Released: January 2018

Director: Scott Cooper

Rated R

Run Time: 134 Minutes

Distributor: Lionsgate Studios

Genre: Western/Drama/Adventure

Cast:
Christian Bale: Captain Joseph Blocker
Rosamund Pike: Rosalie Quaid
Wes Studi: Chief Yellow Hawk
Adam Beach: Black Hawk
Jesse Plemons: Lt. Rudy Kidder
Ben Foster: Sgt. Charles Wills
Rory Cochrane: Master Sgt. Thomas Metz
Q’Orianka Kilcher: Elk Woman
Tanaya Beatty: Living Woman

When most people think of the Western film genre, they often think of cowboys and Indians with epic shootouts.  While it is true that those ideas are part of Westerns, they don’t actually define the genre, despite what many people think.  What defines the genre is often the setting.  Most Westerns generally take place during the mid-to-late 19th century throughout the then-unexplored Western Frontier.  Yeah, you’ve got these dusty, sleepy old towns, but most people tend to not notice the landscapes and mountain ranges that are just as integral to the genre as those shootouts and encounters with Native Americans.  So…what makes a great Western?  The elements are no different from those that would make up a great action film or a great drama.  You need a great setting in the outdoors, preferably on location so it feels real.  You also need a compelling story to go along with the amazing vistas.  Most importantly, you need great characters to drive that story.  The story and the plot are secondary if the characters are well-written and memorable.  This is true for ANY film, but even more so for the Western.  There have been many great Westerns over the years with The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, Tombstone, The Unforgiven, Silverado, 3:10 To Yuma, and Forsaken.  Every once in a while, though, a Western comes out of nowhere and takes you by surprise.  No Western has surprised me more than Hostiles.

The film opens on a remote farm that’s come under attack by renegade Cherokee Indians.  Slaughtering everyone but Rosalie Quaid, the Indians leave almost nothing in their wake.  Some time later, Captain Joseph Blocker has been tasked with rounding up what remains of a group of Apache Indians and takes them back to his fort in New Mexico.  Blocker is given another task: Escort the ailing Chief Yellow Hawk and his family to their home in Montana.  Blocker is hesitant to do this because he witnessed Yellow Hawk and his men attack and kill his men some years ago.  Blocker reluctantly agrees to escort Yellow Hawk, but still believes the ailing chief to be nothing more than a blood-thirsty savage.  Blocker and his group come across Rosalie Quaid and together they head to Montana.  It isn’t very often that I come across a Western that has a story THIS engaging and emotional.  It’s an incredibly well-written story that takes its time to build up the characters and their relationships with each other, although the film focuses mainly on Blocker, Yellow Hawk, and Rosalie.  I have to say it:  This is one of the most compelling Westerns I’ve seen in a long time.

If you’re expecting something action-packed along the lines of something like Tombstone, you’d best move on.  It’s not that kind of Western.  This is very much a very internal and introspective film.  It’s not something you see very often in a Western, but it is welcome.  In my introduction, I mentioned that it is the characters that drive the story, and that’s what this film is about:  The characters.  They are surprisingly well-written, fleshed out and feel very real.  The film focuses on the characters, because it tries to highlight the animosity that existed between white people and Native Americans at the time.  One could argue that it still goes on to this very day, and that’s one of the reasons why this film feels so relevant.  Initially, you’re not wanting to like Captain Blocker for what he’s doing and what he believes, but as the film progresses, we begin to peel back the layers of what makes this man tick and then we begin to empathize.  It’s the same thing with Yellow Hawk.  We’re given information that Yellow Hawk may have been responsible for the murders of many of Blocker’s men, but like Blocker, we get to see that there is more to Yellow Hawk than meets the eye.  Blocker and Yellow Hawk are essentially two different sides of the same coin.  Rosalie is a tragic character in which she witnessed her family get slaughtered so she has a legitimate suspicion of Native Americans regardless of their tribe.  Over the course of the film, we get to see that there is more to these people than what we initially see.  Blocker truly cares about his men and Rosalie’s welfare, as does Yellow Hawk and his family.  During their journey, they form a connection that is heartfelt and powerful.

