Seraphim Falls

Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Liam Neeson, Anjelica Huston, Angie Harmon
Directed by: David Von Ancken
Rating: R
Genre: Western
2006

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A former Union soldier (Pierce Brosnan) is on the run for his life from a relentless Confederate soldier (Liam Neeson) desperate for revenge in the post-Civil War American west.

Review:

Tim: This movie draws its strength from its structure—it pits two great actors—Liam Neeson and Pierce Brosnan against each other in the post-Civil War frontier. There’s something to be said about movies which put two great actors in scenarios where only one of them can win. Look how effective it was with Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive. While this movie isn’t as good as that more contemporary one, it is still a respectable Western at a time when they don’t make Westerns like they used to (or as frequently).

The movie is helped by incredible cinematography. Whether this is the mountains, the desert, or something in between, the landscapes are breathtaking. This is a beautiful movie from a setting perspective. That adds quite a bit to the film’s effectiveness. The movie is shot slowly, never wanting to rush the action or the drama as it unfolds. It moves at a slower pace than we are used to, but this makes the film unique and engrossing. It is unlike the majority of films coming out of Hollywood these days.

Pierce Brosnan does a good job in his role. He is the character we tend to identify with the most. He does good work in the present day scenes as well as the flashback ones. Liam Neeson gives a colder performance, but he is no less effective. It is wonderful to see these two great actors on screen at the same time, and I wish there could have been more of such scenes. A movie is helped so much when you have two great actors to serve as the protagonist and antagonist (or vice-versa, depending on how you see the flashback). The rest of the cast could have been more effective. I would have loved to have seen Angie Harmon and Anjelica Huston have larger roles to play.

I am still not entirely sure how I feel about the film’s climax, and I doubt I will ever know for sure. It takes on some qualities of the supernatural which are unexpected, but blend well into the movie. You start to question exactly what you are watching, and what is the underlying significance (because trust me, it’s there). It is an ending which requires almost immediate discussion, and the interpretations will probably vary. However, it is a fitting ending to a film that feels somewhat out of place in the library of films coming out of Hollywood in the early 21st century. It is refreshingly different, and that, at least, counts for something.



Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Outlaw Josey Wales, The Thin Red Line, The Last Samurai