Meek's Cutoff (2010)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Chris W

  
  With this film, Kelly Reichardt has made what is perhaps the most authentic and realistic portrayal of life during the early days of the Oregon Trail. As a result, this is very artsy, and not really your typical entertaining "movie" type of thing. It's more like an… More
  With this film, Kelly Reichardt has made what is perhaps the most authentic and realistic portrayal of life during the early days of the Oregon Trail. As a result, this is very artsy, and not really your typical entertaining "movie" type of thing. It's more like an experience or an exercise in struggle, and seeing the breakdown of trust and will power in the face of adversity. So, this basically fails as enntertainment, but excels as a non-documentary, documentary. And, for the most part, I really dug this. The movie doesn't really start or end in proper fashion, but simply exists. The year is 1845, the earlist time for the Oregon Trail. Three families have enlisted the help of mountain man Steven Meek who has them stray from the trail in order to take what he says is a shortcut across the Cascade Mountains. As it turns out, Meek is wrong and the party end up lost in the dry, stark, and barren high plains, left with no fresh water or hope. Not only that, but the group encounters a wandering Native American who may or may not be trying to help them, just like how Meek may or may not have intentionally gotten them lost... By the way, this is based on true events. Of course, the movie opts for an ambiguous conclusion, but it's safe to say that there's some darkness and tragedy going on. The presentation is also very slow, deliberate, and contains a very loose narrative with sparse dialogue. Also, the scenes with the Indian are done without subtitles, so all the characters (and the audience) are left to interpret for themselves what is going on, which I really appreciated. The film is very much like something Werner Herzog would do. There's even a scene that's something of a reverse Fitzcarraldo. Yeah, not much happens, but I found the film oddly compelling and engaging. Sure, it's a bit tedious at first, and there's not much character development, but that's what makes it so fascinating. It really is like looking in on real life. People really do mundane things, and aren't always interesting, and that's what the bulk of this film is: people traveling, doing chores, and trying to survive. So of course this isn't for all tastes, but it's definitely well done. The art direction, costumes, and period details are top notch. The cinematogrpahy is gorgeous, and the landscapes look terrific. There's a talented cast here, and I love their willingness to be a part of an artsyt indie project like this that bucks conventions and sticks to its vision all the way through. Michelle Williams (who looks badass on the poster) is good, Paul Dano is okay, and Will Patton is decent, but the film belongs to Bruce Greenwood, unrecognizable underneath a long scraggly beard and greasy long hair as Meek. It's a badass performance, and it's cool seeing him be grungy with an undercurrent of menace. By this point in my review you should know how I feel and have a good idea of whether you want to see this or not. Leave it at that.

• Randy T

  
  I felt uneasily drawn in by this film. No beginning. No end. Just an exhausting trek across a dangerous frontier. This isn't mindless entertainment, this is an exercise in empathy.

• Jonathan H

  
  I admire Meek's Cutoff's deliberate pacing, its emphasis on atmosphere, and how it cultivates a palpable portrayal of the high plan desert, but the film could have benefited greatly from a little immediacy. In true Leanian fashion, I don't think Kelly Reichardt is… More
  I admire Meek's Cutoff's deliberate pacing, its emphasis on atmosphere, and how it cultivates a palpable portrayal of the high plan desert, but the film could have benefited greatly from a little immediacy. In true Leanian fashion, I don't think Kelly Reichardt is directorially savvy enough to control a film this methodical -- which, for me, begs the question: Where would she be if she didn't have Michelle Williams to elevate her last two films?

