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Seraphim Falls |  | Director: David Von Ancken
Actors: Pierce Brosnan, Liam Neeson, Anjelica Huston, Michael Wincott, Xander Berkeley
Studio: Sony Pictures
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.94
Buy Used: $1.90
as of 11/21/2009 23:20 CST details
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Rating:  71 reviews
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 99
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 115 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: D17159D
UPC: 043396171596
EAN: 0043396171596
Theatrical Release Date: 2006
Release Date: May 15, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
It's three years after the Civil War, and Morsman Carver (Liam Neeson) is leading a small hired posse, including Pope (Robert Baker) and Parsons (Ed Lauter), to track down Gideon (Pierce Brosnan) through the snow-covered woods of the Ruby Mountains in New Mexico. While his posse is in it for the money, Carver appears to have more personal reasons for going after Gideon--and demanding that he be taken alive. But in David Von Ancken's exciting Western, the audience is kept in the dark for most of the movie as to just why Carver is so determined to hunt Gideon down and meet him face-to-face. In fact, the script, written by Von Ancken and Abby Everett Jacques, also keeps viewers guessing about which of them might be the hero and which the villain, blurring the distinction between good and evil. Gorgeously filmed by John Toll, SERAPHIM FALLS is a stunning film to look at, enhanced by Harry Gregson-Williams's beautiful score and the vast expanse of the wide-open locations. Mixing in elements of such classic Westerns as THE SEARCHERS and UNFORGIVEN (among other Clint Eastwood films) with such survival thrillers as FIRST BLOOD and THE NAKED PREY, television director Von Ancken (OZ, NUMB3RS, COLD CASE) makes a compelling feature-film debut. Neeson and Brosnan are both outstanding in their difficult, complex roles, particularly the latter as he takes on numerous physical challenges, and Oscar winner Anjelica Huston pops up in an unusual way, playing a mysterious woman who likes to make very interesting deals.
Amazon.com
A great-looking, well-acted Western in the old-school tradition, Seraphim Falls is definitely worth a look for fans of the genre. There's nothing really new here (which explains why it played only briefly in theaters), and more than a few critics noted its obvious similarities to Clint Eastwood's classic The Outlaw Josey Wales. Still, you have to admire director and cowriter David Von Ancken (a 10-year TV veteran making his feature debut) for delivering an engrossing post-Civil War revenge story (cowritten with Abby Everett Jacques) that isn't hobbled by its overly familiar plotting. Blessed by the exquisite cinematography of John Toll (whose credits include The Thin Red Line, Almost Famous and The Last Samurai) and bolstered by a lush but unobtrusive score by Harry Gregson-Williams, this prestigious production begins very well indeed, with a wintry manhunt in the Ruby Mountains of Nevada, circa 1868. Former Union captain Gideon (Pierce Brosnan) is being tracked by a seemingly brutal pursuer named Carver (Liam Neeson) whose four-man posse (including veteran character actors Ed Lauter and Michael Wincott) is soon reduced to two. As the manhunt continues, Brosnan and Neeson make the most of minimal dialogue, and flashbacks give us hints about the tragic event that set this plot in motion. It's a simple, elemental tale of justice in the wilderness, with occasional quirks like a snake-oil vendor (Anjelica Huston) who appears literally out of nowhere, and a top-hatted Indian (Wes Studi) who gives the film a slight, mystical air of mystery. And while a more daring director might have opted for a more powerful visual style, there's something to be said for Von Ancken's straightforward approach, perfectly matched by Toll's breathtaking landscapes, shot on location in Oregon and New Mexico and ranging from raging rivers to sun-baked desert flats. None of this makes Seraphim Falls a particularly exceptional movie, but with a fine cast that also includes such familiar faces as Angie Harmon, Tom Noonan, Xander Berkeley, and Kevin J. O'Connor, there's ample reward in a film that doesn't pretend to be anything more than a respectable entry in its genre. --Jeff Shannon
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 71
 Loses steam in second half, but still a good modern western June 9, 2009
Alan Starr (Lawrence, MA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I watched this modern western as a double-bill with Stagecoach. Started out really great, but lost steam about halfway through. Pierce Brosnan goes a great job, as does his counterpart Liam Neeson. I love the fact that for the first half of the movie, you don't even know why Neeson is chasing after Brosnan and wants to kill him. 4 stars for the first half, 2.5 stars for the second half, 3-stars overall.
