Between film and tv I've probably seen several hundred Westerns in my life and 'Godless' is the worst one I've ever seen.
Frank Griffin and his 31 person posse must have an early 19th Century dry cleaning wagon as part of the gang. These guys spend virtually all of the time we see them sleeping outdoors and yet I defy anyone to show me a single piece of soiled clothing. Where do they get their food? Equally important, where are they getting the hay to feed 32 horses from. Plus the enormous amounts of water horses need to survive. We also must remember that the many thousands of dollars they got from their last heist was stolen from them by Roy Goode. Shouldn't they refill their coffers and rob another mine or bank somewhere? And speaking of actor O'Connell (Roy Goode), he doesn't have the personality (he's nicely spoken and dull) for the part and also doesn't have the right dialogue to help him find a character.
Much more but let's go to the big shootout near the end of the film, which is the absolute pits of any major shootout I've ever seen: Women who have never handled a gun become marksmen and a few of them have pistols that never need reloading. Frank's men suddenly all become suicidal morons when the first shots are aimed at them in an ambush and instead of dismounting and seeking cover, wait an unconscionable long time before seeking shelter. Oh yes, the laugh-out loud scenes where the bad guys then ride their horses INTO the hotel, including going up staircases unscathed and start killing the unawares women inside (or maybe the women being shot are deaf mutes). FRANK, who NEVER EVEN MOVES HIS HORSE while his men are being picked off it or even get off it, is never even shot at!! And the two women on the roof the hotel looking down on him, knowing he's the gang leader and who are great shots, fail to kill or even shoot at him.
Frank Griffin and his 31 person posse must have an early 19th Century dry cleaning wagon as part of the gang. These guys spend virtually all of the time we see them sleeping outdoors and yet I defy anyone to show me a single piece of soiled clothing. Where do they get their food? Equally important, where are they getting the hay to feed 32 horses from. Plus the enormous amounts of water horses need to survive. We also must remember that the many thousands of dollars they got from their last heist was stolen from them by Roy Goode. Shouldn't they refill their coffers and rob another mine or bank somewhere? And speaking of actor O'Connell (Roy Goode), he doesn't have the personality (he's nicely spoken and dull) for the part and also doesn't have the right dialogue to help him find a character.
Much more but let's go to the big shootout near the end of the film, which is the absolute pits of any major shootout I've ever seen: Women who have never handled a gun become marksmen and a few of them have pistols that never need reloading. Frank's men suddenly all become suicidal morons when the first shots are aimed at them in an ambush and instead of dismounting and seeking cover, wait an unconscionable long time before seeking shelter. Oh yes, the laugh-out loud scenes where the bad guys then ride their horses INTO the hotel, including going up staircases unscathed and start killing the unawares women inside (or maybe the women being shot are deaf mutes). FRANK, who NEVER EVEN MOVES HIS HORSE while his men are being picked off it or even get off it, is never even shot at!! And the two women on the roof the hotel looking down on him, knowing he's the gang leader and who are great shots, fail to kill or even shoot at him.
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