Seraphim Falls: Difference between revisions
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==Plot== |
==Plot== |
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The film is set after the end of the [[American Civil War]]. Gideon ([[Pierce Brosnan]]) is hiding in the [[Rocky Mountains|American Rockies]], contemplating a fire. A shot pierces the silence and hits Gideon who, convulsing in pain, quickly runs away, followed by his pursuers. Soon the audience learns why: Gideon is a hunted man. Colonel Morsman Carver ([[Liam Neeson]]), a [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] officer, has hired several mountain men to trap Gideon so that Carver can avenge a terrible wrong committed against him. |
The film is set after the end of the [[American Civil War]]. Gideon ([[Pierce Brosnan]]) is hiding in the [[Rocky Mountains|American Rockies]], contemplating a fire. A shot pierces the silence and hits Gideon who, convulsing in pain, quickly runs away, followed by his pursuers. Soon the audience learns why: Gideon is a hunted man. Colonel Morsman Carver ([[Liam Neeson]]), a [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] officer, has hired several mountain men to trap Gideon so that Carver can avenge a terrible wrong committed against him. |
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From the snowy peaks, the story descends into the [[savanna]]s—full of rapacious traders, vicious railway foremen and overly-welcoming [[missionaries]]—and moves finally into the desert, where the two men challenge each other in the face of [[Mother Nature]] at her harshest, with [[surrealism|surreal]] visitations (from [[Lucifer|Louise C. Fair]]) to guide them to their final confrontation. |
From the snowy peaks, the story descends into the [[savanna]]s—full of rapacious traders, vicious railway foremen and overly-welcoming [[missionaries]]—and moves finally into the desert, where the two men challenge each other in the face of [[Mother Nature]] at her harshest, with [[surrealism|surreal]] visitations (from [[Lucifer|Louise C. Fair]]) to guide them to their final confrontation. |
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==Interpretation== |
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Seraphim Falls tells the story of the paralyzing effects that revenge can inflict upon an individual as the perceived villain, Carver, relentlessly hunts down the seemingly innocent Gideon. Throughout the course of the film heroic definitions are turned on their heads as the viewer discovers that Gideon is responsible for the death of Carver’s wife and kids. Carver’s wife and kids were accidental casualties of the Civil War; but had they not been killed, Carver would have continued living in the paradisiacal southern farm as he would have never had any reason to begin his quest for revenge. While the film highlights Carver’s unremitting anger for what Gideon had done, and accentuates Gideon’s clever deception and continuous escape from Carver, the narrative ultimately reiterates the important, calming influence a wife and family can have over a man. <ref>Foster,Brad D., ''Constructing a Heroic Identity: Masculinity and the Western Film'', [[Oregan State University]], July 2007, p.82 [http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/jspui/bitstream/1957/6353/1/Foster_Brad_Thesis.pdf]</ref> |
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==Cast== |
==Cast== |
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Revision as of 21:47, 27 February 2010
| Seraphim Falls | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster for Seraphim Falls | |
| Directed by | David Von Ancken |
| Written by | David Von Ancken Abby Everett Jaques |
| Produced by | Bruce Davey David Flynn John Limotte Stan Wlodkowski |
| Starring | Pierce Brosnan Liam Neeson Xander Berkeley Tom Noonan Kevin J. O'Connor and Anjelica Huston |
| Cinematography | John Toll |
| Edited by | Conrad Buff |
| Music by | Harry Gregson-Williams |
| Distributed by | Icon Productions |
Release date | January 26, 2007 |
Running time | 115 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Seraphim Falls is a 2007 American western film starring Liam Neeson and Pierce Brosnan. It was written by David Von Ancken and Abby Everett Jaques and directed by Von Ancken himself, in his first feature film. The film was released for limited screenings on January 26, 2007.
Plot
The film is set after the end of the American Civil War. Gideon (Pierce Brosnan) is hiding in the American Rockies, contemplating a fire. A shot pierces the silence and hits Gideon who, convulsing in pain, quickly runs away, followed by his pursuers. Soon the audience learns why: Gideon is a hunted man. Colonel Morsman Carver (Liam Neeson), a Confederate officer, has hired several mountain men to trap Gideon so that Carver can avenge a terrible wrong committed against him.
From the snowy peaks, the story descends into the savannas—full of rapacious traders, vicious railway foremen and overly-welcoming missionaries—and moves finally into the desert, where the two men challenge each other in the face of Mother Nature at her harshest, with surreal visitations (from Louise C. Fair) to guide them to their final confrontation.
