Legends of the Fall (1995)
The focal point of this podcast episode is a profound analysis of the cinematic masterpiece "Legends of the Fall," released in 1995 and featuring notable performances by Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins. We delve into the intricate narrative that intertwines themes of love, loss, and the haunting specter of war, as it explores the tumultuous relationship among three brothers and their father in the rugged wilderness of Montana. Throughout our discourse, we examine the film's pacing, its emotional depth, and the performances that elevate it to a poignant exploration of the human condition. The dialogue reflects on the characters' flawed choices and the resultant consequences, ultimately leading to a rich tapestry of storytelling that resonates with viewers long after the credits roll. Join us as we dissect the layers of this compelling narrative, revealing the complexities that define not only the film but also the lives of its characters.
Support us:
https://www.patreon.com/whatsourverdict
Email us:
hosts@whatsourverdict.com
Follow us:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatsourverdict
Twitter: @whatsourverdict
Instagram: @whatsourverdict
YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC-K_E-ofs3b85BnoU4R6liA
Visit us:
www.whatsourverdict.com
Transcript
It's a weird side story, but that works.
Speaker B:We're gonna educate our audience on sexual education here.
Speaker B:Except our audience.
Speaker C:Nobody should come to us for sex ed.
Speaker A:Definitely not.
Speaker A:No.
Speaker B:Let me just chalk that up to a topic we never expected to talk about on this podcast.
Speaker B:You know that that's what I'm here for.
Speaker A:Welcome to the what's Up Verdict podcast, where we fashion ourselves cinematic Jud and Jerry.
Speaker A:My name is J.J. crowder.
Speaker A:I'm here with my co hosts, Matson.
Speaker B:Heiner, Better Red Than Dead, and Alec Burgess.
Speaker C:Let's get it.
Speaker A:We appreciate you tuning in.
Speaker A:Go ahead, hit that.
Speaker A:Follow, subscribe.
Speaker A:Like bell notification buttons.
Speaker A:Hit all those buttons.
Speaker A:I hope you keep up with our episodes.
Speaker A:Help support the podcast, help it grow.
Speaker A:Also helping it grow will be telling your friends and family members about us.
Speaker A:Tell some ranchers about us.
Speaker A:Maybe we're okay with any kind of rancher.
Speaker A:Doesn't just have to be cattle ranchers, but maybe not PTSD driven sons of ranchers.
Speaker A:That would be good.
Speaker A:But, yeah, we're here.
Speaker A:Week two, Week two.
Speaker A:That's crazy to even think about, right?
Speaker A:Is week two, or is this week one?
Speaker C:This is week two?
Speaker A:Week two.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker C:Week two.
Speaker A:Week three.
Speaker C:Is it week three?
Speaker C:It's week three.
Speaker A:It is week three.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Because we did Ocean.
Speaker C:Sevens and oceans.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:Oh, yeah.
Speaker A:Geez.
Speaker A:See what happens.
Speaker A:I get all twisted up.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:It's week three of Brad Pitt's September, and we're diving deep, and we are talking about Legends of the Fall.
Speaker A: ,: Speaker A:It was written by Susan Shilladay and William Wittliffe.
Speaker A:It was directed by Edward Zwick.
Speaker A:It stars Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Aiden Quinn, Julie Ormond, Henry Thomas, Karina Lombard, Tantu, Cardinal Gordon, two Tusis, Paul Desmond, Christina Pickles, Robert Wisden, and John Novak.
Speaker A:It is about.
Speaker A: In the early: Speaker A:Boy, that's quite the synopsis.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:This was my movie, so I guess I get to kick this whole deal off.
Speaker C:Yes, sir.
Speaker A:Yeah, look, when I think about Brad Pitt movies, and I know we talked about seven, and there's some others bangers coming that we talk about, but this is probably the first movie that I think of when someone says Brad Pitt.
Speaker A:It was one of those movies that, like, I went to, and I remember going to it thinking, I don't know how I'm gonna feel about this.
Speaker A:Like.
Speaker A:And I went on a date with.
Speaker A:Man, it was a long time ago.
Speaker B: us, Jay, how old were you in: Speaker A:14.
Speaker B:So I was four.
Speaker C:Yeah, that was two.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:It's funny.
Speaker A:Yeah, that's.
Speaker A:That's.
Speaker A:Yeah, we went and saw it because everybody's like, ooh, Brad Pitt's so dreamy.
Speaker A:And of course, Anthony Hopkins and Aiden Quinn at the time was still.
Speaker A:He was popular enough that it was quite the draw as far as the cast went.
Speaker A:And I remember sitting in that movie going, this is not gonna be my kind of movie.
Speaker A:And 10 minutes in, I'm like, man, this is slow as balls.
