Sacred Ground

Do you want to feel the _real_ old West? "Sacred Ground" will show part of it to you. It is very much like being there. The characters are not posing or becoming legends. They are living on the screen.

I don't care in this instance that the story and ending are only so-so... unusual but not deep. I rated this film a _9_ based upon: 1) almost perfect acting during 3/4 of the film; 2) authentic and beautiful outdoor location scenes; 3) worthwhile costumes; 4) very believable indoor sets; and 5) everything else being at least adequate. In the collision between European Americans and American Indians, this movie shows human values with more depth than "Little Big Man" or "Cheyenne Autumn." While they are struggling desperately in conflict, neither is given too much nobility nor too much shallowness. Who is the "hero" and who is wrong tends to shift organically as decisions pile up through time....more authentic even than some great movies like "High Noon" with Gary Cooper. ...... The editing tells the odd tale almost seamlessly with just a few glitches. One or two minor moments of "huh?" happen in the plot.

Actor Tim McIntire lived several years in the wilds of Montana before electricity arrived. It seemed he was on "familiar ground" and not just "making a movie."