Interpretation
Seraphim Falls tells the story of the paralyzing effects that revenge can inflict upon an individual as the perceived villain, Carver, relentlessly hunts down the seemingly innocent Gideon. Throughout the course of the film heroic definitions are turned on their heads as the viewer discovers that Gideon is responsible for the death of Carver’s wife and kids. Carver’s wife and kids were accidental casualties of the Civil War; but had they not been killed, Carver would have continued living in the paradisiacal southern farm as he would have never had any reason to begin his quest for revenge. While the film highlights Carver’s unremitting anger for what Gideon had done, and accentuates Gideon’s clever deception and continuous escape from Carver, the narrative ultimately reiterates the important, calming influence a wife and family can have over a man. [1]
Cast
- Liam Neeson as Carver: Like Brosnan, Neeson described being "kind of steeped in that western mythology growing up in Ireland."[2] He likened his character, Carver, to Captain Ahab in Moby-Dick, "he's [Carver] totally governed by this idea of revenge where he’s practically lost his humanity."[2]
- Pierce Brosnan as Gideon: The role was originally to be played by Richard Gere but after he dropped out, Pierce Brosnan replaced him.[3] Brosnan spoke of his love of Western films during production and promotion of Seraphim Falls, which had stemmed from watching them as a child.[4]
- Michael Wincott as Hayes
- Xander Berkely as McKenzy: A railway foreman.
- Ed Lauter as Parsons
- Tom Noonan as Minister Abraham
- Kevin J. O'Connor as Henry
- John Robinson as Kid
- Anjelica Huston as Madame Louise: Huston first joined the cast in November 2005.[5] She appears as a vanishing con artist, who figures in the end of the film.[6] If one watches closely as her wagon rolls away, one sees her name upon the back as Louise C. Fair - Lucifer.
- Angie Harmon as Rose
- Robert Baker as Pope
- Wes Studi as Charon
- Jimmi Simpson as Big Brother
- James Jordan as Little Brother
- Nate Mooney as Cousin Bill
Production
David Von Ancken first researched the script for six months before joining Abby Everett Jaques to create the screenplay.[7] The film was originally announced at the Cannes Film Festival with Liam Neeson and Richard Gere in the lead roles. Gere dropped out in August 2005 and was soon replaced by Pierce Brosnan.[3] Shooting on Seraphim Falls started on October 17, 2005[8] and actress Anjelica Huston later joined the cast the following November.[5] The film was filmed on location for 48 days, primarily in New Mexico;[9] some of the opening scenes were filmed along the McKenzie River in Oregon.[10]
The soundtrack, composed by Harry Gregson-Williams, was produced at Bastyr University's chapel in Kenmore, Washington.[11] Gregson-Williams wrote the music in three or four weeks, describing it as "very atmospheric".[12] Oscar-winning cinematographer John Toll was responsible for cinematography work on the film. Toll later noted it was a "great opportunity to work with a director who was interested in visual storytelling."[13]
Reception
The film gained average reviews with several praising both Brosnan and Neeson's acting. Kevin Crust of the Los Angeles Times noted that the two "make fine adversaries";[14] however, Michael Rechtshaffen of the New York Times thought that they were "hard-pressed to inject some much-needed vitality into their sparse lines."[15]
On film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Seraphim Falls has a 54 percent rating from 80 reviews,[16] - indicating a 'rotten' status - while it has a Metacritic score of 62 percent based on 21 reviews[17] - indicating 'generally favorable reviews'.
References
- ^ Foster,Brad D., Constructing a Heroic Identity: Masculinity and the Western Film, Oregan State University, July 2007, p.82 [1]
- ^ a b Snart, Stephen (2007-01-26). "Liam Neeson interview". The Cinema Source. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b Sampson, Mike (2005-08-29). "Brosnan in for Gere". MyJoBlo.com. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Snart, Stephen (2007-01-26). "Pierce Brosnan interview". The Cinema Source. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b Gardner, Chris (2005-10-09). "Huston heads over to 'Falls'". Variety. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Snyder, Eric D. "Seraphim Falls". Retrieved 2007-04-18.
- ^ Roberts, Sheila. "David Von Ancken Interview, Seraphim Falls". Movies Online. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Umbach, Mark (2005-09-14). "Brosnan Falls for Falls". FilmStew.com. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "State approves two loans for Hollywood films". New Mexico Business Weekly. 2005-09-26. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Palmer, Susan (2006-01-13). "It's 'Sa-halie-wood' Pierce Brosnan and Liam Neeson are filming near McKenzie Bridge". The Register-Guard. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Wilson, Bronwyn (2006-05-08). "The pews are alive with the sound of music". Retrieved 2007-04-18.
- ^ "Harry Gregson-Williams Interview". Cinezak. 2006-07. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Hart, Hugh (2007-01-28). "INDUSTRY BUZZ". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Crust, Kevin (2007-01-26). "Seraphim Falls". Retrieved 2007-02-19.
- ^ Rechtshaffen, Michael (2006-09-18). "Seraphim Falls". Retrieved 2007-02-19.
- ^ "Seraphim Falls (2007)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
- ^ "Seraphim Falls (2007)". Metacritic. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
