Lonesome Dove
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Lonesome Dove is
an exceptional book and an exceptional movie. The Lonesome
Dove book, written by Larry McMurtry, is nearly a 1000 pages
long in paperback. And the movie, instead of being a vastly
scaled back version of the novel, faithfully recreates virtually
every scene in the novel. And the cast of characters in the
Lonesome Dove movie reads like a who's-who of excellent actors,
with Robert Duvall, Tommy Lee Jones, Angelica Huston, Danny
Glover, Diane Lane and Ricky Schroeder all having leading
roles. The faithful reproduction of the Lonesome Dove book
does have a price though - the Lonesome Dove movie is 6 hours
long!
Lonesome
Dove Movie - Review & Synopsis
Lonesome Dove is
a movie that portrays a cattle drive from Texas to Montana,
led by two former and colorful famous Texas Rangers - Augustus
McCrae (played by Robert DuVall) and Woodrow Call (played
by Tommy Lee Jones).
The movie begins
in Texas, where Woodrow Call comes up with the idea of gathering
a herd of cattle and then driving them up to Montana to start
the states first cattle ranch. After convicing his best friend
and partner Augustus McCrae, the best friends, who steal the
herd from a gang of Mexican cattle rustlers, drive their herd
from Texas to Montana, battling horse thieves, angry Indian
tribes, and a renegade half-breed killer named Blue Duck on
a mission of revenge. The trip to Montana has the characters
in the movie overcome numerous physical, personal and emotional
challenges.
Almost amazingly,
for a 6 hour movie, there is absolutely no dead spots. Someone
watching this movie for the first time will not have to worry
about falling asleep due to lack of onscreen action and interest.
The acting in Lonesome
Dove is truly spectacular. Lonesome Dove the movie won Seven
Emmy Awards, all of them justified. Tommy Lee Jones puts in
perhaps the best performance of his career as Woodrow Call.
And Robert Duvall, portraying the humorous Augustus McCrae,
also puts in one of his finest performances. Angelica Huston,
Ricky Schroeder, Danny Glover, Frederic Forrest, Robert Ulrich
and Diane Lane also put in excellent performances in Lonesome
Dove. The net effect of these excellent performances combine
to create a movie that is riveting, believeable, enjoyable
and absolutely unforgettable.
The cinematography
in Lonesome Dove is excellent. The photography does justice
to the book, accurately portraying the vast, open landscapes
that the cattle drive cuts through and the insignificance
of man on these empty plains. The beautiful soundtrack that
goes with the film further enhances the movie and can be listened
to over and over again.
Overall, Lonesome
Dove a truly epic tale that can accurately be called an American
classic. Sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking and often
unpredictable, Lonesome Dove is a movie that can be watched
(and read) over and over again.
Note - Due
to the length of the movie, it is highly recommended that
the DVD version of Lonesome Dove be purchased. The VHS version
is in extended play mode.
Amazon
Customer Review #1
One of the best
things ever done for television
Although
the phrase "made for television" conjures up the
images of the tabloid story of the week and women-in-peril
films; Larry McMurtry's epic novel "Lonesome Dove"
would not have been given justice in any other format. Television
allowed that magnificent work to be brought to life in some
form resembling the novel. The six hour running time enabled
character and storyline development that would not have been
possible if the novel had been adapted for theaters.
Although
it does have the jarring breaks that marked where a commericial
interuption had once been and it's share of television stars
(Urich, Shroeder, Corbin); "Lonesome Dove" is movie
big. Big stars. Wonderful cinematography. Great locations.
An authentic look. A terrific score. The producers, cast,
crew, and director went the full measure to ensure that this
movie did not look or feel like a "movie of the week"
production.
Personally,
I believe it, along with "Roots," to be the finest
work ever done in the medium of television. It really does
make you feel for its characters. The viewer will cheer and
hope for them, and when tragedy occurs, as it does throughout
the film, it will shake the viewer. Nobody is safe: comic
relief characters, children, and, even, experienced Rangers.
McMurtry drives home the message that death in the Old West
could occur to anyone at anytime with shocking suddenness.
In the end, Captain Call looks back and remembers his friends
and comrades who did not return with him. As he does, tears
come to the eyes of this taciturn character; and rest assured
he is joined by many in the viewing audience.
 Lonesome
Dove on DVD
Lonesome
Dove on VHS
Lonesome
Dove - Softcover Book
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