Speaker A:And then all of a sudden, I was like, okay, this movie's wild.
Speaker A:And then it just kept getting wilder and wilder.
Speaker A:And then I just kind of fell in love with it.
Speaker A:And it's one of those movies that I can go back to anytime.
Speaker A:So when Brad Pitt's name got thrown out as one of our list and it got voted for, I was like, oh, yeah, Legends of the Falls ending up on this list because it's.
Speaker A:Yeah, it's, to me, one of the better movies that has Brad Pitt in it.
Speaker A:If not, like, probably on my list, probably could be the best that I consider with Brad Pitt in it.
Speaker A:So maybe not Brad Pitt's best, like, overall movie, if you're just talking Brad Pitt in general, but movies that have Brad Pitt in it, that.
Speaker A:I think it's up there for me, really, really high.
Speaker A:Yeah, I just really like it.
Speaker A:And we'll.
Speaker A:I'm sure we'll talk more about why, but, yeah, that's, that's why it's on this list, because this one really sticks out for me.
Speaker A:Had you guys seen this one before?
Speaker B:I had not.
Speaker C:There's a character called the One Stab.
Speaker A:Of course, I was gonna say, I, I figured Alad.
Speaker B:But what's funny, I, I, I knew what this.
Speaker B:I mean, I'd seen the COVID of this movie many times.
Speaker B:One of my.
Speaker B:I have a movie playlist that I sometimes.
Speaker B:Well, more than sometimes.
Speaker B:I listen to quite a bit when I'm trying to focus.
Speaker B:And the main theme song from this movie is on there.
Speaker B:Incredible.
Speaker B:I mean, you talk about one of the.
Speaker B:Probably the best.
Speaker B:I mean, I hear the song all the time.
Speaker B:I've always known, okay, this is the movie it came from.
Speaker B:I just never had gotten around to watching it.
Speaker B:But incredible song.
Speaker B:And so definitely hit some vibes for me when that came on.
Speaker B:It's slow, I have to have to say that.
Speaker B:But as we'll talk about outside of it, I think there's much to be commended.
Speaker B:And, like, I Always say, I love a movie that has a realistic ending.
Speaker B:I mean, this movie definitely doesn't shy away from how things probably would have been in more ways than one.
Speaker B:So I can appreciate it for that.
Speaker B:But I think that certainly the pace is like at times, but kind of how life moved back then too.
Speaker B:So it's probably true to times anyway.
Speaker B:So I don't know if that's gonna hinder how I completely feel about it, but.
Speaker B:Yeah, it's a little long, but first time watch through.
Speaker B:I mean, I was happy to have watched it for sure.
Speaker B:Like, I mean, great acting.
Speaker B:I love that time period.
Speaker B:Just, I mean, I'm sure the girls liked it.
Speaker B:Brad Pitt with longer hair, like, dreamy dude on screen.
Speaker A:Very fair.
Speaker B:I don't know if the sex scene would have quite looked like that back in the day.
Speaker B:That felt a little Hollywoodized, but, you know, we do what we do.
Speaker A:Yeah, 90 sex scenes were very glamorous and beautiful when.
Speaker B:And I'm pretty sure they probably got pregnant potentially, so that would have made things harder back then.
Speaker B:I don't know how they were.
Speaker B:Just every time you had sex, you're like, I think we might have another person to help us on the farm.
Speaker B:Maybe, maybe not.
Speaker A:I mean, I'm sure they knew about the pull out method back then even.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:I mean, you're obviously not the most secure way to protect yourself, but danger.
Speaker B:Dangerous game, it's fair.
Speaker A:It's a weird side story, but that works.
Speaker B:We're gonna educate our audience on sexual education here.
Speaker B:Except our audience.
Speaker C:Nobody should come to us for sex.
Speaker A:Definitely not.
Speaker A:No.
Speaker B:Let me just chalk that up to a topic we never expected to talk about on this podcast.
Speaker B:You know, that's what I'm here for.
Speaker A:I mean, we've talked about dolphin sex.
Speaker B:But that's that movie.
Speaker B:That movie invited that, though.
Speaker B:That wasn't completely out of left field.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:All right.
Speaker A:Alec, when did you first see Legends of the fall?
Speaker C:Oh, probably 12 or 13.
Speaker C:That's when I first saw it.
Speaker C:And I.
Speaker C:It's one of those.
Speaker C:I don't watch enough.
Speaker B:But they're.
Speaker C:They do a really good job with certain scenes in this, but those very same scenes, I almost feel like they go too far.
Speaker C:Like when Samuel dies.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:Their brother.
Speaker C:I was like, great scene.
Speaker C:Real gut wrencher, but freaking mustard gas, this dude.
