Slow West (2015)

Written and Directed by John Maclean
Starring Kodi Smit-McPhee, Michael Fassbender, Ben Mendelsohn, Caren Pistorius and Rory McCann

A 16-year-old Scottish boy leaves his home and travels through the wild west in order to reconnect with the girl he loves, while accompanied by a mysterious traveler, Silas.

Unlike most westerns, which are flashy and loud, this film takes a more subtle approach. It's subdued themes and characters build an intensity that is often missed in films in which people shoot first and ask questions later. Every action and bullet is meticulously thought over before decisions are made.

Another thing that stood out about this movie is that unlike other westerns where the entirety of the movie is spent on gun fights, this is a genuine character study into the mind of a naive teenage boy and the man using him to get what he wants. An intriguing scenario in which the unlikeliest of a friendship is built.

Michael Fassbender and Kodi Smit-McPhee have this uncomfortableness between them that really adds to the building of their bond. As their relationship develops, so does their chemistry. It is a very fluid feeling, following the two of them.

Ironically, what I believe to be it's biggest strength, others will more than likely see as a weakness. Yes, it would appear as though very little happens throughout most of the movie. But what they fail to realize is this isn't your typical western. This isn't all about gunfights and violence. This is a movie about the characters involved, not their actions. And from that standpoint, it is brilliant.

My Rating: 7/10

The Salvation (2014)

Directed by Kristian Levring
Written by Anders Thomas Jensen and Kristian Levring
Starring Mads Mikkelsen, Eva Green, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Mikael Persbrandt

In 1870s America, a peaceful Danish settler kills his family's murderer which unleashes the fury of a notorious gang leader. With a bounty on his head, his cowardly fellow townspeople betray him, forcing him to hunt down the outlaws alone.

A story of revenge and justice, this is single handedly the best foreign Western film since Clint Eastwood's  "The Man With No Name" trilogy. It is a unique perspective on the old west told from a foreign settlers point of view, creating a stronger feeling of disgust with how he and his family were treated in their new home.

Mads Mikkelsen continues to prove himself as one of the elite actors of the world with a captivating performance as the vengeful Dane with nothing to lose. It is extremely easy to root for him as he kicks some ass and takes some names. Jeffrey Dean Morgan is intensely evil as the ruthless marauder.

If I had to nitpick, I would say this movies one flaw is it's formulaic plot. Regardless of it's unique, foreign settler perspective, it is a rather over-played story. Complete with a one-on-twelve shoot out and and intense standoff, it takes all of the aspects that makes westerns great. Yet, despite it's predictability, it is one of the best Western films in recent memory and revives a dying genre, if only for a while.

My Rating: 7/10