The acting is some of the strongest I’ve seen this year.  Christian Bale gives a gruff, yet very nuanced performance as Blocker, a man who has seen his fair share of violence.  This is one of the finest performances from Mr. Bale that I’ve seen in years.  He really goes all in with his films.  Here, he learned how to speak in a Native American dialect and he’s very fluent.  That alone speaks volumes about the man’s dedication to his craft.  Rosamund Pike plays a very tragic, yet strong character in Rosalie Quaid.  This is an emotional powerhouse of a performance, and I honestly don’t think that any other actress could have pulled it off better than Ms. Pike.  The real standout performance here is Wes Studi as Chief Yellow Hawk.  A member of the Cherokee Nation himself, Mr. Studi is one of the greatest Native American actors in the industry.  He’s been in some of the biggest Westerns ever made including Dances With Wolves.  Regardless of what kind of movie he is in, Wes Studi brings an intensity and intelligence to a role the likes of which I rarely see in an actor.  His performance in Hostiles is low-key, subtle and yet at the same time, very affecting and powerful.  This is a character that has seen as much blood and violence as Blocker.  There are other pretty decent performances from the other actors like Ben Foster, but the real stars here are Christian Bale, Rosamund Pike, and Wes Studi.

There is action in this film, but it’s not really the fun kind, like you will see in films like Tombstone.  No, this is a very realistic film and the violence is treated as such.  It can be exciting for sure, but that’s not the purpose of the film.  The opening sequence of the film is very hard-hitting and sets the tone for the kind of violence that you will see periodically throughout the film.  It doesn’t linger on the carnage for very long, but it definitely will leave an impression on you, making you realize that this was a very dangerous area to be in during the 1890s.  You also have to understand that during this period in American history, that the tensions between white folks and the Native Americans were at an all-time high, and for good reason.  This is not a film that really takes sides, but rather explores the animosity and the psychologically damaging and lingering effects that war can have on people.  It’s something that affects people on all sides of a conflict.  In my humble opinion, Hostiles succeeds in this regards and still remains an entertaining Western as well.  Oh, I can’t forget the phenomenal cinematography, either.  The visuals and the landscapes are some of the most beautiful that I’ve seen in a Western.  It really gives you that sense of isolation and bleakness that the film was going for.

There are a couple of little issues here and there that I had with the film.  Some of the side-characters are not as fully explored as I hoped they would and there are some pacing issues.  Make no mistake about it, this is a slow-burner of a film, but even with those small issues, it had me gripped from beginning to end.  With outstanding performances, a powerful story and some really great cinematography, Hostiles is a film that is well worth your time and investment.  If you want a film that is more intelligent and deliberate than your average Western, this is one for you.  If you’re expecting an epic shoot-out-style film, you won’t find it here.

My Final Recommendation:  This is a must-see by fans of the genre.  9.5/10

The world of the martial arts action film has been, for the most, mostly male-dominated.  While the scene continues to be dominated by men, there have been a number of women over the decades that have dared to stand up and be noticed in the genre.  Ladies like Cynthia Rothrock, Veronica Ngo, Michelle Yeoh, Amy Johnston, and Angela Mao Ying have made a name for themselves in some pretty awesome action flicks, proving that they are just as capable as men in action films.  Some of them I will be getting to later in this series, but the one lady that I would like to talk about in this post is Jeeja Yanin.  Born in Bangkok, Thailand, Jeeja has trained in Tae Kwon Do since she was 11 and currently holds a 4th degree black belt.  She made her on-screen debut in the action film Chocolate and her star has been rising ever since.

