Jeremiah Johnson (1972)

Disapointment

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

In 1972 Robert Redford was at the height of his star power and he decided to make a film very close to his heart- Jeremiah Johnson is shot in his native Utah, in the wilderness and based on a real historical figure by the moniker of "liver eating" Johnson. Directed by his close friend Sydney Pollack this is a good film and it features one of my favorite fight sequences between the Indian gangs and Jeremiah. It is raw, realistic and very well edited. Though the ending might leave some with a feeling of something lacking, I thought this was a great effort. Redford is good as the titular character and the pacing is pretty good, if not a bit uneven.

I never include much of a plot synopses in my reviews, only that which is necessary to underscore whatever calls for a bit of back story, as that information can be found elsewhere. Instead, I concentrate on the all around artistic merit of a film and the quality of its production. In Jeremiah Johnson, I'll make a bit of an exception since it's essentially a true story, and there is so much going on that one would do well to watch it at least twice to catch all the nuances at play. Based on an amalgamation of real life people including a character named "Liver Eatin' Johnson", who ate the livers of his adversaries in keeping with THEIR customs, I will say that essentially the movie tells the story of a white man who drops from society to escape it's politics and finds himself at war with native peoples of the lands wherein he ends up. His family killed by these native peoples for having broken a sacred custom, the real Johnson, confused, scared, mad and alone goes on a vengeful spree. So worthy of an adversary was he and so fierce was his revenge, eventually it was the wily and land-savvy indigenous peoples who sought him out for a truce. This was more or less the way of it. Now on to the technicalities of the film. Pollack has always been my favorite director. His understated direction and touching scores are the stuff of legend. Perfectly lit and beautifully shot, everyone pulls their weight. Perhaps Redford's best work, you can also expect to see Will Geer at the top of his game, and Stephan Gierasch & newcomer Delle Bolton (now a novelty shop owner in the southwest) take turns stealing their scenes as well. To say this is merely a great film does it a disservice.  It's more than just great - it's quintessential. Its a must-see. The tension the viewer feels as Johnson stops cold on his mount, listening to the silence, sensing something is amiss after breaking a native custom and having quietly led a rescue party through a burial ground rivals anything in the movies today - albeit more is left to the imagination. But after all, don't we yearn for more movies wherein we are forced to contemplate plot as opposed to essentially having it all but captioned for us? See this and thank me. Along with All the President's Men and Three Days of the Condor I'd put this atop that short Redford list. Yup. It's THAT good. The evidence: within 10 minutes you forget its a nearly 50 year old film. Now you'll excuse me, I'm going to start it from the beginning and watch it again.....Enjoy!! -Jim Boerner,  [email protected]

This movie about a mountain man wouldn't be so bad if the viewer didn't have to stare at Bob Redford's expressionless mug plastered on the screen almost 100% of the time.Johnson goes up into the hills because he just doesn't like people and towns and life and other horrible things like that. It's much better for him if he doesn't have to get a job, wash everyday, or do something useful with his life. It's in the mountains where Johnson can be constructive, like when he sleeps all day, when he commits arson in the woods, and when he screams at the Rockies because he's tired of having to murder an Indian every half hour.Tediously directed by Sid Pollack, but just about every role was well-cast, except for Redford and Delle Bolten (Johnson's squaw, 'Swan').

Mexican war veteran Jeremiah Johnson (Robert Redford) is tired of the world and seeks to be a mountain man trapper. He struggles to survive until he runs into the frozen body of Hatchet Jack clutching his .50 caliber gun. It proves to be a much needed gun. Then he meets another mountain man Bear Claw (Will Geer) who takes him under his wing. He encounters Crow chief Paints-His-Shirt-Red and eventually befriends him. He runs across homesteader (Allyn Ann McLerie) and her mute son just after a Blackfeet raid. She pushes him to adopt her son whom Johnson calls Caleb. The duo go off and run across Del Gue (Stefan Gierasch) who the Blackfeet had buried up to his neck. Gue and Jeremiah find a Blackfeet camp ending up killing the Blackfeet. Jeremiah is disgusted with Gue taking scalps. The group meets Flathead indians who are in awe of Jeremiah. They assume he killed their enemy Blackfeet to avenge the crazy white woman of big medicine when they see the scalps. When he gives them the scalps and the Blackfoot ponies, the chief needs to give an even greater gift, his daughter Swan. Gue leaves them and Jeremiah is saddled with a son and wife neither of which he wanted. They eventually become a family with a cabin. Then the US Cavalry convinces Jeremiah to search for a wagon train. They go through a sacred Crow burial ground despite Jeremiah's objection. The Crow slaughters Caleb and Swan which sets off a long running quest for revenge.Coming at a time of disenchantment, the public was ready to run away and rediscover America. At first glance, Robert Redford seems too refined for a mountain man role. However even Jeremiah didn't start out as a mountain man. Redford can slowly transition into a more rugged character. Sadly in the end, he fails to get to the truly insane mountain man character. He just doesn't have that in him.The movie moves a little too slowly at times. Director Sydney Pollack could have tighten up the pacing a bit. There's a more melodic feel coming from this movie. It's not really the same as a Clint Eastwood and Sam Peckinpah western. I would expect that version would be more brutal. That may be a good idea for a remake.