Forsaken

In the IMDb Guidelines for Top Reviewers, Rule 19 says that, when in doubt, be honest.

So I will.

I have no idea how most members do their ratings these days. But I do know that often the ratings make no sense. This is one example. This is a stellar western, borrowing the "retired gunslinger" theme from the 40s and 50s, the type of western that Glen Ford used to do best.

The script is solid, the acting ditto. I mean, Brian Cox and Demi Moore in supporting roles. Wow. The elder Sutherland as always gets a little trapped in his one-dimensional character but the part was written for a character actor not a lead. The younger Sutherland effortlessly spans the full spectrum of emotions and holds the attention of the viewer like glue. And Wincott makes for one of the most articulate western villains in the history of the genre.

The cinematography is stunning.

Again, looking at the low IMDb rating, you would think there are so many quality westerns being made these days that viewers are overpowered by choice. Nope, that's not true. Is it? If I were grading on a Bell curve, this would be a 9. As it stands it gets a solid 8. Recommended.

((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

If you're a fan of the genre, there isn't a single plot beat in FORSAKEN that you haven't seen many times over. In most instances, you'll probably be able to deduce what's going to happen next, or even what the next line is going to be.

That said, I still enjoyed the movie a good deal, primarily due to the beautiful locations, and Donald Sutherland's exceptional performance in what could have been a thankless, cut-out role. Kiefer, in full-on Kiefer mumbly mode fails to impress, but it's still interesting to see the father-son duo share the screen.

I'd give it a 6.5 if I could, but since I can't, I usually round up.

I love Westerns! The Donald and Keifer Sutherland tandem here was irresistible and made this a must watch for me and it did not disappoint.

Here is a heart warming tale about a prodigal son who was lost to the world and comes home 10 years after going off to war. The son haunted by a decade of wayward wandering and misdeeds. The father trying to overcome the bitterness of losing his family and community piece by piece.

Throughout the movie is a pleasant, persistent but not overbearing theme of how God works through his servants to achieve His divine will. Fans of the genre will enjoy all the classic elements that make Westerns great. There is a scene in the church between father and son that had such raw powerful emotion it made me cry tears.

Gentleman Dave Turner, played by Michael Wincott is my new favorite anti-hero.

If you like Westerns you'll love FORSAKEN. Well done!!!

Its a story we've seen a hundred times. Guy comes into town, there's the troublemakers, love interest, and family accord.

It does differ from the typical storylines a bit. Clichés en masse but still pulls it off. There are some twists to this plot which don't follow the usual formula, and its nice to see it not completely riddled with certainty.

The cast is absolutely fantastic, no matter how big or small the roles. Some of my favourites in here: Michael Wincott, Demi Moore, Kiefer Sutherland, i mean what's not to like.

All in all, its a good old fashioned western which sets out to do as it does. A good watch.

Overall 6.5/10 Entertainment Value 7.5/10 - Anything with Michael Wincott automatically gets a star bump from me, but this film deserved it.

It's a slow drive that ends with a sudden violent car crash, like a good western should.

Kiefer Sutherland plays a soldier who waited far too long after the war to put down his guns, but something tragic hits him hard, and he tries to change his ways, with the help of his father, played by Sutherland's real life father, Donald Sutherland who plays a small town preacher who disapproved of the life his son once lead, and is threaten to get back into when a banker tries to buy out the town by any means necessary.

It's a very typical western story made timeless by it's focus on being character driven. I don't know if this is the first time Kiefer and Donald have done a movie together, but it must have help with the relationship between their characters.

But my favorite interaction was between Kiefer's John Henry and Michael Wincott's Dave Turner, who plays a rival gunslinger hired to influence town people off their land. The mutual respect these men showed for each other despite being on different sides of the coin was masterful, something I never seen done so well in a western.

Brian Cox was also in the movie playing the banker that hired Dave Turner. His role as James McCurdy is what tells us that this timeless Western was made in 2015, because he's all about taking people's homes who don't want to leave, and his level of cold heartiness is done brilliantly, reflected this day and era.

Though I'm sure she was trying to due some respectable acting in this film, Demi More is still some impressive eye candy.

The story is nothing out of the ordinary, but it's strengthen by a great set of actors doing their thing, lead by father and son team Sutherland. Good western.