Chocolate – Jeeja Yanin Vs. Dojo

When Chocolate was released nearly a decade ago, it was the first Thai action movie that I saw that didn’t have Tony Jaa in it.  That didn’t stop me from enjoying the hell out of this one.  This one has a pretty unique setup.  Jeeja Yanin plays Zen, an autistic girl who apparently has a natural talent for the martial arts by watching movies with Bruce Lee and Tony Jaa, ironically enough.  I really liked this movie because it didn’t make fun of people with disabilities, but rather, gave them unique gifts because of their affliction.  That was fantastic.  The action scenes in this film are pretty good, and some are brutal, especially this sequence in the dojo, where she fights the local Yakuza, and eventually another “disabled” person with a flair for capoeira.  It’s one of the most unique martial arts flicks that I’ve seen in years.  It has its issues, sure, but I really liked it.

Raging Phoenix – Jeeja Yanin Vs. Gang

Having seen a huge success with Chocolate, Jeeja Yanin was not going to do another action flick like Chocolate.  Jeeja Yanin chose Raging Phoenix as her next project, which is a bit of a kidnap/martial arts film.  While some people have issues with this film, I loved it, because it’s very different than what I’ve seen before.  Raging Phoenix features a fighting style invented specifically for this film, which I would describe as Drunken Boxing meets Muay Thai with a little bit of hip-hop thrown in.  It’s bizarre, but it’s very well-choreographed.  Jeeja Yanin shines as a potential victim-turned-martial arts bad-ass named Deu.  While the movie definitely gets really weird towards the end, a lot of the initial fight sequences are fantastic, including this fight against a small gang.  It’s definitely worth seeking out.

The Kick – Jeeja Yanin

While The Kick is definitely focused on a family of Korean martial arts performers, some of the best fights in the film belong to Jeeja Yanin.  While there’s a lot of flashy Tae Kwon Do moves being thrown around by the Koreans, Jeeja’s Muay Thay is….mostly grounded and direct.  There’s really not a whole lot to say about this film aside from the action sequences, and while it is far from Yanin’s best, it is by no means her worst.  The Kick is definitely worth a rental if you’re into Thai action films like me.

The Protector 2 (Tom Yum Goong 2) – Shipyard Brawl

Truth be told, I was debating whether or not to put this one on the list, as The Protector 2 was simply not a good movie.  It was a huge step backwards for the director, the fight choreographer and Tony Jaa.  It did have a few good things going for it, including pitting Jeeja Yanin against Tony Jaa.  The fight scenes with Jeeja Yanin are pretty decent and definitely worth a watch.  You may have to get through a pretty bad movie to get to the fights, but they are definitely worth it…..mostly.

While Jeeja Yanin doesn’t have much of a filmography right now, she’s definitely got some pretty good ones under her belt.  She’s got a couple of films coming up, Triple Threat and Red Cargo, so we will be seeing more of her in the future.  I’m expecting some pretty great things from her.

When it comes to action movies, most people tend to notice the actors on the screen trying to do their own fights and stunts.  That’s all well and good, but for large-budget blockbusters, most actors aren’t actually allowed to do their own stunts, Tom Cruise being the main exception.  When it comes to stunts and fight choreography, the real unsung heroes of action movies are generally not seen at all, and if they are, they’re in costumes, so you can’t tell who they are.  Stunt men and fight choreographers are some of the most important people when it comes to action films.  They have an eye for detail and sequences that most people will never see.  There have been a number of stunt men that have become actors over the years, but most of them, unfortunately don’t stand out very well from the pack.  There are exceptions, of course.  One of them is British stunt-man Ray Park.  Ray Park was baptized into the world of martial arts at an early age, studying Northern Fist kung-fu and then moving on to become an expert in various other styles, with Wushu being at the forefront.  He would continue to participate in tournaments and exhibitions for well over 6 years, finally earning a gold medal for the Great Britain Wushu and Chin Woo Martial Arts teams.  While Ray Park may not have the largest filmography in the world, he has made a name for himself over the years.  Because of the size of his filmography, I will also be including some scenes where he’s a stuntman and not just an actor.

