Donna May

Baffled by the rave reviews. Generally love Westerns and was intrigued that the plot centered around a woman and a native American, but there were so many gaping plot holes and so much scenery chewing and so so so many bad choices. Emily Blunt's character ought to have gotten killed in scene 1 then 30 more times for all her bad decisions, none of which a woman in her position in 1875 would have made. Also there are some big things that happen off camera-- and while I'm grateful that the central massacre was done strictly w/ sound effects, one major character's death is only described but not shown. (Both were, I'm certain, choices made purely by budget constraints rather than actual artistic decisions.) But what drove me the most nuts was how wrong the costumes were. Tight trousers under a flowing ballgown and perfectly fitted vest...but not one stitch is appropriate for her character. Or the time period. Or the arduous journey she's been on. There's hardly a spec of dirt to be found. People are constantly showing up in a hat or coat so clean you could eat off it. And why would anyone trying to travel inconspicuously wrap themselves in a huge bright red blanket or a bright magenta dress? Head smackingly bad design choices. It'll probably get nominated for being showy. But I wish the choices had been made to make the story and the clothes more believable.