• ♥˩ƳИИ &

  
  Cast: Michelle Williams, Bruce Greenwood, Will Patton, Zoe Kazan, Paul Dano, Shirley Henderson, Neal Huff, Tommy Nelson, Rod Rondeaux Director: Kelly Reichardt Summary: Set in 1845, this drama follows a group of settlers as they embark on a punishing journey along the Oregon… More
  Cast: Michelle Williams, Bruce Greenwood, Will Patton, Zoe Kazan, Paul Dano, Shirley Henderson, Neal Huff, Tommy Nelson, Rod Rondeaux Director: Kelly Reichardt Summary: Set in 1845, this drama follows a group of settlers as they embark on a punishing journey along the Oregon Trail. When their guide leads them astray, the expedition is forced to contend with the unforgiving conditions of the high plain desert. My Thoughts: "The movie is listed as an action/adventure. Adventure, yes. Action, where? The most action you get out of this film is watching them walk. I am not one for westerns, if you can even call it that, but I seen that Michelle Williams is in the film and I love watching her in anything. She and Paul Dano are the only reasons I didn't push stop on the remote. The story is somewhat interesting, but I have read that the story being played out in this film isn't quite exactly the correct version. More likely this is the boring version of the story. The acting is all good in this film. That and the scenery is the only thing this film has going for it."

• Nate Z

  
  The early frontiersmen lead difficult, backbreaking struggles as they migrated west to start anew. The pioneers had a perilous journey, and judging from Meek's Cutoff, they had a hard time asking for directions. We follow a wagon train hopelessly lost in Eastern Oregon, blindly… More
  The early frontiersmen lead difficult, backbreaking struggles as they migrated west to start anew. The pioneers had a perilous journey, and judging from Meek's Cutoff, they had a hard time asking for directions. We follow a wagon train hopelessly lost in Eastern Oregon, blindly hoping they are getting ever closer to water. This awful movie feels about as adrift as the characters. Director Kelly Reichardt (Wendy and Lucy) recreates pioneer life in obsequious detail, which means that for most of the interminably long 104 minutes we're watching characters walk. And walk. And walk. Hey, now they're doing something, nope back to walking. Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine) has the most personality of this taciturn bunch, but I couldn't have cared less about her lot. The movie is practically indignant about the narrative demands an audience has for its movies. This is not some arty examination on the treacherous nature of the human spirit, or some conceited claptrap like such. And in a growing trend of 2011 Sundance films, Meek's Cutoff ends absurdly abrupt, just as the characters appeared at a crossroads and on the verge of mercifully doing something interesting. Instead, Reichardt ritualistically kills the movie on this spot, robbing the audience of any payoff after 104 minutes of fruitless and tiresome artistic masturbation. If I wanted to watch a recreation of frontier life without any regard to character or story, I'd watch the History Channel. This is an exasperating, maddening, crushingly boring movie that makes you feel trapped on that misbegotten wagon train. Nate's Grade: D

• Anthony L

  
  Probably the most realistic portrayal of frontier life and the waggon trial, with hopes and fears weighing heavy on the families looking for a place to live - in every sense of the word. Kelly Reichardt's films are a relatively recent discovery for me and each one so far has just… More
  Probably the most realistic portrayal of frontier life and the waggon trial, with hopes and fears weighing heavy on the families looking for a place to live - in every sense of the word. Kelly Reichardt's films are a relatively recent discovery for me and each one so far has just astonished me with their simplistic, honest and mesmerising ambiance. I can't help but feel she has been abandoned and misunderstood by her fellow countrymen as she is obviously a very proud American - For what it's worth, she is the one of the few American directors in my mind, and the only one I can think of off the top of my head, making really great American films. each character in Meek's Cutoff represents a different aspect of society that is still very relevant today, maybe even more so. At the very least, this is the best history lesson you never had, I can't praise it enough. People who say things like 'It's boring' and 'nothing happens' clearly haven't been concentrating even though when you don't really have to!

• Eric S

  
  Well, as someone who's part Native American, I have some problems this one. On a cinematography level, I thought this was very well shot. Michelle Williams turns in yet again a fine performance as well. However, the subject of settling the West and taking possession of land by… More
  Well, as someone who's part Native American, I have some problems this one. On a cinematography level, I thought this was very well shot. Michelle Williams turns in yet again a fine performance as well. However, the subject of settling the West and taking possession of land by literally a "staking a claim" in it does not stand with me as well as the derogatory comments against Native Americans.

