A very odd film, well acted
Is this film true to the "West," or is it a satire on the genre? The people appear very stupid. Well acted, however.
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MovieChat Forums > The Westerner (1940) Discussion > A very odd film, well acted
True, it is odd but it is beautifully paced and an absolutely stunning performance from Walter Brennan really sets it alight.
shareObviously, you are not well-acquainted with the Western genre. There is no satire in this movie.
shareCan't see why you would think The Westerner is a satire. Sure it mixes various genres but it gives The Westerner an enjoyable dynamic.
"I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not".
Yes,I agree...no satire.A spellbinder.The Western films were all well done.
Even the bad ones.
Odd works for me, too. I found this Hollywood perspective of a raucous west both irritating and captivating - it was all about the acting, even if the style was dated. I especially liked Harden's (Cooper) reuse with the lock of hair - he was so wooden (that's not a slight on Coop, but a given) that I was certain he was pulling a fast one on Bean (Brennan) yet not certain that he wasn't. It would have been really interesting if Cole actually knew Lily Langtry and she greeted him as her old suiter. Brennan's acting made Bean convincingly unpredictable and dangerous, true to Bean's nature and demeanor; the role fit well with Brennan's personal politics.
If The Westerner were a satire, it may not have contained the heinous acts of murder and conflagration imposed on the homesteaders, orchestrated by a character that should have rightly been labeled a madman.
I'm the guy who does his job. You must be the other guy.