Légendes d'automne

I fell for it all, not just Brad Pitt. "Legends of the Fall" is an epic melodrama, which should be oxymoronic, but the quality of the performances raises it up. Sappy lines like "I followed all of the rules, man's and God's. And you, you followed none of them. And they all loved you more. Samuel, Father, and my... even my own wife," would sink lesser actors. Not Aidan Quinn, assigned the movie's most challenging role as the eldest brother who must make his own luck.

But it's Brad Pitt's movie. As favorite son Tristan, a James Dean-ilk rebel with leonine locks and boy-toy beauty, he steals every scene (and plenty of audience hearts, given the sudden burst of boys named Tristan after 1994). That said, his costars-- Quinn, Gordon Tootoosis, Karina Lombard, Julia Ormond, and especially Anthony Hopkins-- support him so well that it seems like an ensemble picture, an impression deepened by the serious themes which are given due respect, starting with the treatment of Native Americans. The abhorrence toward the U. S. government by former army Colonel Ludlow (Hopkins) challenges the very idea of patriotism. Not many Hollywood movies risk dialog like this: "Indians!... There is nothing quite so grotesque as the meeting of a child with a bullet; or an entire village slaughtered while sleeping. That was the Government's resolution of that particular issue and I have seen nothing in its behavior since then that would persuade me that it has gained either in wisdom, common sense, or humanity."

Hugely ambitious, covering half a century, it is ultimately less interesting on the central matter of love than it is everything else, from the WWI trenches and shell shock that follows to Prohibition and the gangsters it created (including Tristan). It is also famously beautiful, filmed near Banff by Oscar-winner John Toll. Disappointments include James Horner's engulfing music; the implausible decrepitude of the aging Colonel's ranch while his caretakers are still there; and a final scene with voice-over narration that manages to fail twice, being both sentimental and abrupt. But as I said, I fell for it, flaws and all.

I have to say that the Oscar winning cinematography just blew me away in Legends Of The Fall. With British Columbia standing in for Montana of the early 20th century it's not called The Big Sky country for nothing. My guess though is Montana now is a bit too developed now to get the proper feel for atmosphere in which Anthony Hopkins raised his three boys all of whom turned out quite different.

The three sons in Legends Of The Fall are Aidan Quinn, Brad Pitt, and Henry Thomas chronologically. Quinn is the solid and reliable eldest who becomes one of Montana's Representatives in Congress. They usually had and still have only two of them. Henry Thomas can't get out from under being the baby of the family. The other two are constantly looking out for him.

It's Brad Pitt as the middle son who is our brooding protagonist and the closest thing Pitt ever did on screen as a romantic idol. Brad's like something out of one of those romance novels.

The brothers start showing their differences when Henry Thomas brings home Julia Ormond as his intended bride. She gets all their hormones in overdrive and when Thomas fails to return from World War I the rivalry between Pitt and Quinn drives the rest of the film.

Anthony Hopkins who served in the Indian wars in the cavalry was disillusioned by said conflicts and built his own empire where the native Indians share in its bounty. His kids however grew up in the era of Theodore Roosevelt where you answered your country's call no matter what. And like TR all three Ludlow boys are imbued with the idealism of the Allied cause. All three go to Canada and enlist in their army and defy their father. It all becomes a Greek tragedy of sorts in the end.

The Oscar winning cinematography is just breathtaking. The vastness of God's earth will dazzle the viewer and you might become an instant conservationist. Legends Of The Fall also won an Oscar for Art&Set Design which is also wonderful and I think that TR's Sagamore Hill might have been a model used.

Sad though that Hopkins, Pitt, Quinn, and Ormond got no Oscar recognition for this film. Even watching it on television without the big screen Legends Of The Fall still blows me away.

I have enjoyed watching the film a number of times during several periods of my life and, as time goes by, I believe that it is gaining the general recognition it deserves! This is an epic drama about people dealing with personal demons within an amazing western scenery at the beginning of the 20th century in Western America. Everyone, including the father, the 3 sons and the "girl" is trying to heal the wounds inside. Tristan, the protagonist, is a wild spirit playing with fire, unable to form attachments for long. There is a constant battle going on inside him (between life and death, love and rage, passion and ethics, the visible and the invisible) affecting everyone around him. I would like to emphasize a point that I haven't read in other reviews: the boys' mother, even though hardly appearing on screen, has a key-role in the story: she practically abandons her husband and three sons, staying detached all the way, not even coming back for some major family events (funerals-weddings-births)! Such an abandonment causes tremendous emotional pain, relationship issues and deep trauma to everyone. The brothers are antagonistic, trying desperately to find their place in the world and prove their worth, one way or another: fighting at the war, excelling in politics, winning a woman's love and more! Tristan's magnetism seems to be so great that everyone (including us, watching) is willing to accept almost anything from him. He's something like a Sun for the women who loved him - they couldn't take their eyes off him, and we all know what happens when you stare at the sun... Does love conquer all? Sometimes yes, sometimes no... The movie is at times becoming overly dramatic, but I love it whatsoever. In my humble opinion, this is not a superficial soap opera - if you can read between the lines, there is a great analysis that can be done... Acting and cinematography are superb!

...but I must admit that I loved Legends of the fall. I understand that some people think it's corny and too romantic but if you like epic dramas this is the movie for you.

Reasons to see the movie: - Great acting. Anthony Hopkins makes a classic role as the US army officer gone anarchist father. Brad Pitt is perfect in the role as the wild one with an indian "stepfather". Aidan Quinn makes another great performance, and Julia Ormond is very good as the (tragic) woman they all long for. - The scenery. Magic. I want to have a farm in Montana! - The camera work. - The story. I guess I am a sucker for epic dramas. - A number of very, very good scenes. - The movie is a kick in the nuts to "civilized life" and state affairs. - The anarchistic attitude. - The character Tristan Ludlow. - The character William Ludlow. - The emotional ride.

Reasons to NOT see the movie: - You will be called a pathetic romantic if you like it. And you will most probably like it...

I can't believe the bad reviews Legends of the Fall got when it was released. This would have to be one of the best movies around. Everything from the acting to the directing was brilliant and the scenery was breathtaking.

Anthony Hopkins gave another knockout performance as Colonel Ludlow and Brad Pitt was brilliant as Tristan.Aidan Quinn, Henry Thomas and Julia Ormond were perfectly cast as Alfred, Samuel and Susanna.

The one thing I liked most about this movie was the ending - which I won't spoil. It is rare when watching a movie, you cannot pick the ending. The ending to this movie was so amazing, and the fact that it wasn't obvious what was going to happen made this movie more enjoyable.

James Horner is a master. Just like he did with Titanic, the score for Legends of the Fall took the movie to another level.