Unlike the cowboy movies of old, Scott Cooper's excellent western Hostiles (2017) portrays the grim, violent, and gritty side of the American West. In this film, Captain Joseph J. Blocker (played by the great Christian Bale) reluctantly agrees to transport the ailing Cheyenne chief Yellow Hawk (played by Wes Studi) to his resting place in Montana. Blocker starts his journey off as a bitter and war-torn man in need of solace. Little does he realize that the two people he needs most are Rosalie Quaid (played by Rosamund Pike) and Yellow Hawk himself (whose kind Blocker has hunted, killed, and despised for years).
Bale's layered performance, filled with subdued rage, regret, and bitterness, is some of his best work in recent years. Had this movie come out earlier than its December 22nd, 2017 release date, he would have been a definite Oscar contender for Best Actor. The show-stealer is Pike, whose character is initially a gut-wrenchingly distraught and livid woman with absolute fear and hatred of the Native Americans but gradually morphs into a sympathetic and protective mother figure towards them and their children. Studi's portrayal of Yellow Hawk commands presence and a quiet dignity every time he is on screen. Yet, Cooper cleverly avoids traversing western cliches by displaying him as a wise yet weary man nearing the end who overrides his suppressed anger towards the white man given the fact that "death comes to all men."
At its core, Hostiles is about rediscovering one's humanity in times of extreme suffering and the need for overcoming personal prejudices to survive, which resonates with the audience, given the current political and social atmosphere of division and conflict. The movie's approach in storytelling may come across to some as being politically correct. Still, given the level of racial tensions and discrimination within our society, it is more than necessary for the human race to sacrifice old habits to create a better world for future generations to live. This film also depicts the relationship between white people and Native Americans as two different tribes, both yearning to live in contrast to the latter's cliche as savage killers.
Scott's grim yet emotionally invested direction combined with Masanobu Takayanagi's breathtaking cinematography makes for a genuinely immersive experience. The cinematography evokes the images of John Ford's The Searchers (1956) in terms of capturing the majesty of wide-open plains, rocky cliffs, and canyons with lush green shrubbery. As for flaws, the plot's second act involves Blocker having to pick up and transport a war criminal to his execution, which makes the halfway point slightly convoluted. Still, this plot point gets resolved relatively quickly. This film also features Timothée Chalamet as a nervous young soldier who goes along for the ride before (spoiler alert) getting killed off before we get to know him.
In conclusion, this film captures the raw psychological and emotional journey that the American West was, and delivers a tense yet poignant ride that, for the most part, reaches its destination.
Final Score: 9 out of 10
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