Logan Sork Film Reviews
Hostiles
The American west has always been a place of romance and wonder. Noble heroes and their trusty steeds saving lovely maidens from the evil outlaws, horse chases, shootouts, all set against a glorious sunset beyond the desert of the American frontier. None of this is found in director Scott Cooper’s Hostiles, which portrays the American West as it truly was. The “heroes” have dark pasts, the “villains” are simply trying to survive and the “fair maidens” are women who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, all in the name of surviving the true American West, a harsh, unforgiving landscape where It is kill or be killed.
The film is directed by Scott Cooper and stars Christian Bale as Captain Joe Blocker, a solider with a deep hatred for the hatred for the Native Americans because of his troubled past with them. His final mission before retirement is to escort the dying Cheyanne chief Yellow Hawk (Wes Studi) and his family from a prison in New Mexico to their native land in Montana. Along the way they encounter Rosalie Quaid (Rosamund Pike), a rancher who has just witnessed her entire family be slaughtered by a group of Comanche raiders. This group of characters must make the long and harsh journey through the frontier, where the land takes more than a physical toll on them.
What sets Hostiles apart from most other westerns is its unwavering decision to show the West how it truly was. We often think “I would’ve loved to been part of that great time in America”. The reality is however, is that the American West was kind of a horrible place to live. Yes, it was beautiful, something the films cinematography really captures well, but it was also populated with harsh unforgiving landscapes, weather and people. Something that truly makes this film special is showing not just the physical toll the terrain had on the people, but also the mental toll.
Our characters are not the pure hearted people that populated the classical Westerns of the 40’s and 50’s, these are real people that have been living in this harsh environment for years. All the characters are troubled in some way or another, as the harsh conditions have really driven them towards their respective edges. As the film progresses, we see just how much the violence and harshness takes a toll on our characters, whether they be hardened veterans or fresh-faced newcomers, the frontier still finds a way of creeping into the psyche of our characters. What really sold you on the change was the performances from the cast. There is not a single performance in this film that feels week or uninspired. Even characters with brief appearances and minimal dialogue convey a sense of weariness, showing the toll that the land has taken on them. This is juxtaposed with performances from people living in settled areas and seem contempt with their lives and happy. Further illuminating the toll the frontier takes on people.
Despite the hardships our characters face in the frontier, it also causes some characters to change for the good and develop new bonds along the way. When we begin the film, the native family is weary of their US army escort and the soldiers don’t really seem to care for the natives and only see them as an objective to the mission. As they travel through the frontier, they begin to build a bond of trust between the two groups as they face many brutal challenges along the way. The film shows while the frontier may make the journey difficult, it can also form the most unlikely of bonds.
The technical elements of the film are also superb. As I mentioned before, the cinematography captures not only the beautiful side of the Western frontier, but also the brutal side as well. The sound design and mixing are also fantastic, every bullet fired from gun is loud and cracks the otherwise peaceful scenery. This is one of the few films that I think truly replicates the sounds of guns properly. The editing is also excellent, during the shootouts it is fast paced and hectic, adding to a sense of chaos to the fights. It also allows for long takes during the scenic moments that they have on the journey, adding some needed moments of levity to the film.
If I have anything negative about the film to say is that it introduces a subplot involving another prisoner which I didn’t feel was necessary and didn’t add much. There are also some points in the film where it feels like it slows down and meanders too much. There weren’t many moments in the film like this, but when they appear, they are very noticeable as they stand out among an otherwise well-paced film.
Hostiles is not for the faint of heart or people who prefer their westerns clean and simple. It is a dark, dirty and brutal film. Those who decide to view it however, will find a fantastic analysis of how the harshness of a place can shape the minds of its inhabitants and a fantastic story of how it can build bonds between the people who fight the harsh conditions together.
8/10