Hostiles

Show this flick in a double feature with The Revenant and everyone in the theater would kill themselves before the second movie ended. That's not a casual, throwaway pairing; this film is a spiritual sibling to the other. Both are exceptionally grim western dramas that will be, for the majority of moviegoers, tough films to watch. But this work has many virtues. It's well shot; every frame looks beautiful. The performances are strong; Christian Bale is good at this sort of brooding, complicated character (much like his work in 3:10 to Yuma some years back), and even the supporting players acquit themselves quite well. Mostly, this piece earns its rating for its ambition. In a cinematic world of shits-and-giggles lightweight fare, this movie sticks out like a sore thumb for being so challenging. Not everyone will want to watch this picture; many will find it slow, depressing, and downright off putting. But grown-ups who are willing to contemplate life's rougher edges will find something interesting and meaningful here.