End of the Rope

I am so happy to have stumbled on this little gem. Always on the lookout for worthy Western dramas, too often I find cheesy costume dramas with paper thin screenplays and stuntmen pretending to be actors.

This Depression era crime drama is set in a rugged little hamlet in the hinterlands of North Dakota. It's a true story told with uncommon sensitivity. The setting is reminiscent of Year of the Dog, but IMHO this is a far superior film. The characters are very well developed and surprisingly complex, and all of the acting is superb.

Although it's onviously not a big summer tentpole movie, the production values are impressive. Aside from the odd habit of several male characters wearing their fedoras indoors (which I guess might be a real thing in the chilly Dakotas) all of the costumes were appropriate to the era and the characters, right down to the fabrics of their clothes.

The music track and cinematography were perfect for the subject matter. There are some nifty vintage autos and one nifty antique tractor, which add some welcome color to the bleak country setting.

Overall this is the kind of indie movie the world could use more of. Maybe regional production is the last hope of serious cinema as foreign filmmakers latch onto Hollywood's genre traditions and Hollywood wallows in juvenile action fantasies and cookie cutter action flicks.

Bravo!