User reviews

I have enjoyed watching the film a number of times during several periods of my life and, as time goes by, I believe that it is gaining the general recognition it deserves! This is an epic drama about people dealing with personal demons within an amazing western scenery at the beginning of the 20th century in Western America. Everyone, including the father, the 3 sons and the "girl" is trying to heal the wounds inside. Tristan, the protagonist, is a wild spirit playing with fire, unable to form attachments for long. There is a constant battle going on inside him (between life and death, love and rage, passion and ethics, the visible and the invisible) affecting everyone around him. I would like to emphasize a point that I haven't read in other reviews: the boys' mother, even though hardly appearing on screen, has a key-role in the story: she practically abandons her husband and three sons, staying detached all the way, not even coming back for some major family events (funerals-weddings-births)! Such an abandonment causes tremendous emotional pain, relationship issues and deep trauma to everyone. The brothers are antagonistic, trying desperately to find their place in the world and prove their worth, one way or another: fighting at the war, excelling in politics, winning a woman's love and more! Tristan's magnetism seems to be so great that everyone (including us, watching) is willing to accept almost anything from him. He's something like a Sun for the women who loved him - they couldn't take their eyes off him, and we all know what happens when you stare at the sun... Does love conquer all? Sometimes yes, sometimes no... The movie is at times becoming overly dramatic, but I love it whatsoever. In my humble opinion, this is not a superficial soap opera - if you can read between the lines, there is a great analysis that can be done... Acting and cinematography are superb!

...but I must admit that I loved Legends of the fall. I understand that some people think it's corny and too romantic but if you like epic dramas this is the movie for you.

Reasons to see the movie: - Great acting. Anthony Hopkins makes a classic role as the US army officer gone anarchist father. Brad Pitt is perfect in the role as the wild one with an indian "stepfather". Aidan Quinn makes another great performance, and Julia Ormond is very good as the (tragic) woman they all long for. - The scenery. Magic. I want to have a farm in Montana! - The camera work. - The story. I guess I am a sucker for epic dramas. - A number of very, very good scenes. - The movie is a kick in the nuts to "civilized life" and state affairs. - The anarchistic attitude. - The character Tristan Ludlow. - The character William Ludlow. - The emotional ride.

Reasons to NOT see the movie: - You will be called a pathetic romantic if you like it. And you will most probably like it...

I have to say that the Oscar winning cinematography just blew me away in Legends Of The Fall. With British Columbia standing in for Montana of the early 20th century it's not called The Big Sky country for nothing. My guess though is Montana now is a bit too developed now to get the proper feel for atmosphere in which Anthony Hopkins raised his three boys all of whom turned out quite different.

The three sons in Legends Of The Fall are Aidan Quinn, Brad Pitt, and Henry Thomas chronologically. Quinn is the solid and reliable eldest who becomes one of Montana's Representatives in Congress. They usually had and still have only two of them. Henry Thomas can't get out from under being the baby of the family. The other two are constantly looking out for him.

It's Brad Pitt as the middle son who is our brooding protagonist and the closest thing Pitt ever did on screen as a romantic idol. Brad's like something out of one of those romance novels.

The brothers start showing their differences when Henry Thomas brings home Julia Ormond as his intended bride. She gets all their hormones in overdrive and when Thomas fails to return from World War I the rivalry between Pitt and Quinn drives the rest of the film.

Anthony Hopkins who served in the Indian wars in the cavalry was disillusioned by said conflicts and built his own empire where the native Indians share in its bounty. His kids however grew up in the era of Theodore Roosevelt where you answered your country's call no matter what. And like TR all three Ludlow boys are imbued with the idealism of the Allied cause. All three go to Canada and enlist in their army and defy their father. It all becomes a Greek tragedy of sorts in the end.

The Oscar winning cinematography is just breathtaking. The vastness of God's earth will dazzle the viewer and you might become an instant conservationist. Legends Of The Fall also won an Oscar for Art&Set Design which is also wonderful and I think that TR's Sagamore Hill might have been a model used.

Sad though that Hopkins, Pitt, Quinn, and Ormond got no Oscar recognition for this film. Even watching it on television without the big screen Legends Of The Fall still blows me away.

I watch a lot of movies & I can't remember the last time a film held me so spellbound. Not only are the characters engaging & vividly portrayed by an excellent cast, the subtle dynamics of their interactions are portrayed with inspired undertone & nuance. Star billing or even an Oscar should also have been awarded to the spectacularly beautiful scenery of Montana for the vast majesty it bestowed.