 Rent, don't buy June 7, 2009
Murry G (Pittsburgh, PA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Not even a great love of Neeson and Brosnan can get you through the agony of watching this film. It was long, boring and by the end you really didn't care how it turned out. A great disappointment.
 Ughhhhhhhh!!!!!! April 3, 2009
James B. Smith
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
This movie shows a tough guy losing horse and gun so many times it was ridiculous. Story ends walking off into the sunset with no horse, no gun, no money, no friend just his conscience and his pursuer beside him going separate ways.
 A FINE WESTERN THRILLER LET DOWN BY AN AWKWARD, DISAPPOINTING FINALE. March 22, 2009
Steven Hancock (Winston Salem, NC United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
"Seraphim Falls" is a unique take on the western genre, a chase thriller that takes the viewer from the snowy mountains to the harsh heat of the desert. The film is fine until the last ten minutes, with an awkward ending that leaves the viewer bewildered, slightly confused, and a tad disappointed. The cast do their best with what they have. Pierce Brosnan is alright as Captain Gideon, though I've never been a big fan of his acting. Liam Neeson, as always, turns in a fantastic performance as Colonel Carver, a man seeking vengeance on Gideon for the death of his family. The supporting cast, overall, does a fine job. Anjelica Huston, a fine actress, shows up at the end, playing a character that shows up out of nowhere, in the already-mentioned awkward and disappointing ending.
Overall, it's a fine film with good performances and fine storytelling that mostly make up for the head-scratching finale. If you enjoy westerns and chase thrillers, then "Seraphim Falls" might interest you.
Movie/DVD Grade: B
Seraphim Falls. And stays down. February 2, 2009
M. S. Skidmore (Kinver, United Kingdom)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Being a big fan of both Pierce Brosnan and Liam Neeson, I eagerly awaited this movie to hit cinemas last year. However, with what seemed like a non existant marketing campaign and hardly any theatre playing the flick - I missed out on seeing this on the big screen. Having to wait for it to land on DVD, my expectations raised for what looked like a smart and essential western that featured two of my favourite stars. However, after finally seeing this film now on the small screen - I feel that the wait was hardly worth it...
Set years after the American civil war, the story begins with Morsmon Carver (Neeson) and a posse of trackers hot on the trail of Gideon (Brosnan). Why he is doing this is held back from the viewer (and only revealed in short flash backs), but we know that each man have a history with each other and that one is determined to capture and the other to escape. This intriguing set up is played out against a gorgeous backdrop with a well casted supporting troupe (Micheal Wincott and Ed Lauter are great) and again, the two leads are on fine form. Brosnan is desperate and broken, Neeson determined and steely. However, all the acting in the world and pretty scenery cannot make up the for the leaden direction and below bar screenplay.
Director David Von Ancken attempts a mish mash of concepts and genres that never really gel together. His western tries too hard on one hand to adhere to formula and on the other, break new ground. Mixing old school western themes and throwing in avant garde cinema stylings just bemuses and disconnects you from the chase - which this movie basically is: A chase movie. However, the script and director want to try and hide that from you with odd character shifts and disjointed sequences that leave you feeling short changed. Instead of being a rousing adventure film - it transcends into something else and what the screenplay clearly wasn't designed for. Its a shame really, as somewhere - a great movie is trying to get out. It's just that the film makers decided to go a certain route with it, and with that - lost the audience (well, me anyway!).
The DVD presentation is excellent. Cinematographer John Tolls' landscapes and scenery are picked up beautifully and director Von Ancken does have a sharp eye for the strange, even though he cannot seem to keep the pace up and allow the actors to do their thing. The extras are plentiful and well presented and on a whole the DVD is well produced. It's just a shame that the movie doesn't live up to its premise or stars. Rent before you buy.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 71
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