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spqrbluesHidalgo, based on the life of Frank T. Hopkins and starring Viggo Mortensen, may not be the movie you expect. It's a dime-novel, cowboy adventure with serial-movie action; there is romance and evil and conspiracies and betrayal, and quicksand. It's the world as seen through Buffalo Bill Cody's wild tales. But it is also a story about bloodlines and proud people and an ancient heritage of faith. Not necessarily the ones you may think it's about.
Don't expect Lawrence of Arabia. This movie makes no excuses for being filmed right through the wire-rimmed glasses of a late 19th century audience's desire for tales of exotic derring do, not so much Indiana Jones as Annie Oakley and a bit of Jules Verne. The film takes a risk in accepting that naive, stereotypical view of a world that never quite completely existed.
Be warned. Men fall. Horses die.
Full review in progress.
Don't expect Lawrence of Arabia. This movie makes no excuses for being filmed right through the wire-rimmed glasses of a late 19th century audience's desire for tales of exotic derring do, not so much Indiana Jones as Annie Oakley and a bit of Jules Verne. The film takes a risk in accepting that naive, stereotypical view of a world that never quite completely existed.
Be warned. Men fall. Horses die.
Full review in progress.
