Crossfire Trail (2001 TV Movie) User Reviews

The Western is Alive and Well

[bsmith5552 · 8/10 · 25 March 2002]

I just caught the DVD version of "Crossfire Trail" and enjoyed it immensely. It is a western of the old school full of action, romance slimy villains and hard ridin'.

Tom Selleck stars as Rafe Covington who has made a promise to a dying friend to look after his ranch and his wife (Virginia Madsen) after he is gone. Along with his two pals (David O'Hara, Christian Kane), Covington sets up shop on said ranch. Joining the trio is crusty old Wilford Brimley (barely recognizable) as a former ranch hand. Unfortunately, villain Mark Harmon also has designs on the aforementioned ranch and widow. When Selleck proves to be a formidable opponent, Harmon brings in gunfighter Brad Johnson to settle things which of course, leads to the inevitable showdown.

The scenery, shot in western Canada, is beautiful and unspoiled. The town (looking suspiciously like the one in "Unforgiven"(1992) looks like a real dusty western town and the costumes and make-up have been created authenticly as well. The acting is good all round and the action scenes are as exciting and well staged as any I've seen.

Barry Corbin as the town's drunken sheriff and William Sanderson as the bartender are excellent in featured roles.

"Crossfire Trail" is a western lovers delight. They don't make 'em like this anymore.

The Western

[artzau · 8/10 · 12 December 2001]

The Western is a dying genre and it never ceases to amaze me that it is so. It is being displaced by the cops 'n robbers, grisly hero shoot'em-ups and a variety of other overly violent superhero vehicles. As a kid, I grew up on Westerns and could not get enough of them. The bad guys always wore black hats and the hero, like Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and others always wore the white hats coming to the rescue of the ladies at the last moment. Villains were slime-suckers and deserved all they got. I mean, who could even feel a twinge of regret when Joel McCrea shot Brian Donlevy in the Virginian after he engineered Sonny Tufts getting hung? Well, this film loosely based on a Louis L'Amour story takes us back to a time when heros were just that: bigger than life figures that placed honor, decency and the love of their horses above the petty greed and avarice of the weaker villains. Selleck is outstanding in this role as Rafe Covington who comes to "take care of" the widow of a friend (whom we later learn he knew but a short time). What commitment! Now, we get some growls here from the peanut gallery from some who fail to understand the archetype the Western Hero is based on and even one faithful Louis L'Amour fan who cries foul at the departures from the original. OK. We can let that go. Someone observes that Selleck leaving his Magnum PI role is a "natural" for Westerns. I second that! He does. His pals, veteran character actor Wilfred Brimley, Kane and O'Hara add texture to the hero role while the villains are outright scumbags, especially usual good-guy Mark Harmon and refugee from the rapture, Brad Johnson (glad he made it out of the apocalypse). These baddies are REAL bad. Cheap made-for-TV has-been Western flick? No way, José. This is FINE entertainment and I wish they had a lot more of it.

Worthy of the golden age westerns

[Jneil · 8/10 · 22 January 2003]

I don't like modern Westerns. Even as meticulously accurate a history as 1993's Tombstone, with all the contributing artists turning in splendid job performances, left me cold because at the end of the movie all that stayed with me was the mind-numbing brutality of ceaseless violence.

Spoiler warning.

Crossfire Trail has its share of violence, including a climactic firefight, but there is a gentleness and intelligence to Charles Robert Carner's screenwriting that overcame the cliches of Louis Lamour's original story. Come on. Is there a more hoary melodrama than the one about the evil banker using a mortgage to blackmail a beautiful widow? All that's missing from this choice of villain is mustache twirling and maniacal laughing. But given that genre prescription, Carner instead gives us an epistemological mystery: the widow has to use her powers of deductive reasoning to figure out whether the handsome banker is trying to protect her from a con man trying to take advantage of her grief, or whether the handsome stranger claiming to be fulfilling a promise to her dead husband is there to protect her interests from the banker.

