The Homesman

Last night was movie night at our house. I had Primo Vegetarian Pizza from Panago, a glass of red wine and we watched The Homesman on Apple TV.  I'm not big on westerns but this movie is a different kind of western with a determined, hard-working, smart spinster-farmer at the center of this engaging tale.

The story takes place in the middle of nowhere somewhere in Omaha.  Homesteads are being established and some people are tougher than others in adapting to the harsh environment.  In this case, the others are three women who've gone insane in the hard winters, illnesses, deaths of children and over-all demands that pioneer life places on them.

Said smart-hard-working-tough-spinster Mary Bee Cuddy decides she's going to take the women across the plains on a five-week journey to Iowa and a safe haven.

This movie is superbly acted and shot.  The scenery is stark and reflects the loneliness and hardship the pioneers have to face.

The unlikely match of Mary Bee and rough-around-the-edges Tommy Lee Jones's character George Briggs reminds a little of Bogart and Hepburn in The African Queen.

Despite the complete shock the viewer gets in the last half of the movie, it's definitely worth the watch.  Love, love love Tommy Lee Jones in this.

I give this movie a solid four stars out of five.

Have a great weekend!

Stella