Lawrence Reves

This is the near perfect western. It has great characters. In almost every case, the actor in the role is perfectly cast. Starting with its depiction of life on the trail, for the cow punchers, the viewer is drawn in to the story. The eventual conflict between "free grazers" and the "cattle baron" (think big fish, little pond) is developed, as seen from the heroes' points of view. Basically, they didn't see it coming, until it was thrust upon them. At that point the heroes don't want trouble but, when it comes, they are not to be pushed. The romance is reluctant, not forced. It's done in proper order. When it comes, it's conducted haltingly, but come it does. The inevitable shootout seems realistic, except for Charlie fanning his gun, at the beginning. Costner acknowledged this but, as he said, it was just so cool. I'm sad that there was so much cursing. It was unnecessary, and a detraction. I'd have liked to seen the gunslinger developed a little more. And I'd have liked to seen Mose's fight, similar to the first fight scene in Pale Rider. However, this was always from the perspective of the two main heroes, and they saw the after effects. As I said, this was the near-perfect western. It far exceeds Costner's Dances With Wolves, in its old west depiction, without the revisionist protstelitizing of Wolves.