The Road to Civilisation is Not Always Civilised.
A group of settlers traveling through the Oregon High Desert in 1845 find themselves stranded in harsh conditions.
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Character
Contemplative, grave, prestige and earnest.
- contemplativerelentless
- gravecomic
- unpretentiousprestige
- earnestironic
- rawmeticulous
Who loves it, who doesn't
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“Is the ambiguity a cop-out?”
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“Is this Kelly Reichardt's best work?”
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“Is the slow pace a feature rather than a flaw?”
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A yes-or-no question, answered from what people wrote here, on TMDB and on Wikipedia. Never made up.
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Reviews on TMDB
Written by TMDB members; each links to the original. Not part of Tastebuds's numbers.
- badelfon TMDB · May 202210/10
I can see why the average American thinks this movie is doo-doo; it's not a film that satisfies the American cultural ADD. If you were looking for an action Western with at least a few gun fights, this is not your film. Even if you're a Cosmo reader who expected some safe, Hollywood pablum like Power of the Dog, forget this film. This is not a Western at all. This masterpiece is an intense, psychological drama that plays out on a very deep, non-verbal level. Nothing is explained. It is meant to be watched and understood in some remote part of the brain. The tortoise-like pacing and wide, empty cinematography gives one a sense of the isolation and lack of hope as the characters in the film. It is the reaction of the characters to the obvious stressors that is beyond fascinating. I was riveted.
Read the whole review on TMDB - John Chardon TMDB · Feb 20169.5/10
I blame him for saying he did. Meek's Cutoff is directed by Kelly Reichardt and written by Jonathan Raymond. It stars Michelle Williams, Bruce Greenwood, Will Paton, Paul Dano, Shirley Henderson, Neal Huff, Zoe Kazan and Tommy Nelson. Music is by Jeff Grace and cinematography by Chris Blauvelt. Story is based on an historical incident on the Oregon Trail in 1845, when frontier guide Stephen Meek (Greenwood) led a small band of settlers across the trail in search of richer pastures. For what was meant to be a two week journey, has now turned into five, and the settlers have this horrible feeling that Meek is lost. With no end to the journey in sight, low on food and water, and becoming ravaged by the terrain, the group starts to come apart at the seams. Those familiar with Kelly Reichardt's work, Old Joy/Wendy & Lucy, will have some idea that Meek's Cutoff was never going to be a traditional Western picture. Often cited as a low-key, minimalist, director, Reichardt has stripped the Western right back to craft a beautifully shot film dealing with the hardships endured both physically and mentally of three families out on the Oregon Trail. Opening without dialogue for the opening seve
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Cast
- Michelle WilliamsEmily Tetherow
- Bruce GreenwoodStephen Meek
- Will PattonSoloman Tetherow
- Zoe KazanMillie Gately
- Paul DanoThomas Gately
- Shirley HendersonGlory White
- Neal HuffWilliam White
- Tommy NelsonJimmy White
- Rod RondeauxThe Indian
Crew
- Kelly ReichardtDirector
- Jonathan RaymondWriter
- Christopher BlauveltDirector of Photography
- Kelly ReichardtEditor
- Elizabeth CuthrellProducer
- Anish SavjaniProducer
- Neil KoppProducer
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Pairings
Companions we picked from the closest works, and how to take them.
Similar in taste
Closest on the same fourteen dimensions, from everything scored on Tastebuds Other media included when they land close.
At Eternity's Gate 201887% alikeBoth contemplative, grave, prestige.
Walkabout 197183% alikeBoth grave, contemplative, prestige.
The Power of the Dog 202182% alikeBoth contemplative, grave, prestige.
Red Desert 196481% alikeBoth grave, contemplative, prestige.
The Master 201281% alikeBoth contemplative, grave, prestige.
A Hidden Life 201981% alikeBoth contemplative, grave, prestige.
Paris, Texas 198480% alikeBoth contemplative, prestige, grave.
Queer 202480% alikeBoth contemplative, grave, prestige.
Television · Both grave, contemplative, earnest.
Beloved 198774% alikeBook · Both grave, earnest, contemplative.
Often watched with
Recommendations from TMDB. Opening one adds it to Tastebuds