Speaker C:And then lined up a machine gun.
Speaker C:Yeah, it's like, like you.
Speaker C:You could have gotten your point across without needing to go there, in my opinion.
Speaker A:So it's.
Speaker C:It's a hard one because there's just like four or five of these really big, like, you didn't have to go there to get your point across scenes, but you went there anyway, which makes it a little bit more of a, not really a drag, but a tougher watch.
Speaker C:So I, I go a bit in between.
Speaker C:But it's, it's really good storytelling.
Speaker C:I like the storytelling.
Speaker C:This movie does a very good job with that.
Speaker C:So it's always one that when I sit down to watch it, I have a good time, you know, and I enjoy the fact that I sat down and watched it.
Speaker C:Maybe not have a good time while I'm watching it.
Speaker C:But yeah, but yeah, I, I, it's, it's one of those where it's always a solid watch and I'll sit down and watch it pretty much anytime, anywhere.
Speaker C:I love this movie.
Speaker A:Yeah, it's a good one.
Speaker B:I like the, the, the time period between when Tristan left to when he came back.
Speaker B:They obviously don't give an amount of time.
Speaker B:How much time do we feel like it was?
Speaker B:Couple years?
Speaker B:More than like five years, eight years.
Speaker B:Like.
Speaker A:I mean it had to been a good long while because when they were talking about Isabel too, she was what they say, 19 when they were, they got married when he, like 13, 12.
Speaker A:Yeah, I was gonna say when he leaves, she was, she couldn't have been more than 12 or 13.
Speaker A:So it had to have been at least like six to six to eight years probably depending six, seven years.
Speaker B:Dude, just up and leave.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Go find yourself.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Go to all the places and just leave that Mrs.
Speaker B:Behind.
Speaker A:Yeah, you do what you do.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:Like I think, and I think that's where like Alec, you mentioned that the storytelling in this is crazy and like it's wild and the whole like obviously you see early on, Tristan's no stay at home, hang out at the ranch kind of guy.
Speaker A:But like you put, you add in the whole self loathing, like torture, like ptsd.
Speaker A:Like you add that in and I don't know how he stood still for any amount of time.
Speaker A:You know what I mean?
Speaker A:And then every time things started to feel like they were gonna turn around, like some happened to this dude.
Speaker A:And then like you get that moment where he's talking to his dad at the end and starts talking about the fact that he cursed God and then so he's cursed.
Speaker A:And it's just like you piece together like what this dude's been living with.
Speaker A:Like you, you see it, right?
Speaker A:The major moments, but like that, that self loathing and like regret of having not been there.
Speaker A:And then Doing what you think caused all these curses around you.
Speaker A:Like, man, it just.
Speaker A:It's so crazy to think about the damage internally and, like, emotionally that he had been doing to himself constantly.
Speaker A:And then you have to also wonder on the flip side, like, if he had just sat still, right?
Speaker A:Like, okay, so you can't get past his brother dying.
Speaker A:That was out of his control at the end of the day.
Speaker A:But after that, like, he had a couple of moments where he probably could have just.
Speaker A:I mean, stayed and then couldn't handle it.
Speaker A:Like, it's just.
Speaker A:Yeah, it's tough.
Speaker A:It's a tough watch.
Speaker A:It's an emotional movie.
Speaker A:I think that's one of the things that I like the most about it is, like, it's hard to watch that and not, like, feel some.
Speaker A:One way or another.
Speaker A:You know what I mean?
Speaker A:And everything from, like, sadness to, like, you know, a little bit of joy for him, but at the same time, like, anger.
Speaker A:Good Lord.
Speaker A:Like, there's very little more satisfying than when the dude gets impaled by the pitchfork in the freaking bootleg shed after they killed Isabelle.
Speaker A:Man, that's crazy.
Speaker A:I love that part.
Speaker A:Like, him stalking the dude, and then the dude, the dad, like, sniping down the other cop in the middle of nowhere.
Speaker A:Like, yeah, that's.
Speaker A:That's one of those crazy.
Speaker A:All those scenes where Tristan goes nuts.
Speaker A:You're just like, get him.
Speaker A:Like, you do.
Speaker A:That's not the dude that you want to have pissed off.
Speaker B:Like, did they aim to kill Isabelle, or was it a ricochet?
Speaker A:It's a ricochet.
Speaker B:They felt.
Speaker B:Yeah, it was a ricochet, but obviously they didn't quite seem to care.
Speaker A:Yeah, well, and it's that there is that moment, too, like, when they first realized that Isabelle was shot and he's losing it.
Speaker A:Like, you see the look on big brother o' Bannon's face, and he's like, ah, God damn it.
Speaker A:Because it's not gonna end well.
