This is not your typical Western film as, at times, it has rather a farcical and fantasy-like tone to it. There's a top-notch cast here and, overall, I enjoyed the movie, as it kept my interest throughout wondering how it would all turn out.
Set in 1870, Kodi Smit-McPhee stars as Jay Cavendish, a terribly naïve and idealistic Scottish teen, of blue blood heritage, who's ventured to the Wild West of America. He's in search of whom he regards as his one true love Rose (Caren Pistorious), who has fled Scotland with her father John (Rory McCann) after a scuffle outside their home led to the accidental death of Jay's father Lord Cavendish.
On horseback in the dangerous Colorado Territory, Jay is saved by the veteran outlaw Silas, portrayed by the great actor Michael Fassbender. Silas quickly sizes up the precarious situation Jay is in and offers his protection for a price, to guide Jay to Caren.
Alas, though, Silas discovers a wanted poster, at a trading post, offering a huge bounty for Rose and her father, either dead or alive. The question will be if Silas will lead Jay to Rose and John and then capture or kill them all.
However there's another bounty hunter ahead of them, plus Silas' former gang of outlaws, led by Payne, played by the fine actor Ben Mendelsohn, is trailing them as well, all looking for the huge reward. You can see this is all leading to a wild and very violent finale, which will also contain some surprises.
All in all, if you expect this rather farcical Western, capably written and directed by first-time filmmaker John Maclean, to have completely credible plot elements you may become frustrated. However, led by some fine acting, along with some humor, I found quite a bit to like here, and, overall, it was entertaining to me.
Set in 1870, Kodi Smit-McPhee stars as Jay Cavendish, a terribly naïve and idealistic Scottish teen, of blue blood heritage, who's ventured to the Wild West of America. He's in search of whom he regards as his one true love Rose (Caren Pistorious), who has fled Scotland with her father John (Rory McCann) after a scuffle outside their home led to the accidental death of Jay's father Lord Cavendish.
On horseback in the dangerous Colorado Territory, Jay is saved by the veteran outlaw Silas, portrayed by the great actor Michael Fassbender. Silas quickly sizes up the precarious situation Jay is in and offers his protection for a price, to guide Jay to Caren.
Alas, though, Silas discovers a wanted poster, at a trading post, offering a huge bounty for Rose and her father, either dead or alive. The question will be if Silas will lead Jay to Rose and John and then capture or kill them all.
However there's another bounty hunter ahead of them, plus Silas' former gang of outlaws, led by Payne, played by the fine actor Ben Mendelsohn, is trailing them as well, all looking for the huge reward. You can see this is all leading to a wild and very violent finale, which will also contain some surprises.
All in all, if you expect this rather farcical Western, capably written and directed by first-time filmmaker John Maclean, to have completely credible plot elements you may become frustrated. However, led by some fine acting, along with some humor, I found quite a bit to like here, and, overall, it was entertaining to me.