Miracle at Sage Creek

I loved the fact that this was a gritty western wrapped in a family friendly blanket that all ages can enjoy. The cowboys and the Indians blending nicely into a melting pot that was more accurate to the old west then some showings. The script was well crafted and the cast brought it all to life. I loved Wes Studi's calm turn as a kind grandfather in sharp contrast to his powerful roles as violent aggressive characters in "Dancing With Wolves" or "Last of the Mohicans." I'm excited for the two upcoming western's "The Hard Ride" and "Wild Michigan" and I think Thadd Turner deserves all the attention for making these westerns come to the screen. Tim Abell is also worth noting as a gentle yet strong "bridge" between the two worlds of the white man and the Native Americans. Carradine is on target as Ike the "Scrooge" of this Christmas Western. I think this will be a classic when looked back upon many years from now.

The filming locations (Arizona, standing in for Wyoming) are indisputably gorgeous, and I appreciate the set design and decoration. Fine detail went into costume design, and James Intveld demonstrates a keen eye for some artful shots. Why, hats off to cinematographer Virgil L. Harper - his contribution is very noteworthy; all we see looks fantastic. Michael Parks is a name that should be a boon for any cast, and while David Carradine's countenance doesn't necessarily guarantee value in a picture, especially in the latter years of his career (see: 'The last sect'), it's nonetheless a pleasure to see him here. With that said, I think everyone before the camera gives performances of welcome sincerity.

Would that I could say I felt 'Miracle at Sage Creek' was more remarkable, and more deserving of specific praise. I don't think it's bad. But nor is it really noteworthy. Outside of the actors, much about the movie feels a little too staged and inauthentic for its own good. The themes and story ideas, and their application, are very familiar: loss, faith, injustice, racism, interpersonal conflict, hardship, hope, and so on. Scenes of drama are a little overbearing, scenes of action are underwhelming - and yet with that said, the chief feeling I get from the picture isn't "balanced," but "middling." More than half the length had passed and still it felt like I was waiting for the movie to properly begin. No doubt there are viewers who find this very satisfying, and fulfilling; I found the experience to be about as equivalently meaningful as checking off a to-do list of household chores.

These feelings extend to the scene writing, characters, dialogue, overall narrative, and Intveld's orchestration of scenes and the guidance of his cast. Honest though all the assembled actors are in their portrayals, I don't know that I can say anyone especially impresses here; at some critical junctures their delivery appears stilted, dampening the impact a story beat should have. This seems so much like a film one can "watch" without actively engaging with it, and still see all while retaining nothing. Once more - none of this is to say 'Miracle at Sage Creek' is outright bad or wholly undeserving. Clearly there's an audience for this title, and I'm just not it. However, I plainly find it less than engrossing - unexceptional - undistinguished.

Is 'Miracle at Sage Creek' worth 90 minutes of your time? You could certainly do a lot worse. You could just surely do much better, too.

OK a hundred things wrong with this movie; and a hundred things right. But, in the end everything works out the way everyone wants. The high point of the film is David Carradine, an exceptionally under-rated actor. His character transformation is too sudden, but hey John Ford didn't direct this. There is nice cinematography and good acting all around, backed by a story that is fairly believable and satisfying. Wouldn't watch it again, but didn't feel cheated watching it this time.

Wouldn't call this curious offering great, but won't call it bad either. It was a relief to see a small scale modern Western that didn't see the need to go down the Clint Eastwood trail of super nasty, so called cowboy 'art'....

This story concentrates more on the daily living standards of 'pioneers' than simply the rough oater types. It's main problems, regarding story, lie in the fact it doesn't properly introduce us to the characters. It's difficult at times to figure out who's who. The movie has the look of a show that may have been longer than it's final release.

The first signs of this come with some badly timed edits that don't gel with the general good look and flow of Virgil Harper's fine Cinematography. There are also several characters who tend to disappear when you are expecting them to feature much more than they do.

