Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful Western
Review: I'm not a big western fan, but loved this movie, every second of it. The actors look like they walked out of the past, the scenery is beautiful. The story well done. This isn't a romanticised western. The towns look dirty, as do the prostitutes and cowboys. It's a wonderful movie.
Rating: 
Summary: "You're both crazy, but you do keep me amused. "
Review: I'm not much of a history buff, so I really couldn't tell you how much factual detail is contained within the film The Long Riders (1980), but in terms of a great western film, it falls a bit shy. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but given the amount of talent involved I expected a little more than what I got. Don't get me wrong, this is still a pretty good film, but it could have been better. Directed by Walter Hill (Hard Times, 48 Hrs.), the film features a number of Hollywood siblings including James and Stacy Keach (both of whom share writing credits for this film), David, Keith, and Robert Carradine, and Dennis and Randy Quaid. Also appearing is Christopher and Nicholas Guest along with Pamela Reed (Chattahoochee, Kindergarten Cop) and James Remar (The Warriors, 48 Hrs.).
The film is set shortly after the American Civil War, and follows the exploits of the James/Younger gang, comprised of Jesse (James Keach) and Frank (Stacy Keach) James, Cole (David Carradine), Jim (Keith Carradine), and Bob (Robert Carradine) Younger, and Ed (Dennis Quaid) and Clell (Randy Quaid) Miller (whew!). The film follows not so much a straightforward plot like we would normally expect in a film, but a series of what were probably actual, documented events, occurring over a decent span of time, strung together to relate the relative rise and subsequent fall (at the hands of the Pinkertons, among others) of some of the most famous outlaw (or infamous, however you look at it) figures in American history.
I thought the use of real life brothers (apparently Jeff and Beau Bridges were originally approached to play Jesse and Frank James, but couldn't due to scheduling conflicts) to depict the characters within the film was somewhat inspired, but then I couldn't help wonder if it was also a marketing tactic (it didn't feel like it)...either way, it worked, sort of...I guess I expected more `connectivity' between these real life brothers to come through on the screen. There was some of this, but not as much as I would have thought, and I think it had something to do with the limitations within the script. All the relationships seemed to be shown with a minimalist view, and not explored as much as I would have liked. I thought most of the actors did well, but James Keach seemed an unlikely choice for Jesse James...I guess I'm used to seeing him in more comedic roles, like in films like Cannonball (1976) or Moving Violations (1985). Here his serious, dramatic portrayal comes through pretty flavorless, and hardly instilled the belief that he was the brains of the operation. The story never really goes into the origins of the gang, other than they all seemed to come from Missouri, but does go into a bit of detail with regards to various crimes they committed, and the fate of each of the members. The makers of the film seemed to focus a lot of attention on detail, specifically regarding the look and feel of the film (costumes, sets, music, etc.), but I felt something missing within the characters. I think it was because the film takes place over a good period of time (in one scene we see a particular character courting a woman, another scene they're getting married, and yet another scene they have what appears to be a toddler), and doesn't delve into a great amount of specifics pertaining to particular events, instead loosely relating many events. Sometimes the passage of time is obvious, but other times its' not. One thing I did notice was that the film didn't appear to try and glamorize the outlaws, but rather tried to show them in a relatively realistic manner...it was apparent in the film that the divide between the North and the South didn't end with the war, as the Southerners generally viewed the gang with a sympathetic eye (especially since the gang seemed intent on only stealing from companies or institutions with Northern ties), and the Northerners, basically represented by the Pinkerton agents, were interested in upholding the law, with, perhaps an underlying motive of quashing any rebellious types still stinging over the South's loss, using it as a justification to commit criminal activities (that last part is just my opinion, so take it for what it's worth). Overall the direction was good, but Hill made some odd choices, in my opinion. The use of `wipes' to transition from scene to scene felt out of place, and stuck out in my mind. It's not an uncommon technique, but it just didn't seem appropriate for the material (I think a `fade out, fade in' tactic would have worked better). Also, the use of slow motion in some of the action scenes might not have been my first choice, but then again it's easy to play armchair director. I guess I am just more accustomed to seeing this type of tactic used in a more modern setting. I did like the action sequences (although it seemed like an awful lot of people kept getting shot in the shoulder), and the big finale near the end is worth sticking around for, if you don't mind lengthy periods of inactivity (these periods consisted of somewhat shallow scenes showing key members of the gang pursuing aspects of a normal life, i.e. marriage, family, etc.).
The wide screen anamorphic picture (1:85.1) looks very clean and clear on this DVD, and the Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono audio comes through very well. There are Spanish and French subtitles available, but, alas, none for English...special features include a theatrical trailer and that's it...all in all this is a decent release of a very solid, slightly flawed film.
