Rain interfered with Studly Doright’s Sunday golf game, so he took me to brunch at Southwood Golf Club where Chef Mike makes the world’s greatest egg white omelette. Mine was a fluffy concoction of bacon, onion, tomato, and cheddar cheese that was so light it appeared to float above my plate. Okay, maybe the mimosa I ordered was responsible for the special effects, but it was a stellar meal.
Afterwards we went to see the film Hostiles starring Christian Bale and Rosamund Pike. Ten minutes into the film I turned to Studly and asked, “What in the world have you brought me to see?” The beginning is so brutal I thought I was going to need to leave. But I stayed, and while violence is a main theme of the film, a storyline did develop.
Christian Bale is intense as an Army captain charged with escorting Chief Yellowhawk, played by Wes Studi, and his family to Montana from New Mexico where they’ll be set free after seven years in captivity. Along the way the small band of soldiers and Native Americans face one trial after another, including their encounter with Ms. Pike’s character.
Studly joked on the way home that he wondered if there had been more than four pages of dialogue for the entire film. I told him there was, but it was uttered in such a mumbling fashion that at least two pages could be discounted.
What is it with actors mumbling dialogue? One bearded character was so difficult to understand that I tuned out all of his dialogue. At least let me read his lips, for pity’s sake. If I were grading Hostiles I’d deduct ten points just for the mumbling.
The story was okay. There was nothing new here, as far as I could tell, but I did appreciate the way Bale’s character evolved. The scenery was beautiful and the film felt real. Just don’t go see it if you’re at all squeamish!
Peace, people!
Praying for Eyebrowz 
I get fair scunnered with mumbled dialogue xxxxx
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Part of me wonders if it’s my age! But I’m fairly sure this actor was mumbling—as his character was surely crumbling mentally. But understanding only one out of ever 10 words is maddening. I was ready to put a gun to my own head.
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Listen there’s things we put off cos of mumbling and these things are things that there’s tons of complaints about. Words are meant to be spoken so we can all understand.
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I’ll probably give it a miss. Thanks a lot
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Visually, it’s stunning. And the main character redeems himself. Kind of. There’s a quote by D.H. Lawrence at the beginning of the film that sums Americans up in stark words: “The essential American soul is hard, isolate, stoic, and a killer. It has never yet melted”
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My, oh, my
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Well, they pimp it as being on par with Unforgiven. Seems you didn’t think so. But I’ll go. I like the Hollywood western.
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We like westerns, too. And it wasn’t a bad film, mumbling aside, just a bit violent for my liking.
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Yep on the violence , the older I get the less tolerance I have for brutishness.
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The first ten minutes were the worst.
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And speaking of show business and brutishness, looking forward to your take on tonight’s, The State Of The Union spectacle.
Regards,
Yuri Romanoff
Moscow, Idaho
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I already feel ill. Curious as to if he will address his refusal to enforce sanctions on Russia.
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Tell you what. I’m worried about all y’all bohemians out there in the No Treason Zone. I’m glad Studly has got your back. ‘Cause it’s apt to get crazy.
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I’m glad I live near Tallahassee which has a definite progressive population. No place to run to baby.
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