Speaker A:But I think one of the other things that gets me is, like, the relationship between the two older brothers with Albert and Tristan and, like, that level of blame and entire, like, toxic relationship due to.
Speaker A:I mean, it's.
Speaker A:And they mention it in the movie, Tristan is all in his old.
Speaker A:Andy's old.
Speaker A:This.
Speaker A:That book story.
Speaker A:And, like, obviously, this is a modernized, even more twisted version of that to a degree, but, man, that's a.
Speaker A:That's a tough one.
Speaker A:And then, like, when he asked, when he comes after the funeral, he's like, they're gonna come get you, and you're gonna Go to jail, even though there's nothing happening to this cop and whatnot.
Speaker A:Like, man, what a mess.
Speaker A:Just so much going on in this movie that you have to, like, wade through.
Speaker A:It's another movie that, like, I'm like, I can't watch this all the time, but it's such a good movie.
Speaker A:And Anthony Hopkins, good Lord, I love him in this movie so much.
Speaker A:Like, and this is another one that, like, I talk a lot about Anthony Hopkins and how much I.
Speaker A:He's got to be one of my favorite actors of all time.
Speaker A:But, like, this is one of those ones where you see him on all fronts and, like, all he's trying to do is, like, protect his family.
Speaker A:And then I love.
Speaker A:Like, I always think of Alec now whenever he talks about, like, he hates the government.
Speaker A:Like, when they have that shout, he's like, the government?
Speaker A:Screw them.
Speaker A:He's half of the bag after his stroke, and he's flipping them off barely.
Speaker A:Like, I always think about, screw the government.
Speaker C:Where do you think I got it from?
Speaker B:Yeah, it's gonna be Alec as an old man.
Speaker A:That's right.
Speaker A:That's right.
Speaker C:I like Anthony Hopkins is, too, because it's like they turned him loose almost, where, you know, he's.
Speaker C:He typically plays almost like a really uptight but very proper characters, and on occasion, they'll let him loose.
Speaker C:And this is one where they pretty much let him loose.
Speaker C:He does such a good job.
Speaker A:Oh, yeah.
Speaker C:To really showcase his acting talent because it's.
Speaker C:It's almost like he's one of those people where you can't really direct him.
Speaker C:You just kind of point him where you want him to go, and wherever he ends up is where your movie needs to be.
Speaker C:And so I feel like the cutting them loose, especially after, you know, his character has stroke and just crazy old man going.
Speaker C:It's.
Speaker C:It's beautiful.
Speaker A:Oh, yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:And the way he plays that, like, just that impacted stroke, you know, survivor.
Speaker A:Just like I love.
Speaker A:He always.
Speaker A:Hey, like, he's always shouting at people.
Speaker A:I love it.
Speaker A:I. Yeah, I love Anthony Hopkins, though.
Speaker A:Like, his.
Speaker A:And you can see his method.
Speaker A:I don't know, I'm sure I've talked about it with you guys.
Speaker A:Like, his method.
Speaker A:Listening to him, like, do interviews.
Speaker A:Like, he talks about when he gets a script, he memorizes it to the point of ridiculousness, because then it becomes second nature and he can focus on the emotional part of it or the, you know, the little nuances.
Speaker A:And you see that a lot in this movie.
Speaker A:Like, I always think of the scene Where Tristan's back and they go the first time and they go to the bar and the guy won't give him four beers.
Speaker A:And Tristan loses his.
Speaker A:And he keep, like, he.
Speaker A:His dad, like, Anthony Hopkins gets after him, pins him against the wall, right?
Speaker A:And, like, calls out what's gonna happen.
Speaker A:Like, tells him to chill.
Speaker A:And then he doesn't say a word the rest of the scene.
Speaker A:But you get that whole.
Speaker A:The facial expressions and the way that he's acting.
Speaker A:Like he sees that Tristan is, like, broken.
Speaker A:And it doesn't matter what he says to Tristan.
Speaker A:Tristan's gonna do his thing as he's sitting there drinking the beer after he beat the.
Speaker A:And then held up the bar guy enough to make him pour the beer so up.
Speaker A:But, like, Anthony Hopkins performance within that scene alone, like, to me is just like one of them.
Speaker A:It's.
Speaker A:It's so good to watch because after he stops, he doesn't say another word.
Speaker A:But, man, does his face say a lot about what he's seeing from his son.
Speaker A:And, like, you know, his favorite son and most troubled son.
Speaker A:And, like, it's just.
Speaker A:Wow.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So good.
Speaker A:He.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:The acting in this movie is outrageously good across the board.
Speaker A:But why is it always.
Speaker A:Go ahead.
Speaker B:Wrenching.
Speaker B:I was gonna say, what's the most heart wrenching scene for each of you?
