Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsA STORY OUTSIDE ITSELF
Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2015
Wellll....It's not that this story could not have happened somewhere in the West, but has less that holds it together than leaves questions of puzzled motives, and inconsistent behaviour and values.
"Homesman" is a word having a familiar sound, but, upon cursory inspection, no actual definition. Let us say it means something close to "homesteader" or perhaps a person who might be capable of pioneering and making a home out of a wildness. This is a story apparently of two
main characters: Hillary Swank as Mary Bee Cuddy, for unknown reason coming west from a lovely life in New York, leaving her sister and a niece and nephew , to make her place in the world in flat, treeless, dusty, windy Kansas territory; and Tommy Lee Jones as George Briggs, an older fellow who's had lots of interesting experiences, knows himself and how to survive, doesn't argue with life, and pretty much takes and deals with what comes his way. Ms. Cuddy is described by a neighbor as "too damn plain and too damn bossy." I didn't think her so plain, but she was
definite, decisive, competent, didn't suffer stupidity, and outspoken, though not in a brash or nasty way, just spoke her mind, plain and simple.
The contrast between them is that she is God fearing, principled, and somewhat self righteous, whereas Briggs fears little, pays attention to his
heart and gut, and knows only he is responsible for his survival.
So here she is , out in the dusty boonies,having made a very successful life for herself, with a pretty nice neighbor who visits occasionally. They have a good neighbor relationship. Her story begins when, having this neighbor for dinner, she lays out in practical detail all the reasons they should marry. I could imagine nothing less interesting than a proposal made in this manner, with not a whit of interest evinced by the fellow, and
indeed, he tells her he plans to go East to get him a bride, leaving telling her the aforementioned description. You don't feel from her any desperation, or dampened dreams, which makes a later choice not understandable, but just think she's a bit socially inept.
The chaplain opens up the story further: there are 3 widely geographically separated women, strangers to each other, all married young, and from different cultural backgrounds, who, have for different reasons, collapsed under the harsh, love and laughter lacking living conditions, and retreated out of that reality into inner space and a kind of safety. This part of the film is the scariest; there are scenes of harsh or even brutal sexual demands from husbands, or careless and loveless treatment of family members, and just plain lack of compassion. ( One woman lost all three small children in an epidemic, one seems to have killed one of her babies, and the other lost a live-in parent.) The chaplain says they must all be picked up, transported across Indian territory and I think, the MIssissippi, and delivered to another minister in the east who can care for them. The very, very small congregation draws peas for who shall commit to this. The harshness and need for constant struggle to survive is brought in on one in this scene. And yup, you guessed who chose to make the commitment.
Here's where the story gets amusing several times, and certainly more lively: as Mary Bee gets herself together for this undertaking, she passes
her aforementioned neighbor's house who indeed, has gone East seeking a likely mate, and spots this man in his underwear, under a tree, astride a horse, with his hands tied behind his back, immobile. Looking closer, she sees he is lariated with a hangman's noose, and if his horse takes off or gets spooked, he'll hang himself, albeit unwillingly. God be praised! This is her answer, her helpmeet. I do admire her pluck. She agrees to
save his life if he will agree to do this service with her. Of course he promises anything! And, he does clean up nicely, and not only looks like a
decent guy, we find he does have a decent sense of commitment to his own word... well, pretty much.
And thus ensues many interesting adventures with 5 people, 2 mules and two horses. You can see that this stretch of time and country could be
a healing, calming, learning experience, or, worse. It turns out it's both. It is in this section of the story, that Mary Bee suddenly seems to be
broken by the experience - just suddenly. Briggs is not a cruel man, just not going to argue with survival. She still believes God will save her,
but something snaps. Perhaps you will understand it; I could not because I saw her as standing up to her decisions and desires.
Briggs thus has to continue the journey alone, or, not. He decides not, and starts off. In a charming display of trust and attachment, the "crazy"
women come after him. He just shakes his head and gives in. He must finish the expedition. Don't miss what ensues. I love his sense of
justice. They haven't eaten for three days, when they come across a Grand Hotel, apparently in the middle of nowhere, but obviously well supplied. He asks for a room for himself and the 3 women, and immediate dinner. The owner baron refuses, even after much importuning. You would think it would be a decent thing to at least let Briggs buy a nice picnic basket and be on his way, wouldn't you? But this fellow thinks himself and his enterprise above such, such, such despicable examples of humanity. What follows is delicious.
However, though Briggs makes it to the minister's home, greeted by the gracious and caring wife, and safely and caringly delivers the three young ladies, thereafter treating himself with luxurious bath, haircut, new suit ,dinner and some fun, the conclusion was not satisfying nor really understandable. It seemed like a well told but inexplicable story with no redemption, contrast of life codes, or real satisfaction, much less happiness.