Posted by Tom on July 05, 1998 at 23:49:28:
In Reply to: Re: How to get through Sunday posted by Marcia on July 05, 1998 at 08:29:50:
: :I haven't watched Geronimo yet so I'm having a coffee break and a check in.
: Let us know how you liked it. I thought it very interesting, and liked Wes a lot...but I think Jason Patrick should find another job! Never seen such a wooden face in my life! I'm curious to know if this is just my own particular aversion.
Hi!
"Geronimo" is not a particularily good movie. It struck me as quite dull the first time I watched it but I place the blame mostly on a poor script and herky-jerky directing than on the performances. I was neither offended nor overly impressed with Jason Patric's work but I found it compentent. Despite my intial opinion on the film I still taped it off cable and have since watched it several times. I love westerns and I subscribe to the belief that "beggers can't be choosers." There have been so few westerns released in recent years that I find myself a fan of even mediocre ones such as "Geronimo." "Geronimo" does feature a thrilling opening sequence, superb attention to minor historical detail, the always gorgeous scenery of Monument Valley, and director Walter Hill's trademark "homages" to classic films with entire scenes taken from "The Searchers," "Stagecoach," and "Ulzana's Raid."
It is sort of surprising that the western has once again died despite the fact that two of the Oscars for Best Picture in the 1990's went to westerns, "Dances with Wolves" and "Unforgiven." I guess the commericial bombs of "Geronimo," "Wyatt Earp," and "Wild Bill" once again drove the genre from the future plans of movie execs. Although I take solace in the fact westerns will return to the big screen like they always have after being considered "dead". I have already heard of yet another Hollywood retelling of the legendary Battle of the Little Bighorn has been in the works for several years now. I had even heard that Brad Pitt had expressed serious interest in portraying the controversial General Custer; but then he dropped out of the project due to conflicting interests and problems with hammering out a decent script from Michael "Dances with Wolves" Blake's novel "Marching to Valhalla." Anyway its something to look forward to. World War II movies are making a comeback and I fully expect to see the western following suit.
Walter Hill, who directed "Geronimo," also let his heavy handed work ruin "Wild Bill" despite the bravura performance of Jeff Bridges in the title role. Yet I believe Walter Hill to have directed one of the finest but most underated westerns released in the last three decades with his film "The Long Riders." Its the fantastic story of the outlaw James-Younger gang with the gimic of having four sets of actor brothers, (the Keaches, the Carradines, the Quaids, and the Guests), playing the four sets of outlaw brothers, (the Jameses, the Youngers, the Millers, and the Fords). Hill's recreation of the famed Northfield Raid is unforgettable. If you are interested in a great western I highly recommend "The Long Riders" (1980). Also I loved the Ry Cooder soundtrack for that film.
Sorry for the ramble and for the intrusion but just dropped by for the first time in maybe five months and I saw the interesting tidbit on Geronimo and I started to type. I got a little carried away. I guess, though, that you are lucky I am too late for that "Gettysburg" thread from two months ago. I could go on and on about that movie. Once again sorry for the ramble but I just don't have the heart to delete it after typing it.