Old Henry

Irony abounds. Six decades ago you could not turn on the TV or go to a theatre without bumping into a western. Today they are few and far between. (Except for the fact that Clint Eastwood is still starring in them, which is just plain odd). So when this little gem shows up, with the guts to bet the farm (literally) on a tight script and a BIG REVEAL, you really have to take off your hat and salute it.

Acting and cinematography was great. It wasn't the most unique story but there was a nice twist that was a surprise. Also I was impressed with the fight scenes.

Westerns look like a dying breed. Only every now and then you get another western so it's waiting for a good one. Old Henry is one of those. Not very fast paced but certainly worth watching. No huge names either, although Tim Blake Nelson was perfect to play his character. The cinematography was good, the acting was more than good, and the story has a little twist that was clever. Definitely worth your time if you like westerns.

A farmer defending an injured man from a posse has his true identity called into question.

From the opening director Potsy Ponciroli's offering, you know your not having to sit through another glossy looking made for streaming looking western. It has a filmatic look with wonderful cinematography from John Matysiak. It's centred around the homestead and every inch of location used, giving a feel of solitude and hopelessness. This with some old school editing by Jamie Kirkpatrick and Ponciroli's visual flare and attention to detail echo Pale Rider and is reminiscent at times of modern great westerns, emulating The Unforgiven, with touch of the classics.

Complimented by Jordan Lehning music Stephen Dorff leaves an impression as Ketchum and showcase why he should be making more quality films. Old Henry is clearly Tim Blake Nelson's vehicle, he gives a solid, steely performance. Throwing in a few twist Ponciroli with his writing hat on leans on the tropes of the genre while not shying away from the harsh reality of the Wild West that all accumulates to a satisfactory conclusion. Recommend.

Tim Blake Nelson is a great actor! An actor who does not rely on a pretty handsome face or a tall physical body (5'5"), but completely by his fantastic performance to play all the roles in his movies. He is such a versatile actor that could play almost any character in any movie.

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018), O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) and Leaves of Grass (2009). The characters he played, all turned out to be so great, powerful, entertaining, and memorable. It's unbelievable such an ordinary person could find jobs in the cruel society of the Hollywood. His success only proved that as long as you're really talented in acting, you still can survive in that crucial environment.

Only a few Western genre movies that really interested me to watch, not just once, but several times:

Blazing Saddles (1974), Clint Eastwood's 1992 Unforgiven, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018), The Salvation (2014) and, this 2021 Old Henry.