Cookieman108
Rating:
Summary: Walter Hill's best film -- an unsung classic
Review: Just as the 80s were beginning and the Western was about to take a sad, decade long sleep, Walter Hill, fresh from his unexpected success with the gang film "The Warriors," turned out this unique and utterly remarkable Western about the James-Younger gang. Using real-life brothers to play the outlaw kin (two Keaches, three Carradines, two Quaids, two Guests), Hill crafts an intense character study that plays like a collaboration between Western great John Ford ("Stagecoach") and Japanese master Akira Kurosawa ("Yojimbo", a film Walter Hill later remade as "Last Man Standing"). "The Long Riders" is close to plotless, but it paints a fascinating picture of the gang and the family and community ties that keep them together (the Ford influence right there...community was his great theme) while delving into the nuances of each character (this is where the fraternal casting really helps out). And Hill acheives all this depth in only 100 minutes! The action sequences are the best in a Western since Sam Peckinpah; the Northfield robbery is particularly striking and brutal. Aside from Hill and all the great actors, cinematography Ric Waite and composer Ry Cooder deserve special mention for the film's success. Waite creates an authentic "period" look with his deep, glowing photography; the DVD transfer captures this perfectly for the first time. Cooder's score is completely against the grain for the time: small, intimate, and filled with forgotten folk tunes that help paint a picture of a united, family-built community. It is almost a companion piece for David Mansfield's equally intimate score for "Heaven's Gate," released the same year as "The Long Riders." The DVD has no extras except for a trailer, but the film is so wonderful and so rewards repeat viewings that you should grab a copy of it right away. Believe me, you'll be stunned by this piece of film art. "I ain't aiming to do nothing...I'm doing it!"
Rating:
Summary: Walter Hill's best film -- an unsung classic
Review: Just as the 80s were beginning and the Western was about to take a sad, decade long sleep, Walter Hill, fresh from his unexpected success with the gang film "The Warriors," turned out this unique and utterly remarkable Western about the James-Younger gang. Using real-life brothers to play the outlaw kin (two Keaches, three Carradines, two Quaids, two Guests), Hill crafts an intense character study that plays like a collaboration between Western great John Ford ("Stagecoach") and Japanese master Akira Kurosawa ("Yojimbo", a film Walter Hill later remade as "Last Man Standing"). "The Long Riders" is close to plotless, but it paints a fascinating picture of the gang and the family and community ties that keep them together (the Ford influence right there...community was his great theme) while delving into the nuances of each character (this is where the fraternal casting really helps out). And Hill acheives all this depth in only 100 minutes! The action sequences are the best in a Western since Sam Peckinpah; the Northfield robbery is particularly striking and brutal. Aside from Hill and all the great actors, cinematography Ric Waite and composer Ry Cooder deserve special mention for the film's success. Waite creates an authentic "period" look with his deep, glowing photography; the DVD transfer captures this perfectly for the first time. Cooder's score is completely against the grain for the time: small, intimate, and filled with forgotten folk tunes that help paint a picture of a united, family-built community. It is almost a companion piece for David Mansfield's equally intimate score for "Heaven's Gate," released the same year as "The Long Riders." The DVD has no extras except for a trailer, but the film is so wonderful and so rewards repeat viewings that you should grab a copy of it right away. Believe me, you'll be stunned by this piece of film art. "I ain't aiming to do nothing...I'm doing it!"
Rating:
Summary: Honest movie
Review: One can be as favorable as one wants, but the James-Younger gang were criminals that saw the big "bucks" in front of them and that is what counted. The movie tries to be accurate, yet sometimes it sounds a little stiff. Nevertheless, anybody who is interested in a straight forward story is going to be fine with this one. Certainly recommendable.
Rating:
Summary: worth the money
Review: one of the best western's ever made.
Rating:
Summary: cooler than cool
Review: Some will get it and some won't, but Long Riders is "it"!
Great cast, great direction, and a script that blends history and myth with style.
Great photography and a great soundtrack to boot!
Plus great action, and Western mystique galore.
They don't come much cooler than Long Riders.
A classic.
Rating:
Summary: cooler than cool
Review: Some will get it and some won't, but Long Riders is "it"!
Great cast, great direction, and a script that blends history and myth with style.
Great photography and a great soundtrack to boot!
Plus great action, and Western mystique galore.
They don't come much cooler than Long Riders.
A classic.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic western with modern day cinemetography
Review: The Long Riders is probably my favorite movie of all time. So much happens in the movie, it is almost impossible to catch everything and the meaning behind it in less than five viewings. The more you begin to understand, the better the movie becomes. Each scene is well done, and each is significant to the development of the story. While the artistic license stretches the historic accuracy of the James/Younger gang, many events are depicted as accurately as most history books describe them. The cinemetography is fabulous, unexpectedly inserting an air of magic into scenes and leaving the viewer saying "whoa!" An example is the boys on horseback appearing out of a fog bank to sneak up behind some men who accidentaly killed Jesse James' younger brother. The best work is done in the escape scene from Northfield where Cole Younger (David Carradine) is hit by at least four bullets. The slow-motion video and slowed-down sound allow the viewer to feel each strike. There is not a rating high enough for this movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Tough and Underrated
Review: The Long Riders might be the most accurate portrayal of the James/Younger gang on film. James Keach plays Jesse as a severe, violence prone character who robs banks because that's where the money is. It's light years removed from the recent Rob Lowe version "Frank and Jesse". Walter Hill didn't whitewash his characters, at least he didn't whitewash them as much as previous and subsequent directors have. Their bloody finale at Northfield Minnesota is presented with no punches pulled. This is a fine, hard little Western. If you've seen the terrible "Frank and Jesse" you owe it to yourself to check out this one.
|
