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| Movie Review: September Dawn Alternate Title: Horace Greeley Gave Bad Advice
Story: The Massacre by Mormons
of 120 innocent men women and children as they were headed to California
through Utah at Mountain Meadows on September 11, 1857 was a dark day
in American history. It is a great story that needs to be told but sadly
this is not the movie to tell it. Director and writer Christopher
Cain along with co-writer Carole Whang Schutter
have created one fine mess of a movie. If you don't have a clue as to Mormon history
you will not be any more illuminated via this vehicle. Flashbacks try
to fill you in on why these Mormons were so angry at these passers-by
but it is poorly depicted, wildly non-linear and essentially laughable.
As if the true story were nod enough fodder for
the script writers they threw in a cockamamie love story that makes
you want to puke. Needless to say, the Mormon community is not supportive
of this film. The depiction of the actual massacre is exploitive and
chilling. The cover up would also have made a good story but is sketchy
at best. My advice is to buy Jon Krakauer's
amazing book Under the banner of Heaven and you will learn
much more about the Mormon community including this massacre. For more about what really happened at Mountain Meadows check out this
site. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Meadows_massacre. A different
account comes from Mormon Wiki, a free encyclopedia about Mormons written
from the perspective of faithful members. http://www.mormonwiki.com/mormonism/Mountain_Meadows_massacre Acting: Jon Voight as the fanatical
follower of Brigham Young looks as if he is on crack. Terrence
Stamp as Brigham Young reminded me of Captain Ahab. Trent
Ford and Tamara Hope are the adoring young
couple. Jon Gries, Taylor Handley, Lolita Davidovich, Shaun
Johnston, Dean Cain (son of the director) all do the best
they can with their one dimensional roles.
Predilection: I loved reading Jon Krakauer's book
Under the banner of Heaven and I watch Big Love on
HBO.
Critters: Cattle and horses.
Food: Campfire stuff.
Sex Spectrum: Sex? Stop it! Even with polygamy, there
is no sex.
Blatant Product Placement: The Mormon Church would
have probably paid to have their names not be in this film.
Theater Audience: About 20 men most of whom were
making strange noises while eating their popcorn and drinking their
humongous sized sodas.
Weather: Utah is fine in the summer.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: 5 This film was very violent.
Drift Factor: I looked at my watch too many times.
Predictability Level: High
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: Good grief, no.
Big Screen or Rental: Neither. read a book.
Length: Too long however long it was.
LOBO HOWLS: 2
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