The Claim (2000)

62% of critics liked it
(84 reviews)
46% of users liked it
(3,320 ratings)

One man's small empire threatens to collapse under the weight of his greed and deceit in this drama that transplants the story of Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge to 19th century America. In 1867, Dillon (Peter Mullan) is an Irish immigrant who settled in California during the Gold Rush of… More One man's small empire threatens to collapse under the weight of his greed and deceit in this drama that transplants the story of Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge to 19th century America. In 1867, Dillon (Peter Mullan) is an Irish immigrant who settled in California during the Gold Rush of '49 and has done quite well for himself. Dillon owns nearly every business of consequence in the town of Kingdom Come; if someone wants to dig for gold, rent a room, open a bank account, or even order a drink, they have to go to Dillon to do it. One of the few profitable enterprises in town that he doesn't own is the brothel, which is operated by Lucia (Milla Jovovich), Dillon's lover. Circumstances change somewhat when Dalglish - a surveyor with the Central Pacific Railroad - turns up and expresses his plans to implement a railroad in the area. Dillon, sensing a great opportunity afoot, travels well out of his way to ensure that the line is run through Kingdom Come, to enhance the town's commercial prospects. Also arriving in town the same time as Dalglish are two women, the beautiful but ailing Elena (Nastassja Kinski) and her lovely teenage daughter Hope (Sarah Polley); their presence is deeply troubling for Dillon, for they are the keys to a dark secret Dillon has kept from the people of Kingdom Come. The Claim is Michael Winterbottom's second adaptation of the works of Thomas Hardy; his 1996 feature Jude was adapted from Hardy's final novel, Jude the Obscure. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr.
Directed By: Michael Winterbottom
Written By: Frank Cottrell Boyce
Genres: Western, Drama, Romance

In Theaters: Dec 29, 2000 Wide
On DVD: Dec 26, 2001
Studio: MGM Distribution Co

Critic Reviews

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
The audience is simply left with the task of fitting together the allegory's easy pieces.
Paul Tatara, CNN.com
Easily the most compelling Western to hit our screens since Unforgiven.
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle
A mournful, poetic, epic movie that lodges in the memory.
Jane Sumner, Dallas Morning News
Takes place against a frigid canvas gorgeously captured by Alwin Kuchler.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
A fine film that holds you at arm's length.
Bob Graham, San Francisco Chronicle
A rich emotional experience, ranging in degree from fire to ice.
John A. Nesbit, Old School Reviews
like a collegiate literature class in Thomas Hardy
M. Faust, Common Sense Media
Mature viewers only; kids won't be interested.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
The emotions of the piece are as palpable as the neverending snowfall.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
If the story was as crisp as the snow, and the plot advanced faster than a glacier, this might have been a better film.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
While we wait, characters tromp through the snow a lot.
Harry Guerin, RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland)
Broody and beautiful, The Claim is guaranteed to give you the chills.
Tom Meek, Film Threat
One of the year's most visually stylistic films.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The Claim works best as an antitraditional Western epic that presents an allegorical drama of fate, retribution and redemption.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...may be the best movie you never saw in 2000.

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Curtis L

What's more fun that a wagon of nitro blowing up a horse? If you like gold, snow and whores...you'll love the claim.
Aaron N

Dillon: I don't drink anymore. I want you to know that. Between this movie and another overlooked film, Ravenous, I seem to enjoy movies set in the Sierra Nevadas during the 1860s. This movie takes place in said setting, and involves a town built on the finding of gold in the… More
Dillon: I don't drink anymore. I want you to know that. Between this movie and another overlooked film, Ravenous, I seem to enjoy movies set in the Sierra Nevadas during the 1860s. This movie takes place in said setting, and involves a town built on the finding of gold in the area, known as Kingdom Come. A town named Kingdom Come is very cool to me, I just feel I need to point that out. This town is run by Mr. Dillon, a man who has some bad history involving those he arrived in the area with. At the beginning of the film, a man (Wes Bentley) from the Railroad company arrives, looking at the town as a prospect for where the Railroad may come through. This will make or break the town. If it comes through, good for them. If it is set up somewhere nearby, a new town will be built and this one will decline. Also entering the town is a woman sick with Tuberculosis, and her daughter (Sarah Polley) with histories of their own involving this area. These secrets are not secret for long in the film, but its better to describe it this way. Also in town is a brothel, run by Mr. Dillon's mistress Lucia, played pretty well by Milla Jovovich, proving she doesn't always need to be in bad sci-fi action films. These five main characters all interact in various way, forming a number of love triangles, and other obstacles they must face. As interesting as the story is, this film is also very good visually and combined with a very good score, it makes this a very good film. Lucia: No guns, there are no guns allowed in my town.