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Seraphim Falls (2006)
Front Cover Actor Back Cover
Pierce Brosnan Gideon
Liam Neeson Carver
Angie Harmon Rose
Anjelica Huston Madame Louise
Robert Baker Pope
Michael Wincott
Ed Lauter
John Robinson (IX)
Movie Details
Genre Drama; Western; War
Director David Von Ancken
Producer Bruce Davey; David Flynn
Writer Abby Everett Jaques; David Von Ancken
Studio Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Language English
Audience Rating R (Restricted)
Running Time 115 mins
Country USA
Color Color
Plot
A great-looking, well-acted Western in the old-school tradition, Seraphim Falls is definitely worth a look for fans of the genre. There's nothing really new here (which explains why it played only briefly in theaters), and more than a few critics noted its obvious similarities to Clint Eastwood's classic The Outlaw Josey Wales. Still, you have to admire director and cowriter David Von Ancken (a 10-year TV veteran making his feature debut) for delivering an engrossing post-Civil War revenge story (cowritten with Abby Everett Jacques) that isn't hobbled by its overly familiar plotting. Blessed by the exquisite cinematography of John Toll (whose credits include The Thin Red Line, Almost Famous and The Last Samurai) and bolstered by a lush but unobtrusive score by Harry Gregson-Williams, this prestigious production begins very well indeed, with a wintry manhunt in the Ruby Mountains of Nevada, circa 1868. Former Union captain Gideon (Pierce Brosnan) is being tracked by a seemingly brutal pursuer named Carver (Liam Neeson) whose four-man posse (including veteran character actors Ed Lauter and Michael Wincott) is soon reduced to two.

As the manhunt continues, Brosnan and Neeson make the most of minimal dialogue, and flashbacks give us hints about the tragic event that set this plot in motion. It's a simple, elemental tale of justice in the wilderness, with occasional quirks like a snake-oil vendor (Anjelica Huston) who appears literally out of nowhere, and a top-hatted Indian (Wes Studi) who gives the film a slight, mystical air of mystery. And while a more daring director might have opted for a more powerful visual style, there's something to be said for Von Ancken's straightforward approach, perfectly matched by Toll's breathtaking landscapes, shot on location in Oregon and New Mexico and ranging from raging rivers to sun-baked desert flats. None of this makes Seraphim Falls a particularly exceptional movie, but with a fine cast that also includes such familiar faces as Angie Harmon, Tom Noonan, Xander Berkeley, and Kevin J. O'Connor, there's ample reward in a film that doesn't pretend to be anything more than a respectable entry in its genre. --Jeff Shannon

Personal Details
Seen It Yes
Index 483
Collection Status In Collection
Links Amazon US
DVD Empire
DVD-Shop
Product Details
Format DVD
Region Region 1
Screen Ratio 2.40:1
Layers Single Side, Dual Layer
UPC (Barcode) 043396171596
Release Date 5/15/2007
Subtitles English; French; Spanish
Packaging Keep Case
Audio Tracks ENGLISH: Dolby Digital 5.1 [CC]
Nr of Disks/Tapes 1
Extra Features
Behind the Scenes of Seraphim Falls
Commentary with Pierce Brosnan, Writer/Director David Von Ancken, and Production Designer Michael Hanan