The cast, led off by Tom Selleck and Virginia Madsen, is ably assisted by Wilford Brimley and Mark Harmon, among others. The directing is good, the photography suitably expansive. But this production deserves special kudos for getting the details of the old West dead-on accurate, with every firearm being portrayed historically accurately, and even details of costuming showing loving care. Moreover, I haven't seen that many westerns with dialogue discussing Beethoven, and poetry quoted from Milton. It's nice to see, for once, that just because a cowboy could get physical he wasn't necessarily an ignorant moron.

This is a Western that could have been made in the golden age of Westerns. It overcame my skepticism and I give it a rating of 8 out of 10.

Summarises all that is good in a Western.

[JAYLBEE · 11 March 2003]

As an enthusiastic 'Western watcher' for over sixty years, I think that this one stands comparison with some of the great ones. Good acting by a strong cast, attention to detail and authenticity and the superb photography (ably enhanced by the scenery !!) make this a 'must-see '

Yes, the story isn't exactly original, but so what ? Tom Selleck fits the scene like a character from a Remington painting and what superbly crafted gems of villainy are portrayed without resort to excessive brutality or foul language. This how they should be made.

From one of the best sources

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 4 January 2016]

As long as both Tom Selleck and Sam Elliott are alive and hale and hearty, Louis L'Amour western novels will have an outlet on the big and small screen. Westerns maybe getting fewer and fewer made, but Crossfire Trail will stand up to any made in Hollywood's golden age.

Selleck plays your unambiguous western hero in this film, a Shane like knight of the plains. A dying friend asks Selleck to take care of his wife and ranch that he left. As it turns out the friend was run out of the area because the big man of the valley wants both the ranch and the wife Virginia Madsen in equal measure.

Mark Harmon who is usually a good guy on the big and small screen is one nasty piece of work. He's told Madsen she's a widow by dint of the Sioux. Her land is a good spread, but Harmon is thinking with his male member more than anything. More in keeping with today's mores than the old time western.

But that doesn't lessen Selleck as a cowboy hero. He's got himself his own posse with Wilford Brimley as a cantankerous old timer in the Gabby Hayes tradition, Christian Kane as the impetuous young timer, and David O'Hara as a most traditional Irishman with a taste for brew and brawls.

You'll also remember Brad Johnson who like Jack Palance in Shane is a badman with very few words and a keen sharpshooter's eye. That's bad news for one of Selleck's crew.

For those who say good westerns aren't still being made I would offer Crossfire Trail from one of the best sources Louis L'Amour.

Decent TV Western too short on originality

[Erewhon · 6/10 · 1 October 2004]

Though it's well-photographed on attractive locations and features an above-average cast, the story is tired and familiar, and the climactic shootout downright silly. A herd of cattle in the middle of a small town (with no railroad--so why are the cattle in town at all?) wanders about in the middle of a blazing gunfight without so much as a horn being nicked. Bullets slam into the swinging doors of a saloon--we see splinters fly--without moving them a micrometer.

But Selleck always comes across well in Westerns, especially when directed by Simon Wincer. The supporting cast do well, especially Mark Harmon as one of the nastiest small town bosses since Leslie Nielsen went goofy. But there isn't an original idea in the film; some ideas, such as conflict with Indians, are raised but then ignored.

Never turn your back on a scorned woman

[weezeralfalfa · 7/10 · 23 June 2014]

Guess I have to blame it mostly on book author Louis l'Amour. I was disappointed in the one dimensional characterizations, especially of the baddies, and the very familiar formulistic plot, where the contested woman initially falls for the familiar handsome urbane, locally powerful, but discretely evil baddie and is initially put off by the overtures of the unfamiliar, unwashed cowboy who wanders or intrudes into her life, and ultimately saves her from being shackled to the baddie or cheated out of her substantial inheritance(both in this film).One look at Mark Harmon and I knew he had to be the oily boss of the baddies. Strange he's listed at the bottom of your list of players?!

