James Caan always had the soul of an artist, which he at times struggled to reconcile with the lure of being a big star. This is one for the art column: Claude Lelouch (A Man and a Woman) makes a film in the US, with Caan in the lead. It's mostly in English but has a lot in French. Genevieve Bujold comes out West with her photographer husband; Caan has a ranch with his pregnant wife. Both spouses wind up killed but not until an hour in, so their deaths mean something.
It's nicely shot, full of long takes, and devotes plenty of time to its star. Caan loved making it. I actually enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. I was at first reluctant, with its present day opening and scenes in 1870 Paris. But then I got in its rhythms. It's a little like McCabe and Mrs Miller - not a lot but a little - in that it sort of ambles but then there's this outburst of violence. Like we see Caan work, and talk with his wife, and go to town, and kiss, and argue and hang out... then she's raped and killed. and Bujold and her husband travel, and set up shop, and work as a photographer... then he's killed.
Bujold's husband is the most interesting character - someone trying to make it as a new profession. Caan is very good as a vet/cowboy who tries to be a decent person - he is touching in pursuit of Bujold Bujold is beautiful but doesn't seem to have much of a character. There's nice scenes between Caan and his son - Caan dumps him with Susan Tyrell's school teacher but stays in touch a lot.
I dont think this is a classic and can see why it wasn't a hit but it was engaging.
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