Funny how life works sometimes. In Wednesday's post, I mentioned that when Ang Lee makes films that miss the mark, they're generally a mile away (Thankfully, he's only really made one brutal head scratcher: Hulk).
Today, I receive a newsletter from Criterion Collection about the addition of Lee's Civil War drama Ride with the Devil to their ranks. For those unaware (there are many), this film was released in 1999, between Ang's two more seminal works: The Ice Storm and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The film stars Tobey Maguire and Skeet Ulrich as two Confederate-sympathizers - or 'Bushwhackers' - spurred to action after Maguire's character's father is killed by pro-abolitionist 'Jayhawkers'. It was an awesome film when it was released, and looks to be even better now, as Criterion has given Lee the opportunity to re-cut and remount Ride with the Devil into the film he had originally intended.
I chatted a bit about my love of Westerns in my post about Red Hill, but this film is a little more than a traditional Western. It focuses on the rather violent massacre of Lawrence, Kansas by Confederate Bushwhackers. It's a brutal, and disturbing mess, and is definitely not for the faint of heart.
That being said, everyone should check this film out. Also, anyone who says they hate Tobey Macguire and think he's a no-talent hack should definitely watch Ride with the Devil. He's fantastic in it.By the way, if you think this about Tobey Macquire, then you're an idiot.
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