THE BALLAD OF LEFTY BROWN

US, 2017, 111 minutes, Colour.

Bill Pullman, Kathy Baker, Peter Fonda, Stephen Alan Seder, Joseph E Anderson, Lewis Pullman, Joe Anderson, Tommy Flanagan, Jim Caviezel, Diego Josef, Michael Spears.

Directed by Jared Moshe.

With a title including the word, ballad, this is a Western with a difference, a celebration of the past, a critique of the past, the song of a legend. However, the legend is a very limited man, Lefty Brown, played so expertly by Bill Pullman, always on the side, shot in action, a limp which led to the nickname Lefty.

Montana, 1889, a film with beautiful landscapes.

The frontier is changing, Peter Fonda playing a candidate for Congress, Jim Caviezel playing the governor, Tommy Flanagan playing the Marshall, all of them riders in the past together.

When the Congressional candidate is killed, he and Lefty apprehended horse thieves, Lefty is blamed by the Congressman’s wife, Laura, Kathy Baker. Lefty then goes on a mission to apprehend the killers only to find that he is being blamed for the death.

So the ballad continues as Lefty rides through Montana, in search of the killers, coming across an eager young shooter with talent, Jeremiah (Diego Josef) and the two bond. The Marshall goes in pursuit of Lefty to save him from breaking the law – but is persuaded by Jeremiah to become part of the search.

One feature of the action here is the arrival of the killer, Frank Baines (Joe Anderson), gunfights, Jeremiah saving Lefty, other horsemen arriving and the link made with the governor.

This builds up to a final confrontation, Lefty confronting the governor, the governor explaining the situation why the Congressman had to die, his opposition to a railroad deal – and Laura overhearing it, wanting vengeance but Lefty taking the treatment of the governor into his own hands to save Laura from the law.

Something of a slow burn, very good cast, the top performance by Bill Pullman – an underrated Western.

1. The tone of the title, the western story, but a legend in ballad?
2. Montana, 1889, the visuals of the mountain landscapes, the open plains, the town? Interiors, homes, bars? The rugged terrain? The musical score?
3. The Western frontier, the 19^th century, the frontier lessening, politics, deals, the railroads? Yet the gunfighters, guns for hire, lynchings, murders?
4. The situation, Lefty and his friendship with Ed, Ed moving to Congress, relationship with Laura, the missing horses, the two going to find them, the ambush and Ed’s death? Lefty surviving, returning, Laura blaming him for not protecting Ed? Yet Ed, and his ruthlessness, hangings?
5. Lefty and his decision to find the killers, his always being a second, illiterate, meaning well? Bill Pullman’s performance? Riding the range, searching for clues, the encounter with Jeremiah, Jeremiah and his age, ambitions, Western traditions, bonding with Lefty?
6. The governor, the Marshall, the past, the riding with Ed and Lefty? The Governor and his smooth manner, supporting Laura? The Marshal, his drinking, riding to protect Lefty, the interactions with Lefty and Jeremiah, Jeremiah and the stories, persuading him to help?
7. Frank Baines, the killer, his gang, for hire, motivations, the attack, the wounding of Jeremiah, the fights, the escapes, Jeremiah shooting Frank?
8. Jeremiah, his wounds, Lefty looking after him? Jeremiah moving into action, saving Lefty?
9. The riders, the recognition of a rider from the Governor? Lefty and the decision to return?
10. The confrontation with the Governor, his confessing the truth, Laura overhearing, the deals with the railroads, Ed’s opposition, the Governor hiring the killers?
11. Laura, her antipathy towards Lefty, wanting him to die? Discovering the truth, wanting to take the law into our own hands concerning the Governor?
12. Lefty, Justice for the governor, rituals of hanging, Lefty not wanting Laura to be involved, executing justice – going on his way, expecting to finish in prison?