HOSTILES (2018)

A legendary Native American-hating Army captain nearing retirement in 1892 is given one last assignment: to escort a Cheyenne chief and his family through dangerous territory back to his Montana reservation.
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I agree with the critic who said this was the best Western since Clint Eastwood’s UNFORGIVEN. Christian Bale puts in a masterful performance along with Rosamund Pike – not usually someone I have liked as an actor, but this role particularly suits her and she performs it well. It’s a slow-burn story that explores profound issues of redemptive forgiveness and the power it has to bring people to understand and accept each other. The cinematography is beautiful as you would expect of a western. HOSTILES will appeal mostly to those who enjoy an intelligent and reflective movie rather than one relying on action to attract its audience. It requires patience and a commitment to concentrate on its complex story but will reward those who do so. It would have been a perfect film if it had spent a little more time developing its Native characters. But despite that, it is definitely worth seeing. A great movie that will leave you thinking.