With the critically acclaimedThe Power of the Dogleading the nominations (12) for the 94th Academy Awards, audiences and critics alike have voiced renewed interest in films belonging to the “revisionist Western” genre. revisionist Westerns, sometimes called “anti-Westerns”, are a backlash against the romanticism of traditional Hollywood Westerns (thinkJohn WayneandRoy Rogers).
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Starting with the “American new wave” cinematic movement following thedismantlement of the “Hays Code”, revisionist Westerns sought to examine the themes, people, and moral complexity of the wild west without pulling any punches. Just like howJane Campion’s history-making dramaexamines homophobia, traditionalism, and misogyny in the old west, the following movies all exhibit similar Revisionist Western conventions.
‘Brokeback Mountain’ (2005)
Where the LGBTQ+ themes inThe Power of the Dogare subtextual, Ang Lee’s neo-Western masterpiece,Brokeback Mountain,is far more explicit. In 1960’s Wyoming, Cowboy Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a sheepherder who falls in love with his internally conflicted wrangling partner, Ennis (played by a top-of-his gameHeath Ledger).Brokeback Mountainis possibly the most high-profile LGBTQ+ film in history, made more powerful by the fact that it subverts the Western genre conventions that almost exclusively portray cowboys as straight and stoic.
What’s particularly satisfying aboutBrokeback Mountain, is that it could have easily beena standard, safe Oscar-bait film. Studios have a long history of releasing mediocre movies about “sensitive” subjects, designed exclusively for awards season (thinkGreen BookorThe Blind Side).Brokeback Mountainis not one however, it’s expertly crafted with beautiful cinematography, and a score that can best be described as “perfect." There are moments inBrokebackthat are confronting, heartwarming, and emotionally cathartic.
‘No Country For Old Men’ (2007)
In theCoen Brothers’film repertoire,No Country for Old Menstands out above the rest. This is especially impressive consideringhow many classics the duo has directed. Vietnam veteran Llewellyn Moss (Josh Brolin) finds a suitcase of cartel drug money, leading to a game of cat-and-mouse between him and emotionless assassin Anton Chigurh, (Oscar-winnerJavier Bardem) who sports possiblythe most infamous haircut in film history. Always on their tail is the weary Sheriff Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones).
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As the title suggests,No Country for Old Menexamines the identity crisis men in the American south faced in the early 1980s. In a world where crime is evolving, civil rights are growing, and the US is demoralized after the Vietnam War, Sheriff Bell must come to terms with progressing societal attitudes and expectations. A haunting tale executed with flawless editing, sound design, and pacing,No Country For Old Menis essential viewing for all.
It’s disconcerting how few Westerns focus on the Native American experience, oreven offer 3-dimensional first-peoples characters. Jim Jarmusch’s 1995 acid WesternDead Man,is an existential mind trip that aims to address this disparity.Johnny Deppplays William Blake, who travels to a Western company town in hopes of employment. He soon finds himself on the run for two murders he didn’t commit whilst suffering from a bullet wound. While he’s slowly dying, he meets a Native American, intellectual outcast “Nobody” (AKA “He who talks Loud, Saying Nothing,” played byGary Farmer), who guides Blake on his journey to the great beyond.
Unlike so many Native American characters in US cinema, Nobody isn’t just a stolid navigator there to be a useful tool for the white lead. Nobody is a fully fleshed-out, often hilarious, compelling character torn between two worlds. He’s the heart of the story.Dead Manis a fable about the inevitability of death. We are all William Blake, slowly wearing away and searching for answers to unfathomable existential questions. All we can hope for in the end is to surround ourselves with funny, unique characters that make the journey worthwhile.
‘The Homesman’ (2014)
One of the few “feminist Westerns” out there,The Homesmanis a grueling look into the oft-neglected reality of the hardships women faced in the old west. A rare directorial effort by Tommy Lee Jones (following hisneo-western debutThe Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada).The Homesmantells the story of Nebraskan spinster Mary Bee Cuddy (Hilary Swank) who is tasked with transporting three women suffering from “Prairie Fever” to a church in Iowa.
