In this Netflix Western featuring fictionalized versions of existing notable African Americans from the Wild West, bandit Nat Love (Jonathan Majors) seeks out also-bandit Rufus Buck (Idris Elba), who killed Love's parents.
This is a Tarantino/The Quick and the Dead-esque western that's heavy on style and low on historical accuracy. It's mostly having fun, where the audience is invited to see how various situations will work out. It does have one really well done dramatic scene.
What really makes this work is the wonderful cast and characterization. Not a dull character in the bunch, and there a lot of players in this. Majors is really charismatic as Nat. The recent Power Rangers movie's RJ Cyler as Jim Beckworth gives a humorous performance. The villains in here may actually have more three-dimensionalness to them than most of the heroes. Elba manages to bring a controlled but very intimidating presence whenever he's on camera. LaKeith Stanfield's Cherokee Bill, though he definitely does bad things and is loyal to Buck, is an interesting change-of-pace for a villain. He's world weary and just tired of violence and people who try to prove themselves by taking him on.
Though the pacing mostly works, this is a two hour, ten minute movie that may have tried to squeeze in too many characters. At one point during the big, traditional final confrontation, I asked myself "How long does this go on?"
Director Jeymes Samuel has a wonderful visual touch, using pans, close-ups and other tricks. There is a train scene with some beautiful countryside shots. Full of modern music, which rather fits the tone of the film.
This looks like one of those films that clearly had a decent budget, especially when it comes to the cast of notable/experienced actors but wasn't HUGE. The sets aren't cheap, but you never forget that they are just sets. (In fairness, this may be due to modern digital film and it's greater detail making it so much easier to notice when something isn't real. In the first scene of the film, I immediately noticed that the food looked plastic.) The audio is too clear. It takes you out of the film when you can hear every footstep and other movements.
Recommended. This was a pretty entertaining popcorn western.