• c0up  

  
  'Meek's Cutoff'. A beautiful character study on survival and faith. Sprawling, gorgeous imagery and a great ensemble cast.

• Zack B

  
  Brutally cruel to the audience (and characters), this film seeks to lay out -- with nearly no obvious conflicts or character development -- how truly awful it would be to trek across the west in the 19th century. You'll leave wondering what the hell these people were thinking… More
  Brutally cruel to the audience (and characters), this film seeks to lay out -- with nearly no obvious conflicts or character development -- how truly awful it would be to trek across the west in the 19th century. You'll leave wondering what the hell these people were thinking and how we ever settled the west at all. You'll also leave utterly unsatisfied by the lack of, well, story here, and yet hopefully riveted by the realness of it all. No glamor here, folks. The film achieves everything it sets out to do -- unfortunately, stasis and aimless wandering are included in its goals. Recommended for folks who would've enjoyed There Will Be Blood even if it didn't have Daniel Day Lewis...

• William D

  
  Kelly Reichardt's new film, "Meek's Cutoff," is a stark, tough meditation on being lost and not knowing whom to trust. It also reflects on the collision of cultures, particularly in the context of colonial conquest. These themes certainly aren't new, but Ms.… More
  Kelly Reichardt's new film, "Meek's Cutoff," is a stark, tough meditation on being lost and not knowing whom to trust. It also reflects on the collision of cultures, particularly in the context of colonial conquest. These themes certainly aren't new, but Ms. Reichardt distinguishes herself by exploring them in an unusually complex way. It's not just two cultures colliding, but 25 or so, maybe even 50. Also, there are not just two camps mistrusting each other, but several. Another interesting complexity is that the film in a way draws up for question what it means to feel lost. Walking out of the theater, I found myself thinking about this in some new ways. What triggers in people the feeling of being lost? What makes it go away? When people feel it, they often say, "I don't know where I am," which calls to mind that ancient Buddhist maxim: "Everywhere you go, there you are." While the complexities are a pleasure and the film is strong, "Meek's Cutoff" doesn't bowl one over. It has a haunting quality, and it will surely make numerous Top 20 lists at the end of the year. But I don't suspect it will make many Top 5 lists. Ms. Reichardt is a unique and courageous artist, and we're lucky to have her. She refuses to court the mainstream or kowtow to trends. Commercial considerations seem to play absolutely no role in her work. Only artistic considerations matter to her. This is enormously appreciated in these times of shallow commercialism. But there's something underwhelming about her work. Her ultra-minimalist style frequently feels thin. She's a genuine cinematic auteur, but not a great one. At least not yet. Many of the great cinematic artists of our time are minimalist. Since about 1960, that has been one of the predominant methods for reaching higher artistic ground. But where, say, Apichatpong Weerasethakul's minimalism feels most often like a feast, Kelly Reichardt's often comes across like starvation. Minimalism as anorexia. ************************************** "Meek's Cutoff" is set in 1840s North America. Three white American families are seeking to settle in the west, but it's not turning out as they had hoped. They are in a vast barren part of the Oregon territory that seems to have no end, and food and water are scarce. They have put their faith in a fellow white American named Stephen Meek (very well played by Bruce Greenwood), but they may have succumbed to the naive belief that all white Americans look out for each other. When Meek's cutoff leads them nowhere, they begin to suspect that he's in cahoots with either the British or the Natives to prevent Americans from settling in the region. When the film opens, they have been wandering in the arid near-desert for five weeks already. The would-be settlers are staring into the face of death and wondering if their last act on Earth should be to hang Meek. But how can they be sure of his intentions? Then they capture a lone Indian, and everything gets more interesting. The Indian (played beautifully by a professional stuntman named Rod Rondeaux) seems not to understand any English, and none of them understands his language. They impress him into servitude, asking to be led to water. Meek is unremittingly hostile to the Indian, saying that Indians are murderous and cunning. Is Meek protecting the settlers or trying to prevent the Indian from rescuing them? --unfinished-

