This movie has like 50 producers and more importantly has an actor directing it. In fact, he wrote it, produced it, directed it, and stars in it. I normally refer to this as The Great Flaw, as it usually results in a movie that is too ambitious, and something suffers. In this movie, things suffer a little less, but things still suffer.
There is a mental illness that is afflicting women in the village that Hillary Swank is living in. Hillary, a lone woman with a farm and some cattle, winds up being saddled with the responsibility of taking the crazy women across the country during winter to a city where they can get help and (potentially for some) get reunited with family. Tommy Lee is just a guy she picks up to help her with the women for the trip. He reluctantly joins her, and he demonstrates a questionable morality.
Here's the deal with this thing: it's a well made, but tediously slow movie. It relies on very nice cinematography, good acting, and a very, very simple story. It's more of a character study than a movie, really, with Tommy and Hillary being pretty much the only people in it. Yes, there are the crazy women, but they decided to just make those women not talk. Indians? Well, if there are any (and I'm not saying one way or the other) they don't need dialogue.
There is a point at which this movie should end. Then there is another point at which it should end. Then there is another point. Honestly, this movie kept going on despite the fact that the story had run out and the audience had most likely lost interest. When the movie finally does end, it left me wondering why I had waited until the very end to shut it off. Most of the other places where the movie could safely end would have been better endings.
One of the quotes on the poster makes reference to comparing this movie to True Grit, and I understand why. You have the gruff, matter-of-fact old guy and the younger, innocent, strong-willed, and pointedly moral woman who is paradoxically in charge of the task that will take this Old West Odd Couple across a good bit of land.
Direction was good
Story was weak
Pacing was slow
Acting was great
Dialogue was good
2.5/5