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In transporting Thomas Hardy's THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE to the American West, English director Michael Winterbottom has fashioned an audacious, epic anti-Western that is a haunting achievement. Set in 1849, the story concerns Mr. Dillon (Peter Mullan), the ruler of Kingdom Come, a snow-covered mining town in Northern .. Read more
| Starring | Peter Mullan, Milla Jovovich, Wes Bentley, Nastassja Kinski |
|---|---|
| Director | Michael Winterbottom |
| Genres | Drama, Romance |
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In transporting Thomas Hardy's THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE to the American West, English director Michael Winterbottom has fashioned an audacious, epic anti-Western that is a haunting achievement. Set in 1849, the story concerns Mr. Dillon (Peter Mullan), the ruler of Kingdom Come, a snow-covered mining town in Northern California. The story opens with the arrival of Dalglish (Wes Bentley), a handsome surveyor for the Pacific Coast Railroad, who is searching for the most sensible way to turn the dream of a transcontinental railroad into a reality. Also drifting into town are the seriously ill Elena (Nastassja Kinski) and her daughter, Hope (Sarah Polley), who have ambiguous ties to Dillon. Immediately, Hope and Dalglish become acquainted, but their potential romance is threatened by the presence of Lucia (Milla Jovavich), a Portuguese madam who lives with Dillon. As Dalglish reaches a decision regarding the railroad, Dillon must painfully confront mistakes he's made in the past, triggering a series of tragic occurrences.
Winterbottom's lush, expansive film miraculously manages to retain the somber spirit of Hardy's classically English tale. Employing the techniques that made Robert Altman's MCCABE & MRS. MILLER such a breathtaking spectacle--including Alwin Kuchler's dazzling cinematography and Michael Nyman's mesmerizing score--Winterbottom proves once again that he is an accomplished filmmaker who isn't afraid to tackle any genre.
| Starring | Peter Mullan, Milla Jovovich, Wes Bentley, Nastassja Kinski, Shirley Henderson, Sarah Polley, Sean McGinley, Tom McCamus, Duncan Fraser, Jimmy Herman, Marie Brassard, Marty Antonini, Julian Richings, Ron Anderson, Doctor Benoit, Randy Birch |
|---|---|
| Director | Michael Winterbottom |
| Studio | PATHE DISTRIBUTION |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 56 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama, Romance |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | Production year: 2000 To Rent: DVD: 30 Jun 2003 |
The snow-covered mountains and isolated community form an ideal backdrop for a chill family drama based on Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge; it lacks the moral dimension of Hardy's tale, settling for a more familiar Western story of a rubber baron
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Leone, Altman,Malick...Winterbottom!
As a lapsed cinema-goer, I have had the pleasure of 'discovering' the work of Michael Winterbottom only recently. In my (very long) lifetime I can think... read more »
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Hardy transposed to the frontier
Michael Winterbottom's mini epic (in some ways, on the same scale as 'There Will Be Blood', and dealing with similar themes) based on Hardy's ... read more »
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INTERESTING
I LIKED IT BETTER THEN THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE FILM .
A VERY GOOD CAST AND WELL PLAYED
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Cold Mounting
British director Michael Winterbottom made this between With or Without You and 24 Hour Party People, Thomas Hardy's story The Mayor of Casterbridge ... read more »