Meek's Cutoff (2010)
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86% of critics liked it
(119 reviews) -
53% of users liked it
(8,187 ratings)
The year is 1845, the earliest days of the Oregon Trail, and a wagon train of three families has hired mountain man Stephen Meek to guide them over the Cascade Mountains. Claiming to know a shortcut, Meek leads the group on an unmarked path across the high plain desert, only to become lost in the… More The year is 1845, the earliest days of the Oregon Trail, and a wagon train of three families has hired mountain man Stephen Meek to guide them over the Cascade Mountains. Claiming to know a shortcut, Meek leads the group on an unmarked path across the high plain desert, only to become lost in the dry rock and sage. Over the coming days, the emigrants face the scourges of hunger, thirst and their own lack of faith in one another's instincts for survival. When a Native American wanderer crosses their path, the emigrants are torn between their trust in a guide who has proven himself unreliable and a man who has always been seen as a natural born enemy. -- (C) Oscilloscope
- Directed By
- Kelly Reichardt
- Genres
- Western, Drama
- In Theaters
- Apr 8, 2011 Limited
- On DVD
- Aug 8, 2011
- Studio
- Oscilloscope Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader
Imagine a collaboration between John Ford and Wallace Stevens and you might get a sense of what Kelly Reichardt pulls off here: a sincere re-creation of the pioneer experience, brought to life through careful, often unexpected detail.
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Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic
Greatly enhanced by the performances of Michelle Williams and Bruce Greenwood, director Kelly Reichardt's film quietly becomes engrossing - it almost sneaks up on you.
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Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald
There are stretches that are, frankly, boring. But the vivid details and intimacy you develop with these travelers sticks with you, leaving you in awe of the insane feats people had to accomplish in order for us to enjoy the world we know today.
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Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
A mesmerizing cinematic journey that is often as arduous and spare as the lives of its hard-bitten protagonists.
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Tom Long, Detroit News
This is the sort of film critics love to praise because the filmmaker has done good work before; and well, there must be something there. Well, there's not.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Michelle Williams
as Emily Tetherow
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Bruce Greenwood
as Meek, Stephen Meek
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Will Patton
as Solomon Tetherow
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Zoe Kazan
as Millie Gately
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Paul Dano
as Thomas Gately
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Shirley Henderson
as Glory White
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Neal Huff
as William White
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Tommy Nelson
as Jimmy White
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Rod Rondeaux
as The Indian




