Short Attention Span Review - Lonesome Dove (1989)

Short Attention Span Review - Lonesome Dove (1989)

There's a reason so many people make such a fuss about Lonesome Dove, a sprawling epic from 1989 that still holds a lot of appeal for those who enjoy a good western.  It is a quality adaptation of a powerful story, and it features two stars enjoying robust parts perfectly tailored to their strengths.  I'm not sure that either Robert Duvall or Tommy Lee Jones were ever given as much to do with a role, and even though this is a mini-series, that's still a bold statement given their legendary careers.  This is a different animal, though, a work of considerable depth that is ripe with triumph and tragedy, laughter and heartache, excitement and drama--Lonesome Dove offers up all these things and so much more.  It is an ensemble piece, and other players like Danny Glover, Diane Lane, and Robert Urich, among others, have quite an impact on the proceedings.  But it is Duvall and Jones who are front and center throughout, and each man does a splendid job of bringing his character to life, aided by a Grade A script and equally compelling direction.  Gritty, warm, cold as ice, riveting, unbelievably sad, and truly inspiring, this tale leaves no stone unturned and hits the mark at every turn.  It is a grand western with a great many things to say, and it is sure to move anyone and everyone who joins a pair of rugged former Texas Rangers on an unforgettable cattle drive.  Lonesome Dove is a must-watch for those who enjoy the genre, and I have no qualms endorsing it for those who don't typically appreciate such fare.  Like I noted earlier, Lonesome Dove is a different animal, certain to reward viewers for years to come, and I heartily recommend it to those who enjoy my blog.

Final Grade: A+

Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones are simply magnificent in this epic miniseries from 1989.  Nope, they don't make them like they used to.

Short Attention Span Review - Salem's Lot (1979)

While the decision to go with a Nosferatu type vampire is a wild departure from Stephen King's novel, the 1979 television adaptation of Salem's Lot still succeeds in bringing that terrifying book to life.  There are other differences and this miniseries is surely vastly inferior to the vampire-filled pageturner that I rank as King's best, but it still has a lot going for it.  David Soul doesn't look anything like the main character that King described, a haunted writer named Ben Mears, but he excels in the role.  I think his presence is perhaps the most impressive thing about this adaptation, though the ghastly Marsten House is also beautifully realized.  The effects are solid throughout and the score is sheer perfection.  Soul is surrounded by worthy performers like James Mason, Bonnie Bedelia, Elisha Cook Jr., George Dzundza, and Geoffrey Lewis, among others.  In addition to putting together a nifty cast, this production also nailed the quaint setting of Jerusalem's Lot, a neat little town that is drained of all life by the horrors that lurk in this imaginative shocker.  When King wrote the book, he set out to bring Dracula to Maine, and that premise works as well on the screen as it did on the page.  The 2004 remake starring Rob Lowe was downright dreadful, but I'm a big fan of this 1979 spookshow from the mind of the most demented author of our time.  As with any of King's adaptations (and adaptations in general), the book is better, but Tobe Hooper's take on Salem's Lot is cool, creepy, and lots of fun.

Final Grade: B

Though he looks nothing like the character that Stephen King described, David
Soul's work as Ben Mears is the biggest strength of this TV mini-series from 1979.

Short Attention Span Review: Broken Trail (2006)

I'm a big fan of Walter Hill's work--in fact, I think he is one of the most underrated directors of all time.  He's the man responsible for hit movies like 48 Hrs. and The Warriors, as well as unheralded gems like The Long Riders, Southern Comfort, and The Driver.  Most of his pictures (to include those set in modern times) rely on western themes and feature tough heroes and despicable villains at odds over their individual views on justice and the law.  Until recently, I had never viewed Hill's 2006 miniseries Broken Trail, which originally aired on AMC.  I'm glad I finally gave it a look--Broken Trail is an excellent western, and excellent westerns are hard to come by these days.  Robert Duvall stars alongside Thomas Haden Church and it's no surprise that Duvall excels as an ornery cowpoke with a soft and gentle side he works very hard to conceal.  Church is a bit of a revelation here, though, and that did surprise me.  Tough, brooding, and direct, it's his performance as Tom Harte that really steals the show.  The picture is built around an attempt to drive horses across the country that becomes more and more complicated as various twists of fate test our capable leads.  Broken Trail contains a few riveting setpieces, but it relies more on character development and intrigue than shootouts to tell its story, and as such it won't appeal to those who measure a good western by how many shots are fired.  There's as much time devoted to the relationships forged with a handful of Asian women who wind up under the care of our hardened cowboys as there is time devoted to their struggles with the various bad men who they encounter along the way.  Broken Trail may disappoint those looking for an action-packed jaunt through the wild west, but it will greatly please those who want to see a detailed saga about good people faced with difficult choices.  I often put Hill's work on a pedestal, and I feel that Broken Trail ranks among his very best.  In fact, it may be his most thoughtful and moving effort, and I highly recommend it to those who enjoy a rich story with a lot of scope. 

Final Grade: A