Speaker B:I need to think what.
Speaker B:What rocked me the most?
Speaker B:I mean, there's his old wife with his brother.
Speaker B:There's.
Speaker B:I mean, the PTSD with his little brother getting murdered there.
Speaker B:His Isabelle getting shot.
Speaker B:Isabel too.
Speaker B:I mean, realizing his dad at a stroke.
Speaker B:There's probably something else I should name in there too, but just a lot in a life.
Speaker A:What about you, Alec?
Speaker C:Oh, I was gonna say grave when he's crying at Samuel's grave.
Speaker C:Nice one, because it's really, really good acting by Brad Pitt.
Speaker C:Yeah, he does a great job there.
Speaker C:And you can really see just how broken Tristan is past the crooked smile and the, you know, the front.
Speaker C:He's put up for it.
Speaker C:And you get him alone, you can see that he is just not really holding anything together.
Speaker C:He's broken beyond almost that point.
Speaker C:Repair.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker C:Brad Pitt does such a good job just, like, showcasing that.
Speaker C:So that's one for me.
Speaker A:That.
Speaker A:Yeah, I don't know.
Speaker A:That's.
Speaker A:It's tough question because, like, the one that always comes to mind first is Samuel's death.
Speaker A:Like, and again, after he's dead, like, watching Brad Pitt's character Tristan, like, cut out his heart so that he could send it home, and then, like, goes nuts But I think the one that is even more poignant to me in the heart wrenching piece is as he's getting his revenge for Isabelle too.
Speaker A:Having to watch what's.
Speaker A:Why can't I think of her.
Speaker A:Her name now the girl that causes all the problems.
Speaker A:Why can't I think of her name?
Speaker A:Elizabeth.
Speaker C:Susanna.
Speaker A:Susanna, that's right.
Speaker A:Watching Susanna have her breakdown because Tristan's back and she's recognizing that she would have never gone through life the way she is right now if he had never left, like, and then cutting her hair and then eventually taking her own life like that to me is probably the most heart wrenching because he's doing what he needs to do for the life that had grounded him finally.
Speaker A:And he'd moved on from some of his mistakes and was trying to, you know, find that peace and move forward that was taken from him.
Speaker A:So he gets his revenge and at the same time him coming back, finding peace has created this alarming dissatisfaction and recognition of her unhappiness within Susanna.
Speaker A:And so like that whole juxtaposition of these two places, of these two people just being destroyed internally by each other and what came of where they were at because of each other.
Speaker A:And then on top of that, the fallout for Albert and for Alfred and then like the rest of the family because of all this stuff, like to me, like, that's the peak, it's the, it's the climax of the film, if you will, and also the climax like for me of like an emotional heart wrenching moment because all those things say.
Speaker B:The same two things when Susanna takes her own life.
Speaker B:And then the scene where Alfred, like, what does he say?
Speaker B:He doesn't, like he doesn't like me even now or after all this time or whatever he says.
Speaker B:And then, funny, you've seen a little bit of it.
Speaker B:There is the emotional uplift when they, they kind of have their moment finally.
Speaker B:But yeah, just putting yourself in Suzanne issues, like you tried to move on, you thought you moved on and then what is it, five years, six years, seven year, whatever it is, because you never had closure because she was holding on for years, writing letters to herself and holding out hope.
Speaker B:And Tristan, I mean, yeah, he was, had ptsd, was not giving a full.
Speaker B:I can't give him a full pass.
Speaker B:It was also just a complete dick.
Speaker B:He just upped and left and effectively said nothing.
Speaker B:And she was trying to be loyal and hold on and at some point had to decide to.
Speaker B:It's never that I clearly she never fully moved on, but went in a different Direction might be the better phrase and did that.
Speaker B:And then I'm sure she had all these feelings when he came back and realized he's here, he seems sane, but I'm with his brother.
Speaker B:He's now with this girl and why is that?
Speaker B:Not me?
Speaker B:Like, what the hell?
Speaker B:Like.
Speaker B:And then she clearly went through all that to let her.
Speaker B:To take her own life and that's just super sad.
Speaker B:And you put yourself in the oldest brother's shoes and some.
Speaker B:I mean you just want your dad to like you.
Speaker B:You just want your dad to respect you.
Speaker B:And he tried to do good things for the family.
Speaker B:I mean he was.
Speaker B:He's a dick at times, but he's also well charactered and tried to look after his family.
Speaker B:And thankfully he got some of that towards the end.
Speaker B:But that would be really hard and being a part of seeing your wife die because you knew that she just wanted to be with your little brother and a lot of family drama right there.
Speaker B:Yeah, but that's life.
Speaker B:I mean you think about had a.
Speaker C:You're living.
