Review of Legends of the Fall

America like England before us, does not possess it's own mythology. We borrow from the European, Roman and Greek. This begins and ends like an American Myth - and I mean that as a compliment. It is such a well told story. Indiscriminate in it's scope, and beautiful to look at throughout, it is hard to imagine a more finely crafted tale at an important time in our history that gives us a sense of place as a nation.

We see here so much of the contradiction in both our nature and existence. That of good intentions with unintentional consequences, deep loyalty peppered with lifelong jealousy, the desire to honor while carelessly injuring, hating what was done but loving the one who did it. Our attempts at harmony on the outside while yearning for the unattainable on the inside - are contrasted well here.

It is a masterful display of unfulfilled desire and selfishness seeking it's own satisfaction at the cost of someone else losing theirs. With this and the other film of the same year, Brad Pitt goes from star to superstar. All of the parts are well cast and well acted, with the beauty and allure of Julia Ormond as a perfect compliment. This is one of the new American classics, and I believe one of the top fifty films worth owning.

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