THE JACK BULL
US, 1999, 115 minutes, Colour.
John Cusack, John Goodman, L.Q.Jones, Miranda Otto, John C.McGinley, John Savage, Rodney A.Grant, Kurt Fuller, Rex Linn, Jay O Sanders, Drake Bell, Ken Pogue, Glenn Morshower, Ned Bellamy, Scott Wilson.
Directed by John Badham.
With an enigmatic title (referring to the strong canine qualities of the leading character and a combination, Jack Russell and pitbull), this is a very strong western, set in the late 1880s, in Wyoming territory, with the ambitions of Wyoming becoming a state in 1890.
Interestingly, this film was made by HBO for television but it certainly could stay and theatrical screening. The mountain scenery of Wyoming is outstanding and beautiful, one of the characters remarking that the the mountains looked like God’s Cathedral without a roof and God over-boasting! There are the open plains for horse breeding, the small towns and homesteads, Cheyenne and its Frontier flavour, the atmosphere for statehood.
While this is the background, the central character is Merle Redding, played with stall which strength and underlying emotion by John Cusack. He confronts the ambitious and loud-mouths local land baron, played by veteran L.Q.Jones in one of his best performances. Their conflict leads to Joneses doublecrossing, reading becoming a victim, applications of Lord to the authorities in Shining, one judge in league with the Baron, dubious behaviour from the attorney general.
Which leads to Redding, after his wife (a spirited performance from Miranda Otto) has gone to Cheyenne to negotiate legal solutions and is killed by runaway dray, to assemble the men who are in rebellion, to form a posse, to pressure Ballard to restore the horses whom he has neglected and maltreated while Redding is at the sales.
The men of the posse are loyal to Redding, especially his partner, native American Indian Crowe, Billy (Rodney A.Grant). But, the risk of violence and accidents is always possible and there are some deaths, followed by lies during the subsequent trial.
The film has a very strong supporting cast led by John Goodman as the letter-of the-law judge, Scott Wilson as the acting-Gov, John Savage as a loyal supporter of Ballard, John see McGinley? as a loyal supporter and friend of Redding.
The screenplay is based on the 18th century novel by German author, Heinrich von Kleist, about a revolutionary, Michael Koolhaas. (This story was filmed in Denmark in 2016 with Mads Mikkelson in the title role, a far more ruthless character than in The Jack Ball.) The present screenplay was written by Dick Cusack, John Cusack’s father, with his brother, Bill Cusack, as a producer.
The last part of the film involves court cases, Ballard finally getting his comeuppance, Redding found guilty of a murder 50 did not commit and sentenced to be hanged. He goes to the gallows, a proud man, wanting justice, supporting his young son, a Stoic hero.
1. The title? The dogs? The spirit of Myrl Redding?
2. Wyoming territory, the late 1890s, the move towards statehood, the banners, the campaigns, those for, the local land barons against?
3. The film made for television, strong cast, strong plot, beautiful locations, enough for theatrical release?
4. The background of the mountains of Wyoming, beauty, majesty, crags, the plains, the homesteads, stables, local towns, the city of Cheyenne, Frontier, the streets, offices, hotels, prisons? Authentic feel? The musical score?
5. Myrl Redding, John Cusack screen presence? His family, his son working with the horses, Cora, the household, strong spirit? His team, Woody as loyal, friend, working? Billy, Crowe Indian, friendship and partner, work with the horses?
6. Ballard, the presence of L.Q.Jones, appearance, manner, arrogant, defiant, his property, his entourage, Slater, his presence and loyalty, the black worker and his defiance? The clash with Redding, ideological differences with statehood, his revenge?
7. The horses, the trek to the sales, Ballard and the imposition of his tax, the discussions, Redding trapped, the payment, leaving the horses? Into town, the sales, the discussions about Ballard? The return, the state of the horses, Billy and his being humiliated? Redding’s anger, the confrontation?
8. The legal issues, Redding and the discussion with the lawyer, his promises, his eventually doing nothing, returning, avidly taking Redding’s money, scene later with the corrupt judge? Judge Rankin, the barber sequence, his dismissing the case? Deals with Ballard?
9. The preparations for statehood, the visitors from Washington, the role of the military as escorts, the governor, his ambitions, arrogant manner, fitting the clothes, signing the amnesty? Later discovery of the events? His dismissing of the sheriff with his intentions, Ballard and his audience, mouthing off against the governor, the Gov putting him in jail? The role of the attorney general, letter of the law, double standards?
10. Cora, saying she had diplomatic skills, going to the city, the approach to the officer, getting the appointment, the attack on Woody, Cora coming out, the runaway wagon, her death? Woody upset? Bringing the body back, the effect on Redding and his son? The burial? Redding taking on the guilt of allowing her to go?
11. The further confrontations with Ballard and his men, the treatment of the horses, Redding and his decision, gathering the men, forming the posse, wanting justice? Not wanting violence? Going to the community, religious, the printer, the posters against Ballard?
12. There riding, the confrontations, hounding Ballard, his fleeing, freeing the horses, setting is stable is a light? Going to his brother, his brother defending him, the burning of the barn? The further confrontations, Slater and his group, the shootout, Slater being shot? The Homestead, the Homestead and his rifle, his wife coming out, the shooting, her death? And the lies in the trial?
13. The governor, the difficulties of the law, the impending visitors, the role of the military, the advice of Judge Tolliver?
14. Redding sending Billy away, the military coming, the negotiations, Redding coming to town? The interviews with the judge? The judge, his attitudes, torts the governor general, taught the sheriff?
15. The trial, Ballard and his ranting, the judge reprimanding him? In and the Indian visiting him, writing the note to Billi, the ambiguous meaning? The attack on the Indian, the Gov getting the note? Redding and his quiet testimony? The witnesses against him? The jury decision? One of his innocence, one of guilt? The sentence for hanging?
16. Sequence of the military tracking down the Indians and the shootings?
17. Ballard, his condemnation in court, the perjury, commanded to restore the horses, his humiliation?
18. Redding, the restoration of the horses, the scenes with his son, handing on the heritage?
19. The judge, the encounter with judge Rankin, the report to the authorities, the bartender refusing the judge a drink without a permit?
20. The hanging, the crowd watching, sympathy for Redding, the photographer, Redding’s final words, justice, stoically going to his death?
21. The pessimism of the ending for Redding? And the transition of Cheyenne from territory to statehood?