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace – Ray Park Vs. Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor

Everybody has an opinion on the merits of George Lucas’ Prequel Trilogy and more importantly, the first entry: The Phantom Menace.  I tend to be more forgiving than most, but the one that few people can deny is that Darth Maul is one of the most memorable villains in Star Wars, second only to Darth Vader.  That is not an easy thing to accomplish.  Ray Park delivers an electrifying physical performance as the black and red-skinned Sith Lord.  This was the movie that actually made Ray Park a house-hold name.  The fight scene with the two Jedi ranks as one of the best fight sequences in the entire Star Wars saga.  George Lucas hand-picked Park specifically because of his stunt and martial arts background for the role.  Ray Park does all of his own fighting and stunt-work in this film and most of it is done without wires.  That’s why people responded well to this battle.  It was fast, furious and non-stop.

Mortal Kombat: Annihilation – Raiden Stunt Double

I bring up Mortal Kombat: Annihilation not to mock Ray Park.  Not at all.  His stunt-work in this film is really good.  The stunts in the film aren’t actually that bad.  It’s everything else that sucks.  I chose this fight between Raiden and the ninjas, specifically because of Ray Park’s stunt-work.  Most of the close-up shots are of James Remar, who actually plays Raiden in the film, but he’s not a martial artist, so the actual fights that you see are Ray Park and there is a brief moment where you can see that it is Ray Park and not Mr. Remar.  None of this is Ray Park’s or James Remar’s fault.  The fault lies with the director and editors.  The movie is not good, and the fight choreography isn’t that great, but a good chunk of the stunt-work, as in the flips and stuff like that, is pretty decent.  I don’t think you have to like a movie to appreciate Ray Park’s contribution to it.

GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra – Ray Park vs. Byung Hun-Lee

I’m not trying to bring up bad movies on purpose.  Seriously.  No, I’m absolutely trying to showcase the best parts of those bad movies.  For Rise of Cobra, the most compelling character moments are between the masked ninjas Snake Eyes(The good guy) and Storm Shadow(The bad guy).  If the film spent more time focused on these two characters, it would have been a better movie.  I didn’t think it was an awful film, but certain decisions were very…questionable.  What isn’t questionable is Ray Park’s casting as the silent Snake Eyes.  He says more with his body language in the film than most people with actual lines in other movies.  This fight sequence between Park and Lee has a surprising amount of emotional weight to it.  Granted, these two characters are the most fleshed out in an other-wise generic film, but it surprises me how much you can relate to these two characters.

Accident Man – Ray Park and Michael Jai White Vs. Scott Adkins

Now, this one is a bit of a cheat, I grant you, but it’s awesome because it has Scott Adkins, Michael Jai White AND Ray Park duking it out in one of the best fight scenes of the movie.  Ray Park plays Mac, a partner of Michael Jai White’s Mick, and they are part of the same assassination group that Scott Adkins’ character is.  Teaming Ray Park with Michael Jai White was a brilliant move as these guys can be pretty funny when on screen together.  This fight scene has a lot going for it: Tight choreography, drama, humor, and intensity.  Accident Man is loaded with awesome fight sequences and this is one of the best in the film.  It’s definitely worth checking out.

While some of the films I brought up in this list are not the greatest, there is no doubt that Ray Park has at least made them watchable.  Star Wars was both good and bad for Ray Park.  It was good for Mr. Park, because it put him on the map with one of the coolest villains ever.  But it was also bad for Mr. Park because he really hasn’t had a role that has matched Darth Maul, and he will always be known as “that guy that played Darth Maul.”  That being said, I think Ray Park is really worth paying attention to in terms of movies, because he has grown in terms of acting.  I think this is a guy that really needs to be given a chance to carry a movie as a lead actor, because I think he can.  Not only can he do his own stunts, but he does also bring his own level of intensity to whatever role he’s given.