• Jeff T

  
  Haunting, elegaic and not like anything else, Kelly Reichardt's MEEK'S CUTOFF is a non-western western about a tiny, besieged group of pioneers trudging west on some barely defined trail, and heading quite sadly off it. I loved Reichardt's WENDY AND LUCY and pretty… More
  Haunting, elegaic and not like anything else, Kelly Reichardt's MEEK'S CUTOFF is a non-western western about a tiny, besieged group of pioneers trudging west on some barely defined trail, and heading quite sadly off it. I loved Reichardt's WENDY AND LUCY and pretty much hated her OLD JOY, so I didn't know how this would go for me, but the sad, deliberate, hushed pace of this movie is hypnotic in the best ways (it reminded me a little of Gus Van Sandt's amazing GERRY), and the acting is so full of despair and dread that you don't even need to hear words to get what's going on. And make no mistake, you often don't. But there's a lot here, and it ends on a note that is, though undefinable, somehow exactly right.

• Walter M

  
  In "Meek's Cutoff," Stephen Meek(Bruce Greenwood) is leading a group of settlers in Oregon in 1845 who are running low on water. Soloman Tetherow(Will Patton) tells his wife Emily(Michelle Williams) that they will give him another few days before setting off on their… More
  In "Meek's Cutoff," Stephen Meek(Bruce Greenwood) is leading a group of settlers in Oregon in 1845 who are running low on water. Soloman Tetherow(Will Patton) tells his wife Emily(Michelle Williams) that they will give him another few days before setting off on their own for the Columbia River. So, while the men talk amongst themselves, the women knit, a lot. This does not stop Emily from thinking she sees someone off in the distance. Then, later, it does turn out that she did! She did see an Indian(Rod Rondeaux)! While I respect any movie that is brave enough to slow the pace down to the cadence of the period it is set in, "Meek's Cutoff" takes it too far and makes the viewer feel like he just walked the entire length of the Oregon Trail, wasting a perfectly good cast in the process. In fact, it definitely made me thirsty watching it.(Somebody could conceivably make a fortune off the bottled water concession for this movie alone.) But as much as the attitudes of the time might be authentic, viewing them from a 21st century perspective is a little too easy. In the end, the question remains what were they really looking for in the first place. That might not matter as long as they don't litter.

• Matthew Y

  
  Booorrring! Meek's Cutoff has great costumes and excellent prairie and desert settings as a wagon train of several families follow a guides uncharted trail through the 1800's mid-west. The film is a great slow-burn of tension and unrest that criminally never goes anywhere.… More
  Booorrring! Meek's Cutoff has great costumes and excellent prairie and desert settings as a wagon train of several families follow a guides uncharted trail through the 1800's mid-west. The film is a great slow-burn of tension and unrest that criminally never goes anywhere. I'm a big fan of gradual pacing but it needs to have a pay-off and this thing moves at a snails pace and gets about as far in 100 minutes as an actual snail would. Not a great example of the style and entertainment that most indie films can deliver these days.

• Jeffrey M

  
  Meek's Cutoff is an intense, well acted, beautifully shot, and realistic character-study western (though a western in a loose sense). Surprisingly impressive was Bruce Greenwood, who had the best work I've ever seen from him. It's deliberately paced, to be sure, with… More
  Meek's Cutoff is an intense, well acted, beautifully shot, and realistic character-study western (though a western in a loose sense). Surprisingly impressive was Bruce Greenwood, who had the best work I've ever seen from him. It's deliberately paced, to be sure, with probably an over abundance of long wide-angle shots, but it still remains tense until the end.