The location shots are a treat for the eye with vistas and grand horizons filled with majestic skies. The Director: James Inveld (Brother of Ricky Inveld who was Ricky Nelson's drummer, who also died in the same plane crash) has gone for a deliberately paced unfolding of the story, a bit like the classic 'Shane' used to such good advantage. There are odd bursts of violence that remind us that this is still an untamed land, but mostly it's content to follow the personal lives of settling families.

Acting is surprisingly good, especially David Carradine as the bigoted landowner. He is matched by Actor, Producer, Musician and Emmy winner: Daniel Quinn, a performer with solid acting training in the UK. Lovely Sarah Aldrich is also good as his wife. The youngsters do well and turn in quite convincing performances. Pity the usually interesting Michael Parks has so little to do (edited out perhaps?) Also good to see Wes Studi making an all too rare appearance, giving the picture a better balance to the Native American Indian side of the story.

The Music score: partly composed by the Director (with Michael Turner) adds some fine atmosphere to a film made by semi-professional independent producers. This won't please gung-ho action fans or those who lean towards being more technically aware, but should be enjoyed by seekers of undemanding family fare.

Interesting to note: The actor playing the nasty, gun happy, racist cavalry recruit: Thadd Turner, also holds writing, production and technical credits for this film, and is himself, a sharp shooting champion.

Miracle at Sage Creek

Movie Review for the Cowboy Chronicle, International monthly publication for SASS (Single Action Shooting Society)

By Steve Shaw

Rarely are Westerns made for television these days. The few exceptions attempt to recast the Western in a bitter, physically violent role, oftentimes with offensive language. Westerns the entire family can enjoy are difficult to find…they just don't make 'em anymore. Miracle at Sage Creek is a rare, welcomed change. This well-developed story, with fine acting, has you speculating about the miracle, since several materialize; a splendid and appropriate family-oriented film for the Christmas holidays. The story is set in 1888 Wyoming with David Carradine portraying rancher Ike Franklin, a hard-nosed, ruthless old man, embittered with the death of his wife at the hands of a Sioux war party ten years earlier. Just before Christmas, Ike hatches a scheme to legally remove neighbor Chief Red Eagle (superbly underplayed by Wes Studi) and his family off their small adjacent homestead with the use of US Cavalry. Red Eagle's son-in-law, John Stockton, a one time suitor of Ike's daughter Mary, perhaps the only man that could reason with Ike, is ambushed, shot and left for dead by villainous road agents while on his way home from town. Ike's daughter Mary and her husband, Seth, operate the Sage Creek Station, a stagecoach stop on the road between Lush and Chadron. Ike disapproves how the two are raising their two young sons, and of course, feels Seth not good enough for his daughter. When their youngest son, Kit, becomes infected with scarlet fever and is not expected to recover, Ike's despondency intensifies. How these two families overcome their prejudices and the tragedies befalling them is capably told. This film will elicit a tear of two, as should any well-told Christmas story. David Carradine is at his best, supported by, arguably one of the best actors to portray an Indian, Wes Studi. Familiar names and faces sustaining these two veterans are Buck Taylor, Tracy Nelson, Michael Parks, Irene Beddard, and Tim Abell. The film, shot at Old Tucson Studios' Mescal movie site in Arizona, is directed by James Intveld, by a script written by Thadd Turner. Turner should be familiar to many of you. His well-researched, non-fiction book "Wild Bill Hickok: Deadwood City – End of Trail" was reviewed and recommended by this author in a previous Cowboy Chronicle issue. Thadd was a national level competitor in Cowboy Action Shooting from 1995-2001 and was a contributing editor for True West Magazine from 2001-2003. Through his production company, Talmarc Productions, Turner produced this film and also served as stunt coordinator and co-lead wrangler. In fact, if you look close, you will see Turner as one of the US Cavalry troopers attempting to evict the Indian family. The film has been picked up by American World Pictures for distribution through Hallmark with a release date of January 2006. Check your local listings.