'The Salvation' is a Warner Bros Western, that is filmed in South Africa, with European actors, and a strong Danish input, which captures well the central themes of traditional Westerns.
Film opens at a train station where we meet two Danish brothers, one played by Mads Mikkelsen, the other by Mikael Persbrandt, who looks a bit like Kevin Costner, or even Lee Van Cleef! Very strong performances are given by the two Danish actors!
We quickly move to the start of a stage-coach journey, that starts with great foreboding. Modern-day commuters and travellers, trapped in confined spaces, will empathize, as the suspense and tension builds.
This film is rated a 15 in the UK for strong violence. Very strong in fact! The violence is bloody, brutal, and grim! It also makes disturbing and uncomfortable viewing.
The two brothers have lived in the USA for a number of years. Thus through them, and others, we get the impression of a growing country expanding westwards with incoming immigrants. John Ford was always careful to populate his Wild West with 'Swede Larson' types of immigrants, reflecting reality, so this film fits in well with that vision.
John Ford famously, often filmed in Monument Valley. 'The Salvation' gives us a similar look with the location shooting that was actually filmed in South Africa. There are the same strong colours that we associate with the traditional classic Western, but there are also weather extremes, no doubt reflecting reality too. Homage is also paid to those old classics too, in some shots, but done discreetly though.
The supporting cast is universally good. Jeffrey Dean Morgan plays well the part of Delarue, one of the nastiest characters to inhabit the West, and Westerns. Eva Green wows in a strong female role, and Glaswegian Douglas Henshall, and the ever-reliable Jonathon Pryce, also fill-out believable characters. Finally, giving us the cream on the cake, is Eric Cantona. Familiar to the British for his long career in the UK, before he turned to the silver-screen, we now see him most often in an entertaining little beer ad. Here, in 'The Salvation', Mr Cantona in a part so small that it is almost a cameo, is able to give some authenticity to this period-drama.
Historical note: The film is described as being set in the Wild West of the 1870's. Thus this is after the American Civil War of 1861- 1865. It is also after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. However this is not very important at all, as European politics do not intrude into the story of this Danish Western, except as the merest of a sub-text.
It is a rare treat to get a Western these days, however if you are a fan of this genre, and as long as you have a strong stomach for the disturbing and violent scenes, then you will appreciate this Western film. 10/10.
Film opens at a train station where we meet two Danish brothers, one played by Mads Mikkelsen, the other by Mikael Persbrandt, who looks a bit like Kevin Costner, or even Lee Van Cleef! Very strong performances are given by the two Danish actors!
We quickly move to the start of a stage-coach journey, that starts with great foreboding. Modern-day commuters and travellers, trapped in confined spaces, will empathize, as the suspense and tension builds.
This film is rated a 15 in the UK for strong violence. Very strong in fact! The violence is bloody, brutal, and grim! It also makes disturbing and uncomfortable viewing.
The two brothers have lived in the USA for a number of years. Thus through them, and others, we get the impression of a growing country expanding westwards with incoming immigrants. John Ford was always careful to populate his Wild West with 'Swede Larson' types of immigrants, reflecting reality, so this film fits in well with that vision.
John Ford famously, often filmed in Monument Valley. 'The Salvation' gives us a similar look with the location shooting that was actually filmed in South Africa. There are the same strong colours that we associate with the traditional classic Western, but there are also weather extremes, no doubt reflecting reality too. Homage is also paid to those old classics too, in some shots, but done discreetly though.
The supporting cast is universally good. Jeffrey Dean Morgan plays well the part of Delarue, one of the nastiest characters to inhabit the West, and Westerns. Eva Green wows in a strong female role, and Glaswegian Douglas Henshall, and the ever-reliable Jonathon Pryce, also fill-out believable characters. Finally, giving us the cream on the cake, is Eric Cantona. Familiar to the British for his long career in the UK, before he turned to the silver-screen, we now see him most often in an entertaining little beer ad. Here, in 'The Salvation', Mr Cantona in a part so small that it is almost a cameo, is able to give some authenticity to this period-drama.
Historical note: The film is described as being set in the Wild West of the 1870's. Thus this is after the American Civil War of 1861- 1865. It is also after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. However this is not very important at all, as European politics do not intrude into the story of this Danish Western, except as the merest of a sub-text.
It is a rare treat to get a Western these days, however if you are a fan of this genre, and as long as you have a strong stomach for the disturbing and violent scenes, then you will appreciate this Western film. 10/10.