• Christopher H

  
  More like stepping into an actual Oregon Trail expedition rather than watching a compelling film about one, this film grows tiresome and bleak. Most of the film has the viewer follow along as a family travels behind a mountain man named Meek who guarantees them safe passage through… More
  More like stepping into an actual Oregon Trail expedition rather than watching a compelling film about one, this film grows tiresome and bleak. Most of the film has the viewer follow along as a family travels behind a mountain man named Meek who guarantees them safe passage through the mountains. None of the performances warrant any attention and when the film isn't leaving you in silence in the POV of the women as the men deliberate or forcing you to watch as one of the wagons takes a long, arduous fall down a mountain side, it is boring you with long walks that mediocre cinematography cannot even save.

• Alec B

  
  I figured out what the rhythms of the film were going to be about five minutes in (several long, quiet sequences of movement set against the breathtaking vistas of the west punctuated by brief scenes of sharp dialogue all leading up to an ambiguous ending) but I still enjoyed it.… More
  I figured out what the rhythms of the film were going to be about five minutes in (several long, quiet sequences of movement set against the breathtaking vistas of the west punctuated by brief scenes of sharp dialogue all leading up to an ambiguous ending) but I still enjoyed it. Director Kelly Reichardt's use of minimalist realism is effective in demonstrating the breakdown of a traditional patriarchal leadership structure in the face of hardship, without it becoming a modern day feminist statement. Also, I'm slowly becoming convinced that Michelle Williams can do no wrong as a performer.

• Daniel P

  
  I saw this in a crazy week when I saw about 10 other films at the cinema, and this is the one that I just cannot stop thinking about. Hailed as "Truer Grit", <i>Meek's Cutoff</i> is a realistic, deliberately slow-paced western that rejects almost all the… More
  I saw this in a crazy week when I saw about 10 other films at the cinema, and this is the one that I just cannot stop thinking about. Hailed as "Truer Grit", <i>Meek's Cutoff</i> is a realistic, deliberately slow-paced western that rejects almost all the familiar, 'enjoyable' and expected conventions of western films, indeed rejecting most of the traditional forms of narrative cinema, offering few answers, little background information, and no certain ending. It is hypnotic (as Reciardt's films have all been so far), with a beautiful eye for details in barren landscapes - some of which appear to have been drained of any colour above pastel shade; the desert plains and hills look as they are - almost inhospitable with no sign of water around. Unusually, the film is shot in the now long unfashionable 4:3 Academy Ratio, that heightens the stifling weather conditions and the claustrophobia felt by the characters at certain points. The three families' journey to what they most hope will be a better life over the Cascade Mountains becomes gradually imbued with dread (there are few "incidents" save for that back-of-the-mind scratch that the water is rapidly running out), and this together with excellent sound design similar to that used in <i>Gerry</i> makes for a film that is both very difficult to sit through but somehow incredibly immersive and painstakingly truthful. There are many themes that could be at work here - that of feminism, racism, politics, to name but some. Several critics have commented that the decision the families (actually, the men, since the women - possibly Emily Tetherow accepted - are not consulted) face - whether to trust Meek in deciding what journey to take despite his obvious tall-tales, or put their faith in the "Indian", a member of a race they have been told all their lives are an enemy - has parallels to the invasion of Iraq. There are no clear answers here, and some of the audience I saw the film with voiced their negative opinion of the inconclusive ending loudly; where they were unsatisfied I was, however, impressed with Reciardt's of absolute control and unwillingness to offer easy, or any, answers. One last thing I want to mention are the performances which are so natural you don't notice the acting, but especially, the almost always wonderful Michelle Williams who the camera simply loves in a way I can't describe, especially here, her every facial expression telling a thousand unsayable things (as a woman of this period of course, she wouldn't have been able to say what she wanted to, although her character certainly is the most proactive of the women). To paraphrase another critic, in ten years time I honestly believe that <i>Meeks Cutoff</i> will be recognised as a classic, and I already am desperate to see it again.

• Robert F

  
  Another brilliant film from Kelly Reichardt. 2nd best film of 2011.

• Sarah P

  
  I understood what this movie was getting at, but honestly it was just boring. Half the scenes were around the fire at night where I was just watching a black screen. I'm shocked I didn't fall asleep.

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