This complex saga of love, grief & loyalty is narrated with stark simplicity by old Stab, long-time friend to retired Colonel Ludlow & his 3 sons: staid Alfred, the eldest ("old even for his years"); idealistic Samuel, the youngest ("There was nothing these brothers would not do for him."); & wild Tristan ("Such people become crazy or they become legends."). The conflict between Ludlow's fiercely anti-government anti-war stance & his sons' determination to do what they see as their duty is but a small part of the story; the heart of the tale is the rift that threatens the mutual devotion of these 3 loyal brothers as they all come to love the same woman. "She was not to blame," Stab tells us, "She was like the ice that freezes in the rock and splits it apart."

A tragic tale, yes; heartbreaking at times, but never boring. Every time I felt certain I knew what was coming next, the plot took another unexpected turn & I sat there riveted, softly breathing "Wow!" now & again into the darkness. This film immediately became one of my all-time favorites; I've watched it half a dozen times since then & its scope & power never fail to move me.

The raw passion of this movie is enough to make any serious movie enthusiast weep. I honestly can't believe this movie was not nominated for about 8 or 10 Academy awards. It also baffles me that some people think this was Anthony Hopkins worst portrayal. He was absolutely brilliant in this, as was Brad Pitt. THIS was the movie that made me take a look at Pitt and see that he's more than just a pretty face. After watching this, he became, and is still to this day, my favorite actor. In this movie he was rustic, yet thoughtful. He was strong and vulnerable. He had a great love for family(especially his father) and for a woman he knew should not be his. This film a true epic with history, talent, superior cinematography, and most of all(and what many movies of today lack).. closure.

Watch and wonder

I can't believe the bad reviews Legends of the Fall got when it was released. This would have to be one of the best movies around. Everything from the acting to the directing was brilliant and the scenery was breathtaking.

Anthony Hopkins gave another knockout performance as Colonel Ludlow and Brad Pitt was brilliant as Tristan.Aidan Quinn, Henry Thomas and Julia Ormond were perfectly cast as Alfred, Samuel and Susanna.

The one thing I liked most about this movie was the ending - which I won't spoil. It is rare when watching a movie, you cannot pick the ending. The ending to this movie was so amazing, and the fact that it wasn't obvious what was going to happen made this movie more enjoyable.

James Horner is a master. Just like he did with Titanic, the score for Legends of the Fall took the movie to another level.

Normally love dramas don't interest me, since I find them boring and predictable. This film, while being more than "just" a good love drama, really impressed me. Many of the scenes are quite visually beautiful, some in cinematography, others in content. As a love drama, it's moving, and at times almost poetically beautiful. It involves three men, brothers, who are all in love with the same woman. She has a relationship with each of them, but ultimately realizes that she only loves one of them. The plot is very good, and evolves at the right pace for this type of story. Not terribly fast, but never stands still either. The actors all portray their respective characters well, nearly all of them giving a perfect performance. Anthony Hopkins is great, as always. There was not really anything in this movie that disappointed me. The ending scene involves some of the best cinematography I've ever seen. There is a very emotional scene near the end which is also one of the most visually beautiful I've ever seen in a movie. I recommend this to most fans of love dramas, and, to a lesser extent, fans of war dramas. 8/10

This movie really had the ability to take me away from the here and now. I loved the important principles portrayed in this movie and the realistic personalities of all the actors. The storyline hit me deep and I can consider this movie to have one of the most touching stories I have ever seen on screen.

John Toll's photography naturally won an Oscar for rendering the scenic backdrop for this long, leisurely film of a short book which follows the same narrative arc as 'Giant' and 'Ice Palace'.

It does for The Great War what 'Shenandoah' did for the Civil War with Anthony Hopkins playing the stern pacifist patriarch that James Stewart had played in the earlier film.

There are many things you can say about this movie. Many people would say it's both full of clichés and too dramatic plot(s). But I have never caught the point in these kind of critics. If a story is a bit used up and filled with clichés, why does it have to be mocked? Such films as Pearl Harbor, Titanic etc., are a bit over the top, but I honestly think that Legends of the Fall contains so many qualities that it deserve the credit it deserves. All along the film, we follow the life and times of the Ludlow family living in Northern USA in the late 1800's and early 1900's. It is always well balanced between ingeniousness and cliché. Just a few times this line is crossed (thereby 9, not 10 points), and in the end, you're left with a good feeling, 'cause this is really a "feel-good movie". If romance, action and intrigues are your thing, I can absolutely recommend this, 'cause every time I see it I'm deeply touched.

