Brawl in Cell Block 99 (2017)

[jacobsever]

Originally Posted by hifiHigh

Where to start:

This film was not quite what I was hoping for. At just about 2 hrs 10 mins it could have easily been edited down to 90 minutes. Set in the Old West, the story revolves around 4 men searching for the wife of one of the 4 that was taken by some sort of native American/cannibal tribe. We spend a nauseating amount of time watching these 'cowboys' ride and, ultimately, walk across baron landscape and desert. At several points into their trek they have quite a few over-dramatic arguments - each of them always trying to have the last word. It's really amateurish - even for Kurt Russell. And I enjoy Kurt Russell movies. The last 20 or so mins are where it gets to the point and we see a couple of gory, graphic cannibalistic rituals and carnage. The good guys win in the end but at a heavy cost. This is a love it/hate it film... I was on the fence at the end...if it were edited a little better and had a bit more action I would go 3 full stars but this was way too drawn out for the first hour. No - it's not "gritty", no, it's NOT the greatest western ever put to film. It's slow and slack-jawed, and it's filmed in a way where I barely felt involved.

Hmm, fair enough.

I think the long period of time showing them ride on horseback is very true to genre for a western. You see that in most westerns. Lots of long shots featuring people riding and traveling, with a bunch of landscape around them. And those "overly-dramatic" arguments you're complaining about is exactly what I loved about this film. Richard Jenkins as Chicory is probably my favorite character in any film of the past 5 years. Comedic gold. I found Bone Tomahawk to be one of the funniest movies I've seen in a long time. I had genuine belly laughs, out loud, while watching this film.

Then again, I have a sense of humor most don't, and I love slow burn movies.