The Outsider

Rating:
Summary: Unexpected Find
Review: I came across this movie by chance, and it was an unexpected treasure. A well done romance, which worked mainly due to the two leads. If 'Angel and the Bad Man' (starring John Wayne) took the light-hearted approach to the story of a gunfighter being tamed by a Quaker woman, 'The Outsider' takes a more serious look at the inner struggles of the two characters who bridge the conflicting beliefs and upbringing and fall in love. Tim Daly was great as a gunfighter who slowly learns to trust another person, and Naomi Watts was wonderful as a Quaker widow who braves the scorn of her community for love. An excellent movie.

Rating:
Summary: A western that leaves you thinking
Review: I caught the very end of the movie on Showtime. It intrigued me enough to buy the DVD; could not find it to rent first. It was money well spent. It is several cuts above average westerns and in it's way, even the movie "The Unforgiven". Naomi Watts gives a strong and compelling preformance as Rebbecca Yoder, a devoted Amish widow and ferociously protective mother. The belief that 'God will protect us' is her foundation. Tim Daly gives an outstanding preformance as Johnny Gault, the wounded shootist she takes in and nurses back to health after he wonders into her field. He can speak volumes with a quirked eyebrow and expressive eyes. It is obvious that Mr. Daly spent time getting into shape for this role as he is really cut. His acting in this role raises questions as to why he is so under appreciated as a leading man.(emphasis on Man, not the latest young pretty boy) His character, Johnny Gault, is a pragmatic realist about the way the world works. The attraction of Mr. Gault to Mrs. Yoder is not without cost,because as in any good western, right and wrong and good and evil must be delt with. The ending will leave you thinking. It is one of my very favorite movies and I hope others will enjoy it too.

Rating:
Summary: Lovely Western romance, first rate acting from Tim Daly!
Review: I just happened upon this movie while looking for something to watch while I exercised on my stepping machine. Needless to say, I was so captivated by the movie that when my exercise hour was up, I just collapsed on the bed and watched this wonderful love story!

Wounded gunslinger Johnny Gault stumbles onto Amish widow Rebecca Yoder's farm. She nurses him back to health, tries to redeem him and falls in love! Sounds corny, and I guess it is a little bit, but what's wrong with that? There is a storyline about cattlemen wanting to run the Amish out of town in order to have their free grazing lands back, but it is primarily a love story between these two totally different people and how they make it work. This movie made me an instant Tim Daly fan! I used to think of him only as the cute one from "Wings", but now I am watching any movie he is, or has been, in! His acting is superb and subtle, and he is very nice to look at! Naomi Watts is lovely, but once in a while she has a goofy look on her face, as if she's not quite sure how she should react in a certain scene. But, these are small, picky things that shouldn't in any way detract from this wonderful movie. After you watch it, get the book! The book has a couple of storylines that were omitted from the film (for the sake of brevity)and Johnny Gault (who is Johnny Cain in the book with Rachel Yoder)is a somewhat darker character. The ending of the book is a bit more powerful, and if you can read it without crying, you're a tougher person than I!

Rating:
Summary: "Witness" meets "Hired Hand"
Review: I like Tim Daly. I like Naomi Watts. I did not like this picture. And, the message, if in fact there really was one here was simplistic. Everything about the movie was utterly predictable, the love story, the powerful landowners wanting to push out the religious pacifists. These greedy murderous bullies pull pretty much every dastardly act during the duration of this movie---and of course, they get their just desserts. But, having both main characters emerge from critical injuries which the town doctor (David Carradine) says they cannot survive seems a bit much. But, in this movie, love triumphs over greediness and religious fundamentalism. It is also sad to see both David and Keith Carradine in such meaningless roles. But, then, they never have been big stars, so I guess it is necessary to get work when you can. As Naomi Watts' star soars, I cannot imagine this film being much of the springboard to her apparent stardom.

