Lonesome Dove (1989)

Too much of everything

Sorry, this movie sucks

Instant Favorite.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

There are many people who consider "Lonesome Dove" to be the greatest Western saga ever created. While I can't quite go that far in my praise for it, I will say that it was easily worth watching for the iconic characters (bolstered by incredible acting) it cultivates throughout.For a basic plot summary, "Lonesome Dove" tells the story of Gus McCrae (Robert Duvall) and Woodrow Call (Tommy Lee Jones), two cattle ranchers who decide to leave their dusty Texas ranch and move the herd to Montana on the advice of fellow friend Jake Spoon (Robert Urich). Along the way, they deal with the harshness of the Old West territory, Indian warrior Blue Duck (Frederic Forrest), and (more importantly) cultivate new relationships. Lorena Wood (Diane Liane) is a prostitute who wants to turn over a new leaf and start a life with Gus, but first the old cowpoke must deal with his feelings toward old flame Clara (Anjelica Huston). A side plot sees a Sheriff, July Johnson (Chris Cooper), set off with his son Joe (Adam Faraizal) to hunt down Spoon, who murdered another in a dispute and must be given justice.The reason "Lonesome Dove" is such an iconic miniseries is because it creates characters that seem so real. Often, westerns can fall into the "stock character" trap where the participants are a bit too cut-and-dry, or black-and-white. The exact opposite happens here, as pretty much each and every character is given something to do and room to grow.That being said, the whole film pretty much revolves around Duvall's Gus, and fortunately that actor is up to the task. While the surrounding acting performances are also great, everyone else (as characters) are really defined by their relationship to Gus. I don't want to sound like I'm taking anything away from the film as a whole, but I was always invested when Gus was at the forefront (physically or emotionally) and that wasn't always the case otherwise.The only criticism I have of "Lonesome Dove"? I felt that some of the subplots didn't live up to the main emotional backbone of the whole thing. I was underwhelmed by the July Johnson angle, I didn't like Blue Duck's character at all (it felt to me as if he were shoe-horned in because the producers thought an Indian presence was needed), and I felt that a bit too much time was spent on Dish Boggett (D.B. Sweeney), a ranch hand on the drive. The one sub-angle that works in spades? Newt (Ricky Schroder), Call's unrequited son. There was some real emotion there. Other than that though, I felt that those other auxiliary pieces (even if they were still well-acted, for the most part) distracted me from Gus, Call, and the really good material taking place on the cattle drive.So, while I can't put "Lonesome Dove" at the tip top of my list, I enjoyed the experience and would recommend it to Western film fans. When Duvall, Lane, Jones, Schroder, and Huston were on center stage, this miniseries truly was as good as it gets. The interactions feel real, not derived, and there is real drama, both physical and emotional. It strayed down a few paths that didn't hold my attention (especially in the second and beginning of the third acts), but overall easily deserving of a solid 4-star ranking.

This is much more than a Western – it's a great story. Everything in this six hour epic is captivating – the characters, the settings, the music. There is an authenticity that is beyond reproach. It's got tenderness and pain (get the Kleenexes out for the last couple of hours). This is truly a magnificent performance by all. A must watch!I have watched it a few times since it was first released on TV in the late 1980's. I am still enthralled by it and so happy to see it now on the clarity of Blue-ray (still remember the crappy version I recorded on VHS)!Read the book too – it provides more depth to this awe-inspiring story!

This is what happens when a good for nothing joke of a movie gets dozens of awards.It is the number of awards that makes people want to see the movie, having great expectations.Like Americans say, EPIC FAIL...American FAIL.I will not bother watching the related sequels.First of all, it is supposed to be a western.No, sir, no western here, as there is no dignity in stealing animals.Two once respected lawmen, going to the other side and becoming criminals, in a movie that tells the story unbelievably slow, no idea of justice and heroism, not a hint of anything like it...This movie is way too American, and some folks who give the movie awards always forget that America is not the World - such " experts " can make a brotherhood or something like this, instead of being an institution, or they better go home in the ghetto and scream how great they are.Second, we, Europeans, already know that America was created by world's top criminal refugees, greedy man and whores, cheap women and you name it.Where are the native people who lived in America ?! The user will be in shock when the movie proudly states that " Americans " have killed all Indians ?! SO, BEING PROUD OF A GENOCIDE MAKES YOU WORSE THAN BOTH Hitler AND STALIN.This movie shows some hint of the truth, but giving so many awards to something that should make Ameicans shame...yuck! Instead, they are all proud to be " Americans " ( there is no such thing as an American nation, it is just a bunch of immigrants, criminals, Average Joes and financial vampires.Third, leaving all behind and starting from scratch with something stolen, like in the movie - it is what Americans do nowadays.USA attacks countries, rich in natural resources, fakes terrorism and sues people without a trial and a lawyer, just to keep their good for nothing dollar living - in Europe, the money are guaranteed with gold.All in all, truth hurts.Facts hurt so much that I am not sure if this review will ever be published.

A lot of Westerns are out of date these days. But this is an exception. Due not just to the star power headed by Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones. As both are the lead characters.With the support from Rick Schroder, Danny Glover, Angelica Houston, Diane Lane, Robert Urich, etc. As they face lots of adversity and lots of casualties due to the fact, of moving the cattle of Duvall's and Jones from the South to Montana for a better life.It has a great a script and a great acting along the way. For four nights. It also spawned two sequels in the process. It turned into a ratings blockbuster for CBS when it aired originally in 1989.We now have the tapes to the mini series! You will not be disappointed.