Peter Mullan,
Wes Bentley,
Milla Jovovich,
Nastassja Kinski,
Sarah Polley
... see 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 1... read more
DVD Release Date: December 26, 2001
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Stats: 133 reviews
Your Rating
Flixster Reviews (133)
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May 16, 2008What's more fun that a wagon of nitro blowing up a horse? If you like gold, snow and whores...you'll love the claim.
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December 3, 2007Dillon: 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 a... read more -
December 10, 2010If youre expecting a shoot em up western then youll be a disappointed like I was.It was more of a movie about a bunch of settlers & some guy trying to build a railroad.I shouldve just turned it off when I gave up & stopped caring
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April 14, 2008This was slow and boring. I guess I wasn't interested in paying attention to the movie. So it sucked.
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December 3, 2007It didn't grab my attention and was slow-moving, as I didn't care about what happened to any of the characters. The script seemed flawed, as I don't think people in 1869 said fuck (I could be wrong). Also, if you are looking for your father, you don't shout his last name, you say... read more
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August 25, 2007Powerful story with three powerful female leads: Nastassja kinski, Milla Jovovich, and Sarah Polley. I don't even remember the men!
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August 18, 2007This is a pretty good movie. The only thing I wish there would have been more of, is some physical contact between Peter and Sarah's charaters. Through the whole movie you knew they were falling in love with each other, but they never kissed or anything.
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August 3, 2007Slow start, calm middle, peaceful ending. Good western, settler movie. Milla sings and does a really good job!
Critic Reviews
March 22, 2002
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
June 11, 2001
Paul Tatara, CNN.com
Easily the most compelling Western to hit our screens since Unforgiven. Full Review
June 8, 2001
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle
A mournful, poetic, epic movie that lodges in the memory. Full Review
June 7, 2001
Jane Sumner, Dallas Morning News
Takes place against a frigid canvas gorgeously captured by Alwin Kuchler. Full Review
May 4, 2001
Bob Graham, San Francisco Chronicle
A rich emotional experience, ranging in degree from fire to ice. Full Review
April 23, 2001
David Edelstein, Slate
True to its source, finding the seed of all great epics in the divisions of the heart. Full Review
April 20, 2001
Andy Seiler, USA Today
Though director Michael Winterbottom has impressively created a believable 19th century prospecting town, he is unable to bring the people who live in it to life.
April 20, 2001
Peter Howell, Toronto Star
In returning again to the work of Hardy, the director has chosen the perfect visual metaphor, placing the story in the breathtaking winterscape of the Sierra Nevadas (actually Alberta's Rockies, stand... Full Review
April 20, 2001
Charles Taylor, Salon.com
Moves so freely, evolves so naturally, that it's easy to overlook just how dicey an undertaking it is. Full Review
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