Recent viewings

Ride With the Devil.
Ang Lee's tale of confusion, violence and betrayal in Civil War Missouri is one of the most beautifully filmed movies I've ever seen, full of achingly beautiful shots of lush, rolling pastures, deep dappled woods, and whitewashed farmhouses that gleam in the brilliant summer sun. Unfortunately, the plot seems to move in a very slow and leisurely fashion in between the brutal outbursts of violence that characterize the guerilla war on the western frontier. The movie's low-key approach to the characters' personal emotional lives means that critical plot points can slip past an inattentive viewer without even registering. Still, it's worth seeing if you like historical war dramas.

NOTE: I initially tried to watch this movie in the wee-morning hours after covering a late reference shift at the library. Am I being unfair in watching movies at this late hour and then criticizing them because I fall asleep during them?