Hostiles

Directed by Scott Cooper, Hostiles follows a grizzled army captain (Christian Bale’s Joseph Blocker) as he’s ordered to escort a dying Cheyenne chief (Wes Studi’s Yellow Hawk) and his family to Montana. Filmmaker Cooper, armed with his own screenplay, does a terrific job of instantly capturing the viewer’s interest and attention, as Hostiles kicks off with an engrossing (and almost shockingly brutal) pre-credits sequence that effectively establishes the picture’s unflinching sensibilities – with this vibe ultimately heightened and perpetuated by the gritty narrative and searing performances. (Bale’s thoroughly intense and magnetic turn as the hardened hero is undoubtedly matched by an agreeably eclectic supporting cast that includes Jesse Plemons, Rory Cochrane, and Ben Foster.) It’s equally clear, though, that Hostiles‘ often aggressively episodic structure, coupled with a lengthy running time and exceedingly deliberate pace, does result in a handful of lulls that cumulatively diminish its overall impact, and yet the picture’s smattering of electrifying sequences, including Blocker and company’s encounter with violent fur trappers, goes a long way towards smoothing over the erratic atmosphere and carrying the proceedings through to its satisfying finale – which does, in the end, confirm the movie’s place as a strong Western that benefits from Bale’s first-class efforts.

*** out of ****