O Pioneers!

Scandinavians are, as a rule, stoic -- I think the previous viewer missed that dynamic. That, and for a woman to have achieved success during the time this woman did was quite an accomplishment. I guess we just want more drama or shoot-em-up in our films these days, but having run a farm and done so well seems a task that eludes many in our modern world.

Whoever didn't like this film most likely was sorely out of touch with the culture at the time it was set, as well as that of the ethnic group. Jessica's character reminds me very much of someone in my own family, and her accomplishments, against often insurmountable odds, is nothing short of spectacular.

Sorry it's not exciting enough for some. The real world is not made up of alien invasions and ghetto trauma. It's a feel-good film of a culture that worked hard and succeeded. I, for one, appreciate it.

Jessica Lange went from the big screen to the small screen with her performance here. She is just excellent here as she is anywhere else including stage as well. Jessica Lange played the elder Alexandra Bergstrom. A young Heather Graham played the young Alexandra. She did an excellent job. Anne Heche had left "Another World" for other opportunities. This film highlighted her talent as an actress. David Straitharn played the elder Carl Lindstrom, the love of Alexandra's live. The film is kind of slow at times. The film was made for television. The ending of the film was a surprise since I haven't read the novel.

Alternately tragic and triumphant story of Alexandra Bergson's love of the sometimes unwelcoming farmland of the southern Nebraska plains. Captures well the quiet tone of Willa Cather's best work--had she seen this, she might have rethought her (evidently ignored) demand in her will that her work not be adapted. All the performances are excellent, including early performances by Reed Diamond and Anne Heche as the doomed lovers Emil and Marie and one more in a lifetime of stealthily perfect turns by David Strathairn. But the whole enterprise depends on the broad, strong shoulders of Jessica Lange's Alexandra. Looking more than ever before like a beautiful, lanky, long-necked mare of a woman, Lange's spirit expands to fill the wide-open landscape. Don't expect a thriller when this comes up, but if you see it, you'll remember it forever.

There are several very good points to "O Pioneers!" that are partially drowned under miscasting and stilted dialogue. Heather Graham (who plays the younger version of Jessica Lange's character) is the worst of the lot. Even the more talented actors sometimes struggle to get the words out. There are far too many cases throughout where unnecessarily complicated lines are forced to be delivered in a way that is anything but natural. It's too bad that this is the only major flaw, because the constant recurrence of the issue is the only thing that keeps "O Pioneers!" from being a great film.

Jessica Lange is certainly the best thing here. The emotion and power with which she imbues her character is palpable. David Strathairn, who is one of my favorite actors, is given much less to work with. He tries his best, but the character is written too coldly to truly come to life. The absolute stand-out performance, however, is that of Tom Aldredge. His depiction of Ivar is amusing, alive, deep and absolutely human. Most of the other actors live up to standard, save for the aforementioned dialogue issues.

Glenn Jordan directs quite nicely, but it's less his sensibility than the eye of cinematographer Dick Bush that makes "O Pioneers!" so visually appealing. Bush captures a washed-out world of warm-pale greens, blues, and sepia tones that fill you with a sense of longing and overwhelming calm. This film has something in common both visually and thematically with Jordan's film of the previous year, "Sarah, Plain and Tall". That movie is ultimately more consistent and satisfying that this one. I couldn't say there's any reason for me to watch "O Pioneers!" a second time, but it was a meaningful experience in spite of the flaws. It has much to say about contentment and the search for home. You should gain something from it.

I have yet to see a film that follows its original version so well. More often than not books and movies of the same story, just don't match up. In this case the people are just as alive and able to pull at your heart strings either source and follow each other to perfection. Some of the actors are in a new genre than what we are used to seeing them in, but it all adds to a wonderful effect when they pull off their parts so well. This movie captures Willa Cather's book well and I highly reccommend it to any who love her stories. This is a wonderful film!