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This is the opposite of a classic Western. There is no glorification of the Wild West or the cowboys that inhabit it. The first scene in the Homesman sees a mother losing her three children to diphtheria, a woman being abused by her husband, and another killing her baby after she loses her mind. It’s a brutal, eye-opening experience that dispels any comfortable myths about frontier America.
‘The Revenant’ (2015)
Forever remembered as the film that finally wonLeo DiCapriothe Oscar he desperately clamored for,The Revenantfeatures DiCaprio’s Hugh Glass on a revenge quest for the man (Tom Hardy) who killed his son. Awe-inspiring long-takes and naturalistic lighting immerse viewers in Glass’s voyage as he stomachs raw fish, gets mauled by a grizzly bear, and hides inside a horse to escape extreme weather conditions.
Story-wise,The Revenantis a classic revenge fantasy. What makes it stand out from typical Westerns is its ambitious technical complexity and art-house sensibilities. Gone is the warm color pallet one usually associates with the wild west. Instead,Alejandro González Iñárritu’spicture mostly consists of blues and white. The audience is treated to blockbuster-esque action scenes and dreamy experiential montages. LikeDead Man,The Revenantalso addresses and sympathizes with the struggles faced by Native Americans. There is neither glory nor heroics inThe Revenantas one would expect in a classic Western; just one man’s miserable slog to kill another.
‘The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford’ (2007)
A chillingBrad Pittplays the real-life gang leader and bank robber Jesse James in this sobering examination of his death at the hands of fellow gang member Bob Ford (Casey Affleck). Though the title is a handful, it is an effective misdirect employed by writer/director Andrew Dominick to call out the revisionist propaganda that has permeated the stories of Jesse James since the 1800s. As the film progresses, audiences begin to sympathize with the terrified Ford, as his decision to eliminate the unhinged James becomes increasingly pragmatic.
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Pitt’s Jesse James is a far more accurate rendering of the infamous gunslinger. Jesse James committed atrocities for the confederacy, executed war prisoners, and was notorious for the masochistic nature of his crimes. Pitt underplays his natural charisma to illustrate the emptiness of the Jesse James mythology. CinematographerRoger Deakinsis at the top of his gamehere, as he manages to make the old west look gorgeous and haunting at the same time. The music, costuming, and production design effectively makeThe Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Fordone of themost impressive Westerns of the 21st century.
‘The Sisters Brothers’ (2018)
In 2018, French director, Jacques Audiard ofA ProphetandDheepanfame, releasedthe under-appreciatedThe Sisters Brothers. Set during the mid-1800s gold rush,Joaquin PhoenixandJohn C. Reillystar as Eli and Charlie respectively, the Sisters brothers tasked by the devious Commodore (Rutger Hauer) to hunt down prospector Hermann Warm. Warm has created a chemical that illuminates gold when mixed with water, giving him a tremendous advantage in searching for the precious substance. It’s a unique take on the Western by a seasoned director and his team.
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The Sisters Brothersexplores the theme of violence begetting violence. The titular gunslinging duo is co-dependent due to the physical abuse inflicted upon them by their father. Charlie suffers from substance abuse, has almost no impulse control, and often lashes out in fits of rage. The brothers, along with the viewers gain some perspective over their journey about the degrading impact violence has on one’s soul. The last half hour ofThe Sisters Brothersis amongst the most heart-wrenching and bittersweet in recent years.
If you loveSam Raimi’sSpidermanorEvil Deadfilms, thenThe Quick and the Deadis the Western for you. One of the most fun films of the 90s, this shoot-em-up, revisionist Western features one of the most formidable casts of all time.Sharon Stone,Gene Hackman,Leo DiCaprio,Tobin Bell,Keith David,Russell Crowe,Lance Hendrickson,Gary Sinise, andBruce Campbellare all having the time of their lives playing gunslingers taking part in a deadly dueling tournament.
There isn’t a dull second in this battle royale thanks to Raimi’s incomparable camera movements, creative framing, and absurd violence. It’s not as thematically complex as other films on this list, but it makes up for it by being the most thrilling. It’s hard to imagine thatThe Quick and the Deadbombed at the box officeconsidering how much talent was at the helm. Luckily it’s gained new life thanks to a fierce cult following and increased visibility thanks to streaming services.
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