Evengyny
Thanks for the memories!
Voxitype
Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.
Erica Derrick
By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.
hrkepler
'The Hired Hand' is one of those vastly underrated films that anyone have barely heard of. That's pity. Gorgeous cinematography by Vilmos Zsigmond and mesmerizing score by Bruce Langhorne, company this poetic and elegiac study of loneliness and loyalty, abandonment and reunification to a whole new level for westerns. 'The Hired Hand' is seemingly thin and too straightforward on plot, but here the main focus lays in human relationships. Slow burning story feels almost like meditation. There are some shooting (bloody ones), but these scenes don't stand out compared to the rest of the movie and keep the balance and flow natural and smooth. That doesn't mean these are boring scenes - no, these are pretty tense moments. Probably much more realistic depiction of the wild west than some popular and more action packed westerns have managed. The story is simple, but characters who carry it are deep and complex.It was directorial debut for Peter Fonda, and he proved he had an eye for directing job. Unfortunately after that he only directed two movies that are mediocre and obscure. Fonda also gives one of his best acting jobs here as young but life experienced drifter Harry Collings. His performance really emanates feelings and passion. His chemistry with Warren Oates feels natural and there is real friendship and bondage between the two saddle tramps. When Harry returns back home to his wife Hannah (Verna Bloom) the film threatens to turn into sappy melodrama for the second there, but again manages to keep its realistic portrayal of human relationship. Here one can't go without mentioning Verna Bloom's subtle, but never cold performance as an estranged wife.'The Hired Hand' is a film where little is spoken, but much is said. Hard to find and rarely shown western that is must see for everyone with serious interest in cinema. The label 'hippie western' is meant as mocking, but don't fall for that. 'The Hired Hand' is much more visceral and acid than most of the self proclaimed acid westerns.
Wuchak
Released in 1971, "The Hired Hand" was Peter Fonda's first stab at directing (he only directed two more films). The story involves Fonda going back to his wife and homestead after several years absence; he brings his buddy Warren Oates along with him. His wife, Verna Bloom, isn't so interested anymore with being his wife (and who can blame her?) so she hires him and Oates on as ranch hands, hence "The Hired Hand." Speaking of Verna Bloom, she's not made out to be very attractive in the film; she just comes across rather bland and plain. One could argue, of course, that this adds to the realism of the picture; after all, would you likely catch a bodacious goddess living alone in the Western wilderness for very long? I only bring this up because Verna appears one year later in Clint Eastwood's "High Plains Drifter," wherein it is revealed that she is actually quite a fair-looking woman. Who knows, perhaps it's simply because she has her hair down in the latter film.In any event, "The Hired Hand" is a quiet, highly believable picture that boldly sneers at Western film conventions. Yes, you'll see a couple of gun fights, but they're realistic in tone and unconventional to the Western genre.This may make the film boring to some, but not to me. Truth be known, I like a variety of Westerns, everything from "Shane" to "The Missing" and everything in between. The only Westerns I don't like are ones that have that goofy, unrealistic vibe, like some spaghetti Westerns (I'm not talking about Western comedies here; I love "The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox")."The Hired Hand" probably won't blow you away or anything; it's a low-key, adult-oriented film. I saw it last December for the first time and, somehow, various sequences have just stayed with me; like they're burnt into my psyche. It's somewhat haunting. If this sounds like your cup of tea, don't miss out.The film runs 90 minutes and was shot in northern New Mexico (Cabezon, Chama & Santa Fe). GRADE: B-
zetes
Peter Fonda directs and stars in this small Western. He and Warren Oates play wanderers who lose their companion to an accidental shooting. They get revenge on the shooter by shooting him in the feet and then try to retire on Fonda's ranch of Fonda's ex-wife (Verna Bloom). Fonda hasn't seen the woman in a decade or so, and at first agrees to pretend to be a stranger to their young daughter. Unfortunately for him, it turns out Bloom has been something of a slut in the intervening years, taking her hired hands as lovers. Now she's starting to make eyes at Oates. So Fonda asserts his manliness and rejoins the family for good. Everything goes to Hell when the man they shot in the feet finds them. The story's pretty thin, but not bad. It has several very impressive elements, though. Fonda's direction is surprisingly fine. He would go on to direct two more films, neither of which are well regarded, but he showed a lot of promise here. I especially love his use of cross-fades and still frames. Okay, that's probably somewhat due to the editor, but Fonda had to have a say in that. It effects the film's mood too much to be due to just the editor. The cinematography (by Vilmos Zsigmund, who also photographed Altman's McCabe and Mrs. Miller the same year) is beautiful, and the mournful guitar score (by Bruce Langhorne) is achingly gorgeous.
rwint1611
THE PLOT: A cowboy (Fonda) decides to go back and work for the wife that he left several years before.THE POSITIVE: The cinematography and camera work is outstanding as well as the editing. There are a few angles and shots here that I haven't seen done anywhere else. The soundtrack is also excellent and helps create a real nice moody feel to a presentation that has a very good gritty and realistic look. The shootouts and especially the death scenes stand out the most and raise this up a few notches from the standard western. Verna Bloom is a great choice for the hard living and vanquished wife. Her plain face and weathered complexion looks like something one would realistically find in that environment and time period.THE NEGATIVE: The impressive camera work and elaborate presentation belie the fact that the story really isn't much. The plot is very thin and filled with a lot of elements that you can find in any western. The characters needed to be fleshed out a lot more and the pace is too leisurely. It is great to see eccentric character actor Severn Darden cast as the bad guy, but he needed to be given a lot more screen time.THE LOWDOWN: The production as a whole is excellent with a nice evocative style that draws you in and really holds your attention. Unfortunately the story is too routine and not profound enough to allow the movie to stand out anymore than it does.THE RATING: 6 out of 10.
