I wanted to but couldn't!

Fantastic!

Excellent but underrated film

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Why is the intro/begging scene never resolved? why is that scene even there? why are they on horses playing pool in a bar? why does the animal doctor kiss a random little kid and show his baby to kids when he visits the school? Why would the kids give a crap about him or his baby whom they've never met before? the kids in the school seemed as confused as me and my family watching this movie. why is the story told out of order? Whats the deal with the fat french man interested in buying the photographer's studio.. who btw was turned down, why is he all the suddenly on the boat? yes he expressed interest in migrating to the wild west as well but, why is introduced in such a manor? why does the animal doctor not realize something is wrong when the dog is barking like crazy and the house is trashed? why does it take him so long to realize something is wrong ONLY when he finds his wife's dead body? is he extra stupid? why was he such a selfish ass hole to his wife when she was still alive? maybe this movies is an arts fartsy piece of crap. why do movies try to make the audience interpret things. it can be interpreted a million ways. it's like charging 100 dollars to see painting i've never seen before then handing me the paint brush and blank canvas. I want to be entertained not be an art major.why is this movie all out of order and not making much sense?

Became aware of this film a week ago, in a karaoke bar in - of all places - Tombstone, AZ. The movie was up on the widescreen TV, but the sound was turned off. Even so, the visuals had me focusing on the movie more than listening to the live music! First I'm seeing a war in Europe, then I'm seeing the American land races, back and forth, and well-known faces of James Caan, Genevieve Bujold, and dear old Richard Farnsworth. Even without sound, the tenderness of some scenes came through! Had to find out more about this film! So I jotted a few notes and looked it up by actors/together, and now that I have read more good reviews than bad, I will be putting it at the top of our rental list!

Interesting to read some other reviews here talk of how art plays a role in this film, and how that's a bad or somehow less appealing thing. Maybe it's the genre they see as this not working well. For some, a simpler film may be best. But this film integrates a variety of story lines and looks to take the viewer on a forward and backward ride forcing you to think about what you missed and what is yet to come. With that, it's too complicated, too artsy if you will, for a dumbed down less sophisticated American movie audience. Sad that some miss this, but see the film for yourself and appreciate film making for the art IT IS!!! American film audiences have a lot of work to do! Otherwise, I love the film for the French language and story line in Paris because I love French, France, and Paris!

I am studying sound design and this movie blew me away. Watched it late night only because of the excellent James C. The most striking thing is when ever there is a violent scene, the director choose to fade out and loose all natural sound and simply play a simple but striking piece of piano. It distances you from the horror of the violence, it seemed to me to be as if I was being sheltered from the full effect. Powerful and poetic this was a revisionist western way ahead of its peers and only to be matched by Clint Eastwood's High plains drifter and Beguiled.