A Western for the ages

I finally got around to watching Lonesome Dove again since its debut on TV back in 89. I forgot just how much of a powerful depiction of the American Frontier it was. Based on the book by Larry McMurtry, who considers this a tale of friendship, the story centers around the archetypical prototypes of the visionary and the practical companion, ala Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. But this story cannot be told with these characters alone, and Lonesome Dove boasts an all-star cast, including the under-used Frederic Forrest as the unforgettable Indian psycho "Blue Duck". The story revolves around two seemingly old, washed up Texas Rangers who take to the cattle trail after ten years of sedentary ranching outside a fictional sleepy Texas border town from which the series takes its name. Robert Duvall, in perhaps his finest performance, portrays August "Gus" McRae, who is more concerned with whoring and drinking whiskey than taking care of the cattle-or anything else for that matter.On the other hand is Captain Woodrow F. Call (Tommy Lee Jones) with little humor and even less patience for lazy workers than lawlessness.

Perhaps the movies standout element is simply its lack of pretension and unglamourized take on one of the more brutal and desperate times in US history. Australian director Simon Wincer gives us the real men, the cowboys, the pioneers, who faced hardships untellable. And better yet, this is not a politically corrected tale accessible to the whole family, as it is filled with adult themes. And unlike the counter culture Dances with Wolves, Lonesome Dove isn't afraid to show the Natives in all their hostility and savagery. The DVD transfer is actually mixed, as some parts of the film are cleaner than others. The third part is the worst of the four; scan lines are evident, evidence of dot crawl, and dirt. The extras include an interview with Larry McMurtry who talks about the creation of this story: he saw the Lonesome Dove Church bus. Discovering the title gave impetus to the story being written. So in the end, from the inspired beggining to it's bittersweet ending, Lonesome Dove continues to shine forth as perhaps the best of the genre.

Only buy the DVD version!!

If you made it this far, go a little further. Under "Explore this video" you will see the run time of the VHS tape is 240 minutes. The DVD run time is 360 minutes. Hmmmm....
Well, be warned, an intellectually challenged movie distributor has decided to edit 2 hours from Lonesome Dove! That is like touching up the Mona Lisa!

This miniseries was unique and may never again be equalled, at least in the Western genre. It is 6 hours of riveting televison, and trust me on this folks, you can't find 5 minutes of this former miniseries to edit out. To cut anything out was a serious diservice to anyone who has not experienced this.
Probably what I liked most was the thoroughly convincing portrayals of this cast. There were none who did not project an aura of believability, and each was so convincing that you may forget you are sitting in front of your television. I remember the time I rented this 6 hour series in 1994 not knowing what to expect. What I found was I did not get up from my couch for 6 hours. I was moved by the entire movie, and rarely does any movie elicit emotion in me. Gus McRae and Woodrow Call, backed by an absolutely fantastic supporting cast, will bring your televison to life.

Towards the end, when Woodrow is doing a favor for Gus, and doing so at the risk of his own life, the whole West hears of his exploits. In some dusty cow town somewhere, a local sees him, and reading of the story, questions Woodrow Call.
"Just why are you doing this anyway?" he asks. Call looks back and says "Because I gave him my word." The local, thinking for a second, looks back and says "I can see that you did" and walks away. It is a perfect description of the character of Woodrow Call. Maybe the best mini-series to ever grace televison. Just make sure you see all of it.

The Return of the Western

It's ironic that the western, a staple of TV until sci-fi eclipsed its presence, would find its home again on the small screen during a time when big budget westerns seemed to be biting the dust to space opera blockbusters. And that it would take an Australian to realize it. Director Simon Wincer's big-vista understanding of the genre is apparent throughout "Lonesome Dove," which also features some great performances by screen familiars Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones, even if the latter too often looks like a scowling Kenny Rogers here. This tale of an arduous cattle drive by two retired lawmen has the sweep and grist of such classics as "True Grit," "Red River," and "Once Upon a Time in the West," with which it shares many elements (the conversational style, the brutal drive, and the buddy relationship, respectively, the most obvious). And while "Lonesome Dove" doesn't really say anything new about the old west, it is entertaining and fares better compared to many westerns past in terms of presenting the ethnic diversity that history records. Look for many bravura--and few corny--moments like Captain Call's (Jones) reaction to a cavalry scout's whipping of Call's alleged son (a likable but sometimes too aw-shucks Rick Shroeder), MacCrae's (Duvall) gutsy stand against a pack of outlaws, and the touching and remarkably in-character last goodbye between the leads. Basil Poledouris, an underrated composer, provides a solid score. Of the episodes, only one stands out as pedestrian, making this a pretty good choice for viewers who want to savor their entertainment choice.