The Last Rites of Ransom Pride (2009)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Justin Y

  
  Tiller Russell's <i>The Last Rites of Ransom Pride</i> doesn't live up to its name.<p>The plot has potential in this Western genre of film, but the failure is the way it unfolds. Despite a brief run time that doesn't even reach 80 minutes, everything… More
  Tiller Russell's <i>The Last Rites of Ransom Pride</i> doesn't live up to its name.<p>The plot has potential in this Western genre of film, but the failure is the way it unfolds. Despite a brief run time that doesn't even reach 80 minutes, everything that happens comes across as monotone and uneventful, which makes it a struggle to reach the climax.</p><p>The film has its share of shootings throughout; however they end up brief and hindered by some so-so editing. Speaking of the editing, there are multiple occurrences when the film pushes forward by employing some quick few second flashbacks of what just transpired. They aren't as impressive as they sound.</p><p>What this picture does have going for it is the acting. Don't get this mixed up with the likability of the characters because they are pretty unlikable all around. If these characters were part of a different story, things may have turned out better. Lizzy Caplan, Dwight Yoakam, and Cote de Pablo throw together some amusing performances. A number of other notable faces pop in throughout the film as well.</p><p>By the end, <i>The Last Rites of Ransom Pride</i> doesn't contain a whole lot to recommend. If need be, then go ahead and watch it. Just don't expect much.</p>

• Lewis C

  
  "The body of Ransom Pride belongs to me." It didn't take me very long to realize that I wasn't going to enjoy The Last Rites of Ransom Pride. Ten minutes, at most. The whole vibe of the movie just turns me off. I like Lizzy Caplan, but putting one appealing… More
  "The body of Ransom Pride belongs to me." It didn't take me very long to realize that I wasn't going to enjoy The Last Rites of Ransom Pride. Ten minutes, at most. The whole vibe of the movie just turns me off. I like Lizzy Caplan, but putting one appealing actress in the middle of a disaster doesn't do much good. I disliked the way it was filmed, the dialogue, and the absurd, meandering, nonsensical narrative that served as the story. Basically, Ransom Pride (the man) is a recently dead acquaintance of Juliette Flower (Caplan), and she made a promise to retrieve his body and bury it near his mother. In order to get his body, she has to deliver Ransom's still living younger brother to some seedy folks. Lots of people hate her, lots of people want her dead, and lots of people try to stop her. That's the story. There are lots of unlikeable characters that were utterly ridiculous in their seriousness, the frequent action scenes are terrible, and the entire movie makes little sense. Sounds like a real winner, right? It's rare for me to truely hate a movie, but The Last Rites of Ransom Pride reached that dubious achievement. This is probably in the bottom two or three movies that I've seen this entire year. The only good news is that I (hopefully) don't have to ever watch it again.

• Walter M

  
  "The Last Rites of Ransom Pride" starts with Ransom Pride(Scott Speedman) forgetting that one should never turn your back in a gunfight. In wanting to fulfill her promise to him that his body be buried back in Texas next to his mother, his partner/lover Juliette… More
  "The Last Rites of Ransom Pride" starts with Ransom Pride(Scott Speedman) forgetting that one should never turn your back in a gunfight. In wanting to fulfill her promise to him that his body be buried back in Texas next to his mother, his partner/lover Juliette Flowers(Lizzy Caplan) has to deal with the formidable Maria de Morena(Cote de Pablo) who says that since Ransom killed a priest in the gunfight, blood will have to be exchanged for his body. Juliette goes back to the source for his brother Champ(Jon Foster) which angers his father, the Reverend Early Pride(Dwight Yoakam), who hates Juliette in the first place, even further. So much so, that he becomes reacquainted with sin in contracting out with Shepherd Graves(Kris Kristofferson) to hire killers. "The Last Rites of Ransom Pride" is a dark, moody and violent western with an eclectic cast.(So, of course, Peter Dinklage gets the best line.) In that case, it does not come entirely down to whether or not you buy Lizzy Caplan as a badass. Of more important concern is the lascivious way she is filmed but that is more a factor of the way Juliette is leered at by less than savory characters who toss around the word 'whore' like hopefully it is going out of style. This is an old west that appears to be a wasteland and graveyard for myths with the twentieth century starting to make itself known in inventions like the horseless carriage. But true progess never comes easily. Just remember that even the devil can quote scripture.