Hostiles
Retiring army Captain Joseph Blocker (Christian Bale) is ordered to accompany dying Cheyenne Chief Yellow Hawk (Wes Studi) and his family from the New Mexico fort where he is imprisoned to his native land in Montana. Blocker refuses. Yellow Hawk was responsible for the deaths of men under his command for which he holds visceral hatred. Faced with the threat of Court-martial and loss of pension, Blocker is forced to take the assignment.
On departing the fort, Blocker orders Yellow Hawk and his son, Black Hawk, shackled. On the way north they come upon a recently raided settler’s cabin. The husband is dead. They find traumatized wife and mother, Rosalie (Rosamund Pike), grieving over her dead children, she maintains are only sleeping. She joins Blocker’s party for safety.
Blocker and his men beat back a Comanche war party. Yellow Hawk convinces Blocker to unchain him and his son to fight in the next attack. The next morning they find the bodies of two Comanche. Blocker concludes it the work of Yellow Hawk and his son. Blocker arranges for Rosalie to stay at a fort they pass on their way. She decides to stay with Blocker.
Back on the trail, Rosalie, Yellow Hawk’s daughter and Black Hawk’s wife are abducted and raped by fur traders. Blocker and his men guided by Yellow Hawk and his son, track down the traders and kill them, rescuing the women.
Yellow Hawk’s condition worsens. He and Blocker make peace over their past hostilities. Reaching Montana, Yellow Hawk dies. They bury him only to have a white rancher arrive with his three sons, claiming the land for his own, he demands Blocker leave and take the body. Blocker refuses. Only he, Rosalie and Yellow Hawk’s infant grandson survive the gunfight that follows. Rosalie decides to adopt the child and move east. She and Blocker have a tearful farewell on the station platform. As the train pulls out, Blocker steps on.
Hostiles was a box office success with good if not great critical acclaim. Most plaudits went to Bale’s performance. Wes Studi says as much with his eyes as any writer hopes for with a line.
Next Week: Hang ‘em High
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
On departing the fort, Blocker orders Yellow Hawk and his son, Black Hawk, shackled. On the way north they come upon a recently raided settler’s cabin. The husband is dead. They find traumatized wife and mother, Rosalie (Rosamund Pike), grieving over her dead children, she maintains are only sleeping. She joins Blocker’s party for safety.
Blocker and his men beat back a Comanche war party. Yellow Hawk convinces Blocker to unchain him and his son to fight in the next attack. The next morning they find the bodies of two Comanche. Blocker concludes it the work of Yellow Hawk and his son. Blocker arranges for Rosalie to stay at a fort they pass on their way. She decides to stay with Blocker.
Back on the trail, Rosalie, Yellow Hawk’s daughter and Black Hawk’s wife are abducted and raped by fur traders. Blocker and his men guided by Yellow Hawk and his son, track down the traders and kill them, rescuing the women.
Yellow Hawk’s condition worsens. He and Blocker make peace over their past hostilities. Reaching Montana, Yellow Hawk dies. They bury him only to have a white rancher arrive with his three sons, claiming the land for his own, he demands Blocker leave and take the body. Blocker refuses. Only he, Rosalie and Yellow Hawk’s infant grandson survive the gunfight that follows. Rosalie decides to adopt the child and move east. She and Blocker have a tearful farewell on the station platform. As the train pulls out, Blocker steps on.
Hostiles was a box office success with good if not great critical acclaim. Most plaudits went to Bale’s performance. Wes Studi says as much with his eyes as any writer hopes for with a line.
Next Week: Hang ‘em High
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Peg
(new)
Jun 20, 2021 07:31AM
I am intrigued as I have never seen nor heard of this movie.
reply
|
flag
Peg wrote: "I am intrigued as I have never seen nor heard of this movie."Hi Peg. It is well done. Hard subject matter. Wes Studi is excellent. He spoke at a WWA convention a few years ago. A real gentleman.
Jean wrote: "Very nicely done movie. I enjoyed it."Wes Studi spoke at a Western Writers of America convention a few years ago. As fine a gentleman as he is an actor.
