On Swift Horses
Just finished watching "On Swift Horses" released by Sony Pictures Classics.
"On Swift Horses" is based on the novel of the same name by Shannon Pufahl. It's supposed to be grand sweeping romantic movie that Hollywood used to make during its golden age, yet it falls extremely far from that ideal goal of a movie made in yesteryear's traditions. It did bomb at the box office.
The premise of "On Swift Horses" is that Muriel and her husband Lee are beginning a bright new life in California following his return from the Korean War, which is upended by the arrival of Lee's charismatic younger brother, Julius. Lee is keen for the three of them to build a new life together in San Diego, but Julius decides to travel to Las Vegas instead, where he finds employment in a casino and meets Henry, a male co-worker. Julius and Henry fall in love and the two men begin a secret romantic relationship, including living together in a motel room. Meanwhile, Muriel embarks on a secret life of her own back in California, gambling on racehorses and discovering a love she never thought possible after meeting a female neighbor, Sandra.
Rather curious thing about Lee is that he is a standout guy who gets burned by Muriel because she can't be honest with home about her desire not to get married and sell her family home to begin a new life. His brother Julius is no better than Muriel.
"On Swift Horses" casts Lee as the unwitting villain of the story because he has dreams and goals for a normal life and does the hard work in trying to have a good life he envisions for himself and Muriel. At least Muriel leaves a letter of apology to Lee and a good portion of her illicit racetrack winnings so that he can try to rebuild his life somewhere else.
It's a very disjointed movie that is trying to be a great old school romantic epic, which it is not. It's trying to be a manifesto about being true to yourself while lying to others - even if you're having gay affairs with them.
Not Recommended.
One Star for accurately portraying life in the late 1950s.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FBZ9BKQQ?...
"On Swift Horses" is based on the novel of the same name by Shannon Pufahl. It's supposed to be grand sweeping romantic movie that Hollywood used to make during its golden age, yet it falls extremely far from that ideal goal of a movie made in yesteryear's traditions. It did bomb at the box office.
The premise of "On Swift Horses" is that Muriel and her husband Lee are beginning a bright new life in California following his return from the Korean War, which is upended by the arrival of Lee's charismatic younger brother, Julius. Lee is keen for the three of them to build a new life together in San Diego, but Julius decides to travel to Las Vegas instead, where he finds employment in a casino and meets Henry, a male co-worker. Julius and Henry fall in love and the two men begin a secret romantic relationship, including living together in a motel room. Meanwhile, Muriel embarks on a secret life of her own back in California, gambling on racehorses and discovering a love she never thought possible after meeting a female neighbor, Sandra.
Rather curious thing about Lee is that he is a standout guy who gets burned by Muriel because she can't be honest with home about her desire not to get married and sell her family home to begin a new life. His brother Julius is no better than Muriel.
"On Swift Horses" casts Lee as the unwitting villain of the story because he has dreams and goals for a normal life and does the hard work in trying to have a good life he envisions for himself and Muriel. At least Muriel leaves a letter of apology to Lee and a good portion of her illicit racetrack winnings so that he can try to rebuild his life somewhere else.
It's a very disjointed movie that is trying to be a great old school romantic epic, which it is not. It's trying to be a manifesto about being true to yourself while lying to others - even if you're having gay affairs with them.
Not Recommended.
One Star for accurately portraying life in the late 1950s.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FBZ9BKQQ?...
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