Lonesome Dove

Rating:
Summary: One of the best westerns ever made
Review: Lonesome Dove is a classic western based on the novel of the same name by Larry McMurtry. Lonesome Dove tells the story of two former Texas Rangers, Captain Augustus McCrae and Captain Woodrow F. Call. When one of their old friends shows up telling how beautiful the Montana territory is, they decide to drive a herd of cattle all the way from the Texas border on the Rio Grande to Montana. Along the way, the Hat Creek Outfit and its herd must deal with renegade Indians, sandstorms, horse thieves, countless rivers, long periods of time with no water, and much more. This has always been one of my favorite movies, not just a miniseries or western. The movie blends great characters, a perfectly interwoven story, and plenty of action. Remaining very true to McMurtry's epic novel, Lonesome Dove does not shy away from showing things like they really were. By the end, characters you have come to love have died. This is a can't miss western that will please almost all moviegoers.

What makes Lonesome Dove special is the casting, from its two main leads all the way to the bit supporting characters. Robert Duvall was born to play the part of Captain Augustus McCrae, the wise-cracking, lazy, ladies man. Gus has too many great lines throughout the movie to even mention. Tommy Lee Jones is perfect as Captain Woodrow F. Call, the hard-nosed, no nonsense, Texas Ranger. The chemistry between Gus and Call provide many of the high points of the movie. The excellent supporting cast includes Danny Glover as Josh Deets, the tracker/scout for the herd, Diane Lane as Lorena Wood, a sporting woman who goes along on the drive, Robert Urich as Jake Spoon, the smooth talking, card playing friend of Gus and Call, Frederic Forrest as the renegade outlaw Blue Duck, D.B. Sweeney as Dish Boggett, a love sick cowboy, Rick Schroeder as Newt, the young cowboy trying to become a man, Angelica Houston as Clara Allen, the love of Gus' life, Chris Cooper as Sheriff July Johnson, and Tim Scott as Pea Eye Parker.

The two-disc DVD offers a decent looking fullscreen presentation, interviews with Lonesome Dove author Larry McMurtry and executive producer Suzanne de Passe, cast and crew information, production notes, a trailer for the miniseries, and an interactive western trivia game. It goes without saying that if you're a fan of the movie, check out the novel. This is one of the few movies where you can say the movie was as good as the book. For a classic western with a great cast, fantastic story, and plenty of action, check out Lonesome Dove!