Now playing on Nexflix and Amazon Prime, this is a slow moving but generally interesting film. However, it's main premise -- that the Governor has killed the newly popularly elected U.S. Senator from Montana so that he can appoint a more business friendly Senator to take his place, is a problem.
The year is 1889, 24 years before the 17th Amendment became effective. The 17th Amendment provided for direct election of Senators by the citizens of each state. And, if State law so provided, for interim appointments by the each State's Governor when a vacancy occurred. That was in 1913.
But back in 1889 the Montana Legislature would have elected the U.S. Senator and then replaced him. Back in 1889 the Governor was not involved in the process. Major plot device couldn't happen. The big reveal is a lie. The Governor's actions make no sense.
So the big reveal is based on an historic inaccuracy. I guess writer/director Jared Moshe didn't take any American history while at Amherst.
Moshe shouldn't feel too bad, though. The same historical error was made in the 1975 film Posse.
The year is 1889, 24 years before the 17th Amendment became effective. The 17th Amendment provided for direct election of Senators by the citizens of each state. And, if State law so provided, for interim appointments by the each State's Governor when a vacancy occurred. That was in 1913.
But back in 1889 the Montana Legislature would have elected the U.S. Senator and then replaced him. Back in 1889 the Governor was not involved in the process. Major plot device couldn't happen. The big reveal is a lie. The Governor's actions make no sense.
So the big reveal is based on an historic inaccuracy. I guess writer/director Jared Moshe didn't take any American history while at Amherst.
Moshe shouldn't feel too bad, though. The same historical error was made in the 1975 film Posse.