Speaker B:Hard thing in my life and I'm sure there'll be another.
Speaker B:Like there's just things that people get hit with and you try to make sense of it and move forward but man, sometimes you like some people just felt the worst hand and get out of it.
Speaker A:Yeah, I think that's where like I feel you when you say that the movie has like it's slow paced.
Speaker A:Because it is.
Speaker A:But I think what helps me get past that is the fact that this movie is very deliberate with every scene that it has.
Speaker A:And I think that's one of the reasons that I enjoy it as much as I do as a whole is that every scene has something to add to someone's emotional state.
Speaker A:In this movie, sometimes it's a more than one character.
Speaker A:And so I can live with the slow because I'm watching these little pieces of life that are creating emotional distress, maybe helping relieve some of that distress or at least giving that false sense of security that we've moved on and we're okay.
Speaker A:Like those scenes like, are very like powerful in the grand scheme of things to where we get.
Speaker A:And I feel like in a lot of places we talk about, in a lot of movies we talk about.
Speaker A:Sorry that there's places where I'm like, I didn't need that for this movie to hit the way that it does cut out 10 minutes here or 5 minutes there.
Speaker A:I can't really think of a lot of places.
Speaker A:I mean there's probably a couple small, small places in this movie.
Speaker A:But I can't think of a lot of the content that you could cut in this movie that doesn't in some way shape or form like impact the overarching storytelling piece of it, or the character development of one of these like five or six main characters that we need to see how they're impacted.
Speaker A:Like, I think you could cut back maybe a little bit on the, the letter writing piece from Susanna to, to Tristan while he's off and gone.
Speaker A:But I, but I also don't know because really demonstrates the, like the distress that she's in and like the fact that she's practically begging him to come back up until the point that she gets that letter.
Speaker A:And then you see her sitting on the rocking chair in that moment, just absolutely crushed to the point that she doesn't even say anything to Albert or Alfred when he's there.
Speaker A:It's just like, man.
Speaker A:So I don't know.
Speaker A:Like that's.
Speaker A:Yeah, I think that's one of the other things that I think about this movie is it is.
Speaker A:It's very much a character driven storytelling movie with some really exciting parts in the middle.
Speaker A:But yeah, I don't, I don't know what I would cut in this film because I worry about it messing with the integrity of the, the story and the character development.
Speaker A:But.
Speaker A:But yeah, it is slow.
Speaker A:I mean it is very, very storytelling, character driven stuff.
Speaker A:So I can feel that.
Speaker B:The music helps though.
Speaker A:Yeah, the movie, the music is really good.
Speaker B:So good.
Speaker A:I love too that they filmed on location.
Speaker A:Like they're up there in the middle of nowhere, Montana.
Speaker A:And you can tell like it's there.
Speaker B:Montana's beautiful, But I'm like, well, there's not a lot.
Speaker B:Montana, dang beautiful.
Speaker B:Sky's beautiful, but a little too remote for me.
Speaker B:And it's been some spots you're driving on the freeway and there's gas stations few and far between.
Speaker B:If you had a bad running, be like you a be getting help for a long time.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Oh yeah.
Speaker A:Montana is one of the, one of the few places left that have like untouched land.
Speaker A:And it's.
Speaker A:Yeah, it's gorgeous up there.
Speaker B:It is.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:I do.
Speaker A:I always get intrigued too by the, the political nature of this movie.
Speaker A:Like there's a lot of political underpinnings in this movie.
Speaker A:Like we talk about the, the native and obviously settlers at that time, like that relationship.
Speaker A:And like, you see, it's interesting to watch that progression and it's, you know, it's one of those things that could spark a massive debate that there's, there's always someone to hate for some stupid ass reason.
Speaker B:Right?
Speaker A:Like, and it's interesting that you see it a lot in this movie and how that plays out.
Speaker A:But yeah, there's just a lot going on with this movie too, things like that.
Speaker A:And you get to see some of like, and I love that it's coming from Stab, like the stories coming from old man Stab sitting as he's.
Speaker A:He's dying, you know what I mean?
Speaker A:Like, and so he's telling this story to his kids, grandkids, whoever it might be, about Tristan and you know, the, the Colonel and like, it's just an interesting way to tell that story.
Speaker A:And we'll talk about this in one of the other movies that we record for this month.
Speaker A:But like, there is a little narration there, but I think that narration actually moves this movie forward in a very good way where a lot of times I'm like, oh my God, stop talking.
Speaker A:But this one, I think I really like the way that it's, that it's done.
Speaker A:Especially the final monologue, like at the end of the movie where he's talking about after they came together to get rid of the o' Bannons and the cops and whatnot.
Speaker A:And Tristan goes off and, and disappears to keep everybody and like, like that whole.
