Kelly Reichardt seems to have done something over the years that has upset those responsible for making sure she wins an Oscar because while it was disappointing that Wendy & Lucy didn't get nominated it is an absolute crime that Meek's Cutoff wasn't. While this isn't a film for the popcorn set it is a film that will be lapped up by real film lovers. It is a film that will actually make you think... now you can't say that about much modern cinema, can you?
Through The Desert They Come - The Story Of Meek's Cutoff
Meek’s Cutoff follows a group of settlers as they make their way across the harsh Oregon landscape in 1845. The group which is made up of Soloman Tetherow (Will Patton), his wife, Emily (Michelle Williams) as well as the Gately Family and the White Family is being led by Stephen Meek (Bruce Greenwood) who is supposed to be a great tracker, but seems to have got the group lost. As the continue to wander aimlessly through the un-inhabitated land the realisation that they could die of starvation or thirst becomes reality, while Meek continues to warn them that the only thing they have to fear is the savage Indian tribes that are 'watching them'. The racist Meek then takes an Indian (Rod Rondeaux) captive which divides the group.
Kelly Reichardt - The Finest Director Of Our Time?
Those familiar with Reichardt's style will know that she likes to use minimal dialogue in her films. She once again uses this in Meek's Cutoff and it enhances the film a million times over. It truly gives the audience a real feel of the loneliness that the characters are going through, and while some audience members will be annoyed by her 'slow-moving' style scenes such as the opening scene can really only be described as pieces of cinematic brilliance that true film lovers will fall in love with instantly. It is work like this that show just how good of a director Kelly Reichardt really is.
Meek's Cutoff is penned by Jonathan Raymond (the same screenwriter who wrote Reichardt’s brilliant Wendy And Lucy) and this is one combination that seems to be a marriage in heaven. Raymond's fine script only enhances Reichardt's film-making style even more and if it is true that Raymond used the politics of George Bush vs. Barack Obama as a basis for the storyline of this script then he really is a screenwriting genius... and if he didn't well he should just shut-up and let people think that he did.
Michelle Williams Steals The Show...Again!
This film also once again reminds the world just good Michelle Williams is as an actress. Once again she puts in a faultless performance and it seems that since her Dawson's Creek days she has continued to grow as an actress and never once put in a bad performance. Those critical of her acting should see her 'stand-offs' with Bruce Greenwood in Meek's Cutoff because they are truly sensational.
Summing Up Meek's Cutoff
Meek’s Cutoff shows that are still some creative films that can surface from the U.S. and only proves the fact that Kelly Reichardt is one of the most important filmmakers of our generation.
Wendy & Lucy is currently screening as part of the ‘Focus On Kelly Reichardt’ at ACMI in Melbourne (runs from 2-19 June).
David Griffiths - Dave Griffiths is an award winning film & music journalist from Melbourne, Australia
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