Slow West - B+

Michael Fassbender and Kodi Smit-McPhee

Rated R, 84 minutes
Wes's Grade: B+

Simmering "Slow West' is a refreshing look at the Old West

"Slow West" is a unique, satisfying Western about two men on a journey with different motives. Slow-moving, well-acted and handsomely shot, this isn't "Outlaw Josey Wales" Eastwood, it's more of the slow burn "Unforgiven" Eastwood. At the end of the nineteenth century, 16-year-old Jay Cavendish (Kodi Smit-McPhee) journeys across the American frontier in search of the woman he loves (Caren Pistorius). He is joined by Silas (Michael Fassbender), a mysterious traveler, and hotly pursued by an outlaw (Ben Mendelsohn) along the way. Directed and written by John Maclean in an auspicious debut as feature director and writer, "Slow West" is a simmering yet refreshing look that has a lot of elements: some amusing moments, some bloody moments, some tender moments, all of which capture the harshness of the old west, including the depressing ending full of blood and sadness. Most westerns tend to focus on the violence, without gaining a look at the humanity of what life was like then, which "Slow West" does so very well. The efficient film (only 84 minutes), is well-grounded by the strong performances of Fassbender and Smit-McPhee, who is especially memorable as the young man seeking the love of his life (and finally finds her, in the most unusual of ways, at the end of the movie), with lovely photography and score that add some nice texture and solace to the movie. On the downside, "Slow West" is a little slow and uneven, and the middle act in particular tends to lose its footing until the memorable, violent climax. Still, I was impressed with the fact that Maclean handles it astutely, even though I would've preferred a different ending. "Slow West," with its character-driven, slow-moving portrait of the Old West, may not be for everyone, but it's a subtle, entertaining look at love lost amidst the plains.