Rating:
Summary: Not as good as the book (3 1/2 stars)
Review: I read "the Outsider" a while ago. The movie was surprisingly good, but not as richly detailed or as well developed as the book... but then thats usually the case with a book turned movie. I enjoyed Naomi Watts in her role as Rebecca(Rachel in the book) and I would have probably have rated it higher than 3 1/2 stars if I had not read it first. All in all, this was a movie worth seeing.

Rating:
Summary: Tim Daly at his best
Review: I recently caught this movie on Showtime. I loved it. From beginning to end, I was riveted. I thought the story was well done and the characters absorbing and I was never bored or distracted. Tim Daly was a sight to behold (best shape I have ever seen him, preppy look transformed) and Naomi Watts was perfect as a "daughter of the plain people". David and Keith Carradine were perfect in their roles as well (especially David). Could the scenery have been any better? And the music not what you would expect of a western (wonderful). I would definately recommend this movie. I liked it so much that I bought the video and I recently checked out the book from my local library (the first chapter promising that the book will be even better than the movie, if that is possible). Thank you Penelope Williamson and Randa Haines.

Rating:
Summary: Tim Daly at his best
Review: I recently caught this movie on Showtime. I loved it. From beginning to end, I was riveted. I thought the story was well done and the characters absorbing and I was never bored or distracted. Tim Daly was a sight to behold (best shape I have ever seen him, preppy look transformed) and Naomi Watts was perfect as a "daughter of the plain people". David and Keith Carradine were perfect in their roles as well (especially David). Could the scenery have been any better? And the music not what you would expect of a western (wonderful). I would definately recommend this movie. I liked it so much that I bought the video and I recently checked out the book from my local library (the first chapter promising that the book will be even better than the movie, if that is possible). Thank you Penelope Williamson and Randa Haines.

Rating:
Summary: western with a heart
Review: I stumbled onto this on showtime, I missed the first two minutes, was ready to change channels when here was Tim Daly looking different than I had ever seen him, I stuck with it and I am glad I did, sure the plot was predictable, but getting there was interesting. A very good preformance by Naomi Watts and the best ever for Daly. The struggle between a very committed religious life and a gun slinger is the axis of the movie and the love of God and the two different life styles. The music and the photography is wonderful. The pace of this movie is slow but I think life was about that speed then. A very touching movie and "maybe" the the family could enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: An actionless romantic western
Review: If you're willing to suspend your disbelief and believe that Amish women are smoldering with lust and ready to throw aside their beliefs and go at it like Pam Anderson, then you might like this film. The box makes it look like it's gonna be one wild action western. Unfortunately, it was based on a romance novel and you can tell. There are maybe five minutes of action in the film. A cattle baron is trying to run folks off his land with a group of men. However, when the final showdown occurs, only 3 men show up to face Tim Daly. As you might expect this doesn't make for a very action-packed piece. If you're more into character-driven stories though, you will probably like it. Yes, it's nice to see Daly's character change from the killer to the father-figure. It's just hard to picture Naomi Watts as a lusty Amish woman. She does a great job acting, but it seems hard to believe she'd throw away all she believed in just for a few minutes of passion.

Rating:
Summary: beautiful gem of a film
Review: Randa Raines has directed a beautiful gem of a film about love and redemption. An adaption of P. Williamson's gritty novel "The Outsider", the film is tightly focused on the two main characters and stands on its own. There were many great little touches and nuanced action that contributed to the overall quality of the film that is rarely found in a cable movie.

Naomi Watts as Rebecca delivers a strong and sensitive performance as the beautiful Amish widow who nurses a wounded, world-weary gunfighter back to health both physically and spritually. I don't remember the name of the actor that played her son but he was very good for one so young.

It is Tim Daly, however, as the tough, hard-bitten killer Johnny Gault, that drives the film. His powerful multi-demensional performance is a joy to watch, not to mention how handsome he is and with a great voice too. He speaks with those eyes. Kudos to the director as well as the performers for a tasteful but very erotic love scene.

I hope to see more of Daly in leading roles. Great movie worth buying.