Seraphim Falls Review

"Seraphim Falls" reviews

Movie

Seraphim Falls

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2007-08-17 14:40:19

Provider

Review

After the American Civil War a confederate Colonel goes on the hunt for revenge.

High in the snowy mountains a trapper rests and lights a fire. Suddenly a rifle shot rings out and hits him in the arm. So a chase across a beautiful and varied American landscape begins - with the merest of hints as to the protagonists' driving forces. Morsman Carver (Liam Neeson), with his bounty hunters in tow, mercilessly tracks Gideon (Pierce Brosnan) through forests, down valleys and across plains. Gideon, using all his guile, wit and considerable survival techniques continuously evades his trackers on their relentless pursuit, even picking one or two of them off. It's a pursuit that ultimately sees both men break the codes they live by.

Echoing classic John Ford westerns of old, Seraphim Falls is in fact a very new style of western - shot through with art house pacing and style. It also ably keeps the core of it's narrative back until its final reel. Keeping any explanation of reason for the chase secret from it's audience allows this film to fully explore both landscapes of the wild west: the natural vistas of snow-covered mountains, brushwood prairies and deserts plus the new, emerging populations - the railroad builders and frontier farmers, small town bank robbers and the invaded (and beaten) native Indians.

The film's expansive sense of the time and vast space contrasts perfectly with the extreme claustrophobic intensity of Carver’s subdued rage and the overwhelming sense that even this immense space is not enough for the two men to exist in. It's these elements that keep the tension and drive fully alive throughout the film.

Brosnan's portrayal is visceral and excellent, having completely shaken any remnants of Bond from his bones. Neeson's Carver is totally focussed and totally heartless - showing he can still do serious cinema aside from an increasing portfolio of cheesy franchise appearances. Only a muddled, allegorical denouement (that takes more than it gives) detracts from this from this powerful and tense film.