I have been looking around a bit to see what people generally thought about this movie, and I have noticed several complaints about its historical inaccuracy. I was however under the impression that, as the genres indicated on the IMDb page (drama and western) seem to suggest, this was never intended to be a documentary. That implies a certain freedom to depart for the actual facts, doesn't it ?
Other reviewers have already praised the bleak, low-saturation images, the extremely appropriate music (used with the greatest effect for the execution scene, which is absolutely gripping) and the beautiful and desolate locations (endless snow and ominous skeleton-like branches silhouetted against somber grey skies). I'll add to this the great job done by the make-up people on this film (truthfully, at one point, I thought it was starting to look a bit like a period Night of the Living Dead around the campfire. Dying characters that actually look the part... That doesn't happen as often as one would believe...).
About the plot and the complaint that not much happens... I am going to be grossly pragmatic here, but starving people don't really have the energy to do much, do they ? They 'plod' along the lines of a film that works as a mood piece (dreary. avoid if you're easily depressed) and psychological drama - yes. another one of those, complete with hints of reflection on what humanity is and how desperate times can strip it away from man. a bit heavy-handed at times, but thankfully not a stark manichean treatment of the theme. For instance, generally whiny and annoying Foster - Glover's character. watch for that scene where he makes his long, choked up speech when the party sets out. and the "I am a Christian" bit. makes you want to throttle him, doesn't it ? - has a couple of touching moments, as when he endeavours to cheer up his (personality-deprived) wife.
On the subject of acting: here is another impressive Glover performance. Without the ever-enjoyable hysterics to be found in his more eccentric roles (cf Willard or Simon Says), the more subtle nuances are given centre-stage, establishing an interesting character difficult to pigeonhole. In the party under Foster's command, the widow with the haunted eyes (Santopietro) is especially heart-wrenching while W. Eddy (Crawford) is also suitably ambiguous in his steely determination.
On a completely random tangent, if I may make a remark in rather poor taste, but which I can't resist: I don't know whether people do taste like chicken as it has been suggested in more humorous takes on the matter, but in this film, one has to admit that the cooked result does look a lot like it ...
and by the way, what did they mean by "adding into the pot" ? A FAQ on the subject would be appreciated if someone understands that part...
Other reviewers have already praised the bleak, low-saturation images, the extremely appropriate music (used with the greatest effect for the execution scene, which is absolutely gripping) and the beautiful and desolate locations (endless snow and ominous skeleton-like branches silhouetted against somber grey skies). I'll add to this the great job done by the make-up people on this film (truthfully, at one point, I thought it was starting to look a bit like a period Night of the Living Dead around the campfire. Dying characters that actually look the part... That doesn't happen as often as one would believe...).
About the plot and the complaint that not much happens... I am going to be grossly pragmatic here, but starving people don't really have the energy to do much, do they ? They 'plod' along the lines of a film that works as a mood piece (dreary. avoid if you're easily depressed) and psychological drama - yes. another one of those, complete with hints of reflection on what humanity is and how desperate times can strip it away from man. a bit heavy-handed at times, but thankfully not a stark manichean treatment of the theme. For instance, generally whiny and annoying Foster - Glover's character. watch for that scene where he makes his long, choked up speech when the party sets out. and the "I am a Christian" bit. makes you want to throttle him, doesn't it ? - has a couple of touching moments, as when he endeavours to cheer up his (personality-deprived) wife.
On the subject of acting: here is another impressive Glover performance. Without the ever-enjoyable hysterics to be found in his more eccentric roles (cf Willard or Simon Says), the more subtle nuances are given centre-stage, establishing an interesting character difficult to pigeonhole. In the party under Foster's command, the widow with the haunted eyes (Santopietro) is especially heart-wrenching while W. Eddy (Crawford) is also suitably ambiguous in his steely determination.
On a completely random tangent, if I may make a remark in rather poor taste, but which I can't resist: I don't know whether people do taste like chicken as it has been suggested in more humorous takes on the matter, but in this film, one has to admit that the cooked result does look a lot like it ...
and by the way, what did they mean by "adding into the pot" ? A FAQ on the subject would be appreciated if someone understands that part...