Ride With the Devil (1999)

 

During the American Civil War, two friends join the Bushwhackers, a militant group loyal to the Confederacy. 

Excellently and beautifully directed Western with an excellent cast takes its time to analyze the causes and effects of war, but somehow fails to make a lasting impact due to a lack of focus on its agenda. 

Halliwell**: "Dour, beautifully photographed semi-western, a harsh drama of idealism corrupted and redeemed; it ably shows the futility of war, as both sides commit atrocities and betrayals, but might have benefitted from a maturer point of view than that of its youthful participants."

Maltin**1/2: "Interesting subject matter is diffused by overlong, sometimes unfocused treatment, though the time and place are well drawn. Pop singer Jewel makes an impressive acting debut." 

 

The Ides of March (2011)

An idealistic staffer for a new presidential candidate gets a crash course on dirty politics during his stint on the campaign trail.

A biting, but not very original look at US election politics is mainly watchable for its first-rate cast and good direction.

Maltin**: "Purported inside look at backroom politics covers awfully familiar ground and offers no real surprises; with a cast of this caliber it's easy to take but still doesn't add up to much."

Hold the Dark (2018)

After the deaths of three children suspected to be killed by wolves, a writer is hired by the mother of a missing six-year-old boy to track down and locate their son in the Alaskan wilderness.

Atmospherically dark and violent drama with great landscape cinematography and excellent cast ultimately disappoints by refusing to give any explanation or sense to what's going on.

After reading the book that does deliver more explanation to the plot and motives of the protagonists and rewatching the movie it is obvious that it was deliberately made to leave the audience puzzled.

Hold the Dark (2018)

After the deaths of three children suspected to be killed by wolves, a writer is hired by the mother of a missing six-year-old boy to track down and locate their son in the Alaskan wilderness.

Atmospherically dark and violent drama with great landscape cinematography and excellent cast ultimately disappoints by refusing to give any explanation or sense to what's going on.