Legends of the Fall (1994)

This movie looks and feels good, and it goes far. However...

It ends up being an overblown, simplistic epic sprawl, redeemed by Brad Pitt. It is filled with scenes of high drama, and some of them are truly moving—mostly sad and tragic. But there is a long string of clichés here, as if real human depth is reached through excess and borrowed ideas.

The war scenes (WWI) are so fake it's painful. Yes, there are bombs and terrific lighting, but the acting, and the reactions to fighting and dying, are stripped of any truth and honesty. Likewise, the conflicts between the brothers are oversimplified, and the one young woman in the movie, the siren, is admirable (and the actress is terrific) but so symbolic it's just pure sexism.

Anthony Hopkins plays the patriarch of this family with three sons and this newcomer woman. The local Native Americans add a "Dances with Wolves" element that sometimes is a relief from the overdone drama, but often it too fulfills clichés. WWI intervenes. More clichés.

Okay, I hated this movie and yet—trying hard—I liked the look of it. The director, relatively inexperienced Edward Zwick, seems to know movies better than life. It reminds me (in this way among others) of "Shawshank Redemption" which I also found filled with simplistic solutions to interesting human problems. (I'm sure this will get some thumbs downs for this review—go for it.)

Put it like this—if you like sentiment, if you like to feel more than think (which is not a bad thing), and if you don't really analyze movies but prefer to just experience them uncritically, this might really be a moving and terrific experience. And Brad Pitt is terrific.

Final note—the music is overbearing. I suppose this fits the grandiose themes overall, but it was so saccharine and heavy it pushes the emotional aspects very hard. Hey, look, this is an emotional film and filled with heartache and unbelievable tragedy. If you can turn a blind eye to all the contrivances that make it happen, you'll be okay. If not, run fast.

A MacGuffin is an object that the characters value and that drives the plot, but the specific nature of the object is not important. In some movies, the nature of the MacGuffin is never explained to the audience. In thrillers, that can work. In human-relationship dramas, not so much.

Writers Shilliday and Witliff create Susanna (Ormond) as a human MacGuffin. She is beautiful; end of story. No back story, no motivations, no personality, nothing.

The fact that a cardboard cutout could alter the courses of their lives made me lose interest in the characters of the three brothers, and when Susanna was finally removed from the story line, I was still wondering whether the audience was supposed to care.

20% visual delight; 80% irritating script.

I absolutely loved the movie, it's the second time I'm seeing it and I'm glad I did, because I love epic dramas...and this one well, not only did it have a great and an original storyline, it had a great cast also. But my favorite had to be Brad Pitt, his performance was engaging and I couldn't take my eyes off the screen, because I simply was fascinated by the way the story was constructed. I've read a few comments made here...and this film is everything but predictable. It has so many twists and turns that it just keeps you wondering until the end...where you feel like you've watched the film to its fullest and there's no more stories left untold, that's what I look for in a good film. Even though the story was tragic, it was a story of love, loyalty and family. I give it a 9/10...if you haven't seen this movie yet...SEE IT! You'll love it, even if you don't fancy Brad Pitt.

Dispite some of the reviews, i think this film is one of the best ever made. i have seen it a hundred times. the sweeping score, the Montana backdrop and the plot are just some of the things that make this film great. i would recommend everyone to see, although not everyone will like what they see as it requires a certain taste. 11/10

I am born in 85, so all the great movies, all the big old names, all amazing and spectacular and Titanic which was my best film ever and remained for so many years, just dropped to second place because of the Legends of the Fall. I cannot believe nobody told me ever about this movie, why??? Such a shame is rated only 7.5/10, it should be 15 out of 10

A really good film. Basically a melodrama. Repeat, MELOdrama. Hollywood used to churn out this sort of film all the time with no apologies. OK, many of them seem corny now, but why do people think that every movie made has to be stark realism?

I was tremendously impressed with Brad Pitt's performance. (I'm a guy, so I mean that, and am not swooning over his looks). I had never seen him in anything before, and had barely heard of him. Anthony Hopkins was, as always, fantastic. In fact every single actor hit every single note with the possible exception of Henry Thomas. One of Aidan Quinn's best films, also. The photography of Alberta is magnificent, and I think no one can begrudge LOTF its cinematography Oscar.

