find it interesting.… Expand

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6

ledaumasNov 30, 2014

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Excellent acting and a sad story about the other side of the pioneer spirit. I couldn't help comparing Matt Damon in Instrastellar where he's desperate for human companionship. Same thing here, but it's the old West instead of being stranded on a planet with no one else. In this story, it's being stranded with a selfish person. Both movies show the extreme circumstances of loneliness which causes people to go crazy. I used to watch "Streetcar Named Desire" when I got depressed because after watching that movie, I knew my life was so much better, so I felt better after watching it. This movie doesn't offer the same relief. The ending of the movie seems to say that these women made poor choices when they decided to live in isolated areas with men they thought loved them, when the man's need was more out of necessity than love. Yet most women want love, even now. Golddiggers were not interested in the West and this movie shows why. thw story affects you. But I dont watch movies to see a depressing story. I have my life for that which can, but not always, be bad enough. I wanted the ending to have redemption, but it did not. I'm not sure what the end meant. I hope it means Biggs changed, but I don't think that happened,… Expand

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6

SpangleMay 2, 2016

Often called a "feminist western", The Homesman is decidedly not feminist and instead incredibly sexist. That aside, it is only a middling success. The cinematography is the best thing this western has going for it, as the shots here areOften called a "feminist western", The Homesman is decidedly not feminist and instead incredibly sexist. That aside, it is only a middling success. The cinematography is the best thing this western has going for it, as the shots here are truly gorgeous from beginning to end. The premise is interesting and well realized. Heck, even the characters are very well done and have nice little arcs to them. That said, the acting is spotty, the film is decidedly dull, and I typically avoid chalking up sexism as a con unless blatant, but the fact the film pretends to be feminist is what makes me do this. Ultimately, the film could use better pacing, but as it stands this one largely satisfied me. Truly dark and depressing, The Homesman is hits all of the western trademarks and brings some fresh twists to the arena.… Expand

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8

avergonzataDec 21, 2014

Being from Nebraska, I was bothered by a couple of details. First of all, it's not ungodly cold (or snowy, for that matter) weeks into May. Secondly, the pronunciation of Kearney (or Kearny, as in "Fort Kearny") is "car-knee," as every PlatteBeing from Nebraska, I was bothered by a couple of details. First of all, it's not ungodly cold (or snowy, for that matter) weeks into May. Secondly, the pronunciation of Kearney (or Kearny, as in "Fort Kearny") is "car-knee," as every Platte Valley native knows. Verisimilitude aside, this movie bothered me, in a good way. Bleak, expansive nothingness nearly drove ME mad in the 1970s... I can't imagine trying to survive there in a sod house a century and a half earlier. Fun fact: they mentioned Falls City, NE, which was the setting for Hilary Swank's Oscar-winning role in Boys Don't Cry. See this movie. It will trouble you. And think about the people who tough it out down there the next time you fly over.… Expand

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6

beingryanjudeNov 14, 2014

Despite promise from a bizarrely interesting trek across the wilderness and another dignified performance from Hilary Swank, The Homesman under utilizes its own story and even its own actors.

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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7

LowbrowCinemaNov 24, 2014

THE HOMESMAN has patches of brilliance but is ultimately too uneven to work in any totality. But never before has there been a film that so miserably documents the psychological impact of the pioneer spirit. It will strike you dead. And thenTHE HOMESMAN has patches of brilliance but is ultimately too uneven to work in any totality. But never before has there been a film that so miserably documents the psychological impact of the pioneer spirit. It will strike you dead. And then there is Hilary Swank. So perfect. So sublime. When the film moves on beyond her, it totally loses sense of urgency until a brilliant ending where everything is lost, everything empty, futile, useless. Dance on your grave. You're dead. But ultimately, I left THE HOMESMAN thinking of only Hilary Swank. How does one so fully inhabit another human being?… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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0

udelfelMay 24, 2015

Feminism? Hardly. A strong and determined woman relies on a ner-do-well man and then hangs herself when he rejects her. Meryl Streep and Hilary, what were you thinking? The images portrayed of women and mental illness reflect stereotypes fromFeminism? Hardly. A strong and determined woman relies on a ner-do-well man and then hangs herself when he rejects her. Meryl Streep and Hilary, what were you thinking? The images portrayed of women and mental illness reflect stereotypes from the medieval ages, replete with biting, scratching, staring, screaming and infanticide, all of it allegedly caused by mean men and stark countryside. National Alliance of the Mentally Ill should have organized a protest.… Expand

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0

HimselfDec 12, 2014

This was the worst movie I have ever seen. There was no; point, message, or redeeming message at all. The craft of the leading actors was laudable but wasted because of the empty/ degrading story line.

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2

benuttyNov 18, 2014

I have no idea what TLJ was trying to accomplish, but this film is a complete mess from start to finish. The editing stands out as most problematic, but there are also issues with tone, music and plot.

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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0

sammi9090May 13, 2015

Yay. A return to the archaic age of film making where native Americans were depicted as murderous savages via propaganda. I guess I'm supposed to dig this film despite it's slooooow, draggging pace because it's so oddly disjointed itYay. A return to the archaic age of film making where native Americans were depicted as murderous savages via propaganda. I guess I'm supposed to dig this film despite it's slooooow, draggging pace because it's so oddly disjointed it appears trendily independent. Not so. And really? There are a total of 3 crazy women in a small town...and they all HAPPEN to come from Iowa? Yuck. Skip this one folks.… Expand

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7

LeZeeJul 14, 2016

An unusual western road trip drama.

A novel based film starred and directed by the 70 years old Tommy Lee Jones. An unusual realistic western drama with a fantastic cast. It sets around the time 1850 and the story of three mentally illAn unusual western road trip drama.

A novel based film starred and directed by the 70 years old Tommy Lee Jones. An unusual realistic western drama with a fantastic cast. It sets around the time 1850 and the story of three mentally ill wives who were transported to a safe facility by a man and a woman who hired him in exchange of saving his life. During this both way road trip, what they go through is what finely told.

Tommy Lee Jones and Hilary Swank were excellent in their parts. She was the best, you would definitely feel her role's eagerness to get a normal life with a husband and children. Which is very important for the personal and the social life of that time. And at this old age, Tommy Lee did a great job in all the fields he had undertaken for this project. His vision was the most appreciable.

Felt like I saw a wonderful western film after a long time. But some of the events were needed a good explanation like one of the deaths in the film. Since it was a tale of the cowboy culture era, few things were understandable, but not everyone going to get those parts. So the details were missing yet not a bad film.

The characters were not introduced in a usual way, it only goes forward by developing the story and by the end you would feel you know them enough. And at the final act, there was a couple of guest appearances and steals the show. It is not your regular western, totally worth a watch and that's my suggestion.

7/10… Expand