Tommy Lee Jones directed and stars in this film about an intense, independent pioneer woman (Hilary Swank) who volunteers to deliver three mentally unstable wives back to a more civilized place. Jones plays the shiftless reprobate who she enlists to help her on the strenuous trek. The story unfolds in small episodes that provide short glimpses into their characters and situations they face. It’s a bleak time and the threats they face are continuous. The film’s mood reflects this (although Jones manages to give his character a few comic flashes). It’s a sometimes uncomfortable journey (in both senses), but not especially intense or emotional. Still, if you have a taste for frontier stories you might find it interesting.
(3 / 5)