Our new feature has our capsule thoughts on new movies in theaters and on streaming, in this case featuring three great women directors and also a new/old take on Shakespeare
Category Archives: Westerns
JOHNNY GUITAR (1954)
A deeply weird and strangely “psychosexual” Western, mostly centering on two women. Sort othe exact opposite of stereotypical John Wayne stoicism.
THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES (1976)
As Clint Eastwood’s latest film is released in theaters and on streaming, we revisit another 45 year old Western in which he directed and starred.
RIO BRAVO (1959)
A very well-made, enjoyable western with John Wayne as a stoic small-town sheriff and Dean Martin as his alcoholic deputy.
GIANT (1956)
This sweeping story of a huge Texas cattle ranch over several decades lives up to its name, but I think falls short of its clear ambition to be “Gone With the Wind, but as a Western.”
DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990)
Probably the best known movie about Native Americans, directed by and starring a very laconic white guy who I’m not sure can actually act. But I think it mostly works?
BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969)
This extremely affable western about a couple of outlaws on the run feels like the direct ancestor of your average Marvel movie.
SHANE (1953)
A (very) widescreen western about the consequences of violence, or something, which I would’ve enjoyed more if not for the super-whiny little kid.
HIGH NOON (1952)
A western parable in which Gary Cooper is very convinced he is right and everyone else is wrong. He would have fit right in on Twitter.
THE WILD BUNCH (1969)
A violent, nihilistic revisionist Western that changed how violence was shown on-screen.
Movie Valhalla 