Speaker A:You know, we thought he, I never thought he'd live long and very long, but it's the people around him that all died young and like the impact that he had.
Speaker A:And then just him fighting a bear.
Speaker A:What a great they were in the movie.
Speaker B:A rock that they.
Speaker B:He was the rock they all broke against, is how he said it.
Speaker B:The bear scene at the end, I, I liked it, but it also, it was kind of like the, the imagery, like the, the graininess, the, like the, the way they cut it and everything.
Speaker B:I don't know.
Speaker B:I didn't like.
Speaker B:It was a little odd to me in the camera choices for me personally, just felt I was like, what could we not pay Brad Pitt to like fight a bear with, make him look a little bit older or something.
Speaker B:Like, what.
Speaker B:What's with this, like, blurry blonde haired?
Speaker B:I. I don't know.
Speaker B:I took me out of it a little bit because I was thinking about that instead of like feeling the, the moment of it ending.
Speaker A:Oh, how podcasts ruin our viewing pleasure.
Speaker A:The way we used to watch movies.
Speaker B:Sure.
Speaker A: That was just: Speaker A:Like, they were like, we'll make this work.
Speaker A:I, at first, I, when it first, like the first time I saw it, I was like, wait, did they get Anthony Hopkins to fight a bear like that.
Speaker A:Because that's what I first thought.
Speaker A:I was like, oh, no, it's just something to stunt dude.
Speaker B:But yeah, it was just.
Speaker B:It was interesting, but, I mean, a cool way for him to go out.
Speaker B:Like, it felt very fitting.
Speaker B:It was just.
Speaker B:Yeah, you know.
Speaker B:Yeah, we'll be nitpicky.
Speaker B:It's what we do here.
Speaker A:Sure.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:I like the.
Speaker A:The full circle moment.
Speaker A:Like, we start off being introduced to Tristan as a character getting in a fight with a bear, and then he goes out in a fight with a bear, and then in the middle of it, we see that moment where it's the same bear that he's got wearing earth, his toe around his neck his whole life, but he lets it live.
Speaker A:So, yeah, I just, like I said, the.
Speaker A:The imagery of this movie and the storytelling and like, the foreshadowing and like, all of the interconnected pieces, it's very impressive if you sit down and watch it and look for those, like, all that connective tissue that this movie has.
Speaker A:Like, I think it's one of the reasons that I really enjoy the movie as a whole.
Speaker A:But, yeah, it's good stuff.
Speaker A:Should we rate it?
Speaker C:Let's do it.
Speaker A:All right, I'll go first.
Speaker A:I'm gonna give it a five.
Speaker A:I think from.
Speaker A:In terms of storytelling and acting and writing and, you know, even Matson mentioned it.
Speaker A:Music and like, visuals, even though there are some weird, grainy shots in it.
Speaker A:A couple moments.
Speaker A:But, like, I just think from a storytelling movie perspective in a.
Speaker A:In a character development, character driven movie, I don't.
Speaker A:I can't think of very many that do it better than this one.
Speaker A:It's intriguing.
Speaker A:The characters are interesting, they're flawed.
Speaker A:That is one place where I'll give Madsen to say, this is real life.
Speaker A:Like, these aren't perfect people.
Speaker A:In fact, they're very, very imperfect.
Speaker A:To the point that you got the youngest that gets everybody in trouble because he.
Speaker A:He's chasing glory like his dad.
Speaker A:And his dad, ironically enough, loves him for his simplicity and the fact that he's kind hearted and he's the best of them, right?
Speaker A:And you got these two brothers that are grizzled in their own ways in very different ways and want the same.
Speaker A:You know, the only one that doesn't want glory is the one that ends up being the most famous of the brother.
Speaker A:You know, it's just this wild, huge storytelling and these characters and actors that are in it take you through that story in a very, very meaningful way.
Speaker A:And, yeah, I'm just intrigued every time I watch it.
Speaker A:Like, I can't take my eyes off the screen.
Speaker A:And Brad Pitt, since we're in Brad Pitt Month, absolutely kills it as the guy that carries this movie.
Speaker A:And thankfully they got some very good actors to act against him because, yeah, he does a phenomenal job in this movie along with all of them.
Speaker A:But yeah, I'm gonna give it a five.
Speaker A:I think from a dramatic perspective, this is one of my top dramas that I will always grab and watch again with some time in between to let the emotions cool off because it's not an easy watch because there's not very much happiness in this movie.
Speaker A:But very good storytelling, very good movie.
Speaker A:Mattin.
Speaker B:Oh, what am I gonna give this movie?
Speaker B:Four and a half.
Speaker B:I think the only reason is just pacing for me.
Speaker B:It's one of those movies.
Speaker B:We've done this a lot lately.