The film makers have an excuse for the occasional credibility lapse, in that there is a story frame, the recollections of One Stab, the old Cree. This covers things like Susannah falling for Samuel, who seemed to be an empty suit, Tristan keeping his long hair while in the British Army, etc. Excellent performance by Gordon Tootoosis, by the way, although his manner of speaking is very reminiscent of Chief Dan George.

I highly recommend this film, if you can watch it without trying to dislike it.

Col. William Ludlow (Anthony Hopkins) hoped to escape the world to live in Montana. He would raise 3 sons Alfred (Aidan Quinn), Samuel (Henry Thomas), and Tristan (Brad Pitt) in an idyllic life. However, the first World War and the arrival of Samuel's girl Susannah Fincannon (Julia Ormond) would put a strain in all their lives.

It's very grand. It's a little too grand. It's too literary. There are great actors here. But even they can't elevate it beyond melodrama. Maybe they participated in overacting especially Brad Pitt. There is no time for subtlety. The landscape vistas are majestic. The music is sweeping. The emotions are big. The betrayals are epic. The losses are unimaginable. The journeys are soul wrenching.

It may be impossible to do otherwise with the material. But I like to see it tried with a bit more restraint.

One of my all time movies. Watched it more than 10 times and each time the pain and emotions from the movie is agonizing. Must watch!

Do stories like these find Brad Pitt or does Brad Pitt find these stories? The answer is neither - stories like these are MADE for him. This review, however, is not about him or his acting.

Cinema lovers may love a film for its comedy, for it's perspectives, for its drama or lack thereof.. For many, like me, it's how I'm forced to find a melancholic beauty in sadness, a rare but quick respite from our own. Legends of the Fall is poetry weaved into passionate storytelling - the look into the lives of one family, with one in particular, set at the backdrop of beautiful Montana.. A drama of epic proportions with those characters, the scenes, the screenplay.

All of us react to emotion differently, some harder than most, some, not much. You'll find this movie over dramatised if you fall in the latter. I watched this 12 years ago & it stayed with me long enough to leave a review now. if you're like me, and if you haven't watched this, you are in for a visual & passionate treat.

This Movie is Enormous. An Epic and Sprawling Scenario Designed to Elicit Awe and Emotion. Brad Pitt is Intentionally Photographed Like a Thing of Beauty While His Wild Nature is Forever Drawing Him to Conflict and Danger. "There are animals here you can't find in books, and I've killed them all."

This Type of Overwrought Dialog Proliferates the Narration and can Bring Forth Unintended Laughter. The Acting too, At Times, can Do the Same if You have not Become Fully Engaged in the Melodrama. Anthony Hopkins, Post Stroke, is so Over-the Top, the Tragic Situations are Almost Lost in the Silliness.

This is a Film that Divides Audiences. It's the Stuff of those Weighty Romance Novels with Bare Chested Hunks with Long Flowing Hair Given Wanting and Adulterous Looks from Females Below. It's a Beautiful Looking Movie with Postcard Images Capturing the Moment in Pristine Wonder.

The Musical Score is Just as Stirring and Just as Overblown. It, along with the Aforementioned Scenery can do Nothing but Captivate. It's the Nature of the Beast and is Used Here for Maximum Effect.

The Long and Winding Road of the Story is Rich with Human Melodrama and Depending on One's Point of View, is Either Ecstasy or Excruciating. Be Prepared for Heartstrings Being Pulled and for the Mind to Boggle. Overall, it is Nothing if Not for Lack of Trying and in the End it Probably Tried Too Hard.

When I first saw the movie poster and the actors that was involved, I was expecting a pretty good story. In that department I was disappointed, it's basically a narrow love story that is cliché and very formulaic. The constant emotional or dramatic music that plays in almost every scene starts to get annoying after a while as well. The main highlight of this film is the young Brad Pitt and the makers of this movie knows this as well, and not because his character stood out or anything. But because it's the type of movie where the handsome man rides in with his horse and gets the female audiences to drool. The movie is basically about three brothers falling for the same girl and all the drama that goes with it. The story is also very slow moving and gets tedious after a while, I enjoy some romance movie but I can't really say I really enjoyed this one all that much. The pacing is awkward like some scenes were cut due to length, so I assume the book to probably be better. Some critics claim this movie is poetic, but I just found it mostly corny.

5.5/10