Speaker B:Some good movies, but movies that require the emotional investment.
Speaker B:This is definitely a movie.
Speaker B:Certainly you can't just pop in for 10 minutes or 10 minutes here that you gotta like, you gotta.
Speaker B:You gotta be in it, sit down in it, be in that world.
Speaker B:And for that, definitely not something that I'll just return to right away.
Speaker B:Also probably need to be in a happy place while you're watching this.
Speaker B:Not for the faint of heart, maybe to help you appreciate your life a little bit more if you are going through a hard time.
Speaker B:Because certainly don't want Tristan's life, that or Susanna's life or most of these people's lives.
Speaker B:Also probably just don't want to live in the 19th century.
Speaker B:Like maybe sorry, not 19, 20th century, back up there, 19th as well.
Speaker B:You just appreciate the modern convenience of things that we have.
Speaker B:And really good movie.
Speaker B:I'm happy to have watched it.
Speaker B:Had never seen it, obviously had heard the music.
Speaker B:But I'm sure I will watch it again.
Speaker B:I will say that like, it is definitely worth the second watch.
Speaker B:It's just something I need some time in between.
Speaker B:I'll take my six or seven year hiatus.
Speaker B:Like Tristan.
Speaker B:I'll come back and I'll watch it and be prepared.
Speaker B:I'm sure I'll watch it before then, but it was a good movie.
Speaker A:All right, Alec, bring it home.
Speaker C:This is also going to be a five for me.
Speaker C:I mean, so many things that I enjoy about this movie.
Speaker C:It does go over the top, in my opinion, on a few places where it's like you didn't have to go so far to get your message across to that point.
Speaker C:But I also love the fact that you know it's kind of the whole backdrop.
Speaker C:Or not the whole backdrop, but a large portion of the backdrop really is that the government's the problem and prohibition is the catalyst for a lot of the shit that happens.
Speaker C:But it's.
Speaker C:It's such an underlying theme that it just kind of simmers under the surface.
Speaker C:And so, I mean, there's so much in this for me to love that I will go back and watch this pretty much anytime, despite the fact that it is a heavy, heavy watch to sit through.
Speaker C:But yeah, that's a five for me.
Speaker A:Nice.
Speaker A:Well, there it is.
Speaker A:That was a quick one.
Speaker A:But it's.
Speaker A:It's a good movie.
Speaker A:Alec.
Speaker A:Toba really can find us when they're not listening to us at each other about movies.
Speaker C:Happy to.
Speaker C:So thank you for tuning into week three of Brad Pitt.
Speaker C:September doesn't have to seem.
Speaker A:Yeah, no alliteration.
Speaker A:Damn it.
Speaker C:Son of a.
Speaker C:But yeah, this is week three.
Speaker C:You can find us on what's Our Verdict at YouTube where you can see our smiling face while we rip on each other.
Speaker C:But other than that, the best place to follow us is on Patreon at what's our Verdict?
Speaker C:Reviews.
Speaker C:We have 550 plus getting close to 600 little bits of content that are extra on Patreon.
Speaker C:But in addition to that, Patreon is where we vote on movies.
Speaker C:So we put up a list.
Speaker C:You guys can come and vote for what you want us to watch and review.
Speaker C:And the voting part is completely free.
Speaker C:If you want a little bit of the extra content, it's gonna cost you a couple bucks, but it's worth it.
Speaker C:There is some full length episodes on there as well as loops, reels, extras, us talking each other and just talking about life in general.
Speaker C:So join us over there.
Speaker C:It's great, Laugh.
Speaker C:Love to see you around.
Speaker C:Special thanks to our patrons.
Speaker C:Let's see Rich and Charles still at it.
Speaker C:Appreciate you guys and everything that you do.
Speaker C:And with that, I will kick it back to the colossus of clout.
Speaker C:The great bambino.
Speaker A:A jj.
Speaker A:Yeah, thanks, Alec.
Speaker A:Yeah, Patreon's a lot of fun.
Speaker A:Not to mention if you hit a certain level, then that's why we call out Charles and Rich because they still sit at the level where we shout them out every episode.
Speaker A:So can also get that become what's our Verdict?
Speaker A:Famous.
Speaker A:There you go.
Speaker C:Oh, there we go.
Speaker B:That's.
Speaker B:Hey, you know, it's.
Speaker B:It's an important thing as a certified man of the people.
Speaker B:Like, let me tell you, like, it's.
Speaker B:It's an honor.
Speaker A:That's right.
Speaker A:That's right.
Speaker A:And on that note, as always, we appreciate you tuning in.
Speaker A:We'll catch you on the next one.
Speaker C:Hasta la vista, baby.
Speaker A:Cinematic.