The main characters were well cast and the marvelously photographed mountains and plains Alberta landscape largely makes up for the predictable or deficient screenplay. Wilford Brimley makes a loyal, if overweight and non too animated, sidekick. With his long hair, dark looks, robust body, and generally serious manner, Selleck looked like he might be a fearsome badman. Thank goodness, his character instead personified l'Amour's standard hero :well practiced in all cowboy skills, tough with his fists, exceptional with firearms and horses, used to right wrongs.

Seems that the husband of Anne Rodney traveled from his huge northern WY ranch to SF to get some money to pay off the mortgage note being held by Mark Harmon's Bruce Barkow. The story going around is that Anne's husband was ambushed on the way back by Sioux, who took his body, and has presumbably been dead for a year. On the other hand, Selleck's Rafe Covington much more recently was with him when he died from a brutal beating by the captain of the ship on which he and Covington had been serving as shanghaied hands. He requested Covington to go take care of his ranch and wife for a while. After beating up the captain, Covington and a couple of partners abandoned the ship, near shore, bought some horses and rode to this ranch, which looked rundown. Covington encountered Anne in town who disbelieved his story and was not thrilled to learn he was preparing to get the ranch back on its feet, fearing he might be planning to try to steal it while she is busy in town teaching school. Reeking with thinly disguised sarcasm toward detailed eye witness descriptions of Rodney's demise, the nosy Covington soon makes enemies of Barkow's evil henchmen. Drunk, one challenges him to a street gun duel. Laughably, he misses Covington's broad back several times, before the latter turns around to give a demo of marksmanship. This prompts Barkow to send for a famous gunslinger(silent, self absorbed, dressed in all black , with distinctive flat hat, sporting a huge telescopic sight for his custom-made rifle) to take care of Covington and his 3 friends.

Of course, we know that eventually Covington and friends will have a showdown or two with Barkow and his gang, whom we suspect were involved in the robbery of Anne's husband before he was shanghaied. We also know that widow Anne will eventually see Barkow for the monster that he is behind his suave exterior, and switch her allegiance to the unlikely fearsome-looking Covington, who buys the rifle Rodney special ordered, to do in most of the baddies.

The main showdown occurs in town with various participants hiding behind windows or outside at the corner of buildings, etc. : very dangerous for other townies, if not terribly novel in westerns. Covington and friends even release the cattle from the pen at the edge of town to add more confusion and danger to the scene. At least they didn't stampede through the town, as in some westerns. See the film to discover the meaning of my review title.

The scene in which Barkow drags Anne across the street, caveman style, to force her to go through a marriage ceremony before a crowd is especially unbelievable. This finally demonstrates his true motive in pursuing her and how cruel he is. Prior to this, Barkow had the bought marshal charge Covington and friend with raping the daughter of chief Red Cloud, to cover up her presumed rape by 3 of his gang, who presumably broke her leg in the process. This is a bizarre move since Covington did a crude reset of her leg(we could hear the crunch of the bones)after discovering her predicament and made friends with Red Cloud who happening along just then. For a woman in such a state, she seemed remarkably well dressed and calm when two other unknown white men came upon her out in the bush. In any case, this incident served to further characterize Barkow's gang as thoroughly cruel and opportunistic.

Presently, part of a small Tom Selleck westerns DVD collection.

Solid adaptation of the Homer of the American Western, Louis L'Amour

[marcd30319 · 10/10 · 22 January 2001]

That Homer of the American Western, Louis L'Amour, has always been good to actor-producer Tom Selleck. CROSSFIRE TRAIL is a well produced motion picture that in another era would have been a well-received theatrical motion picture release. Regrettably, the climate at movie box office doesn't support westerners of such classic pedigree, and it is to TNT Original Productions credit that they have allowed this film to find its venue and audience.

The production is impeccable, as is the cast, with special attention given to the lead actor Tom Selleck. While success on the silver screen eluded him, Selleck still shows why he continues to be the best actor working in traditional Westerners and the natural successor to such screen legends as Joel McCrea, Randolph Scott, Gary Cooper, and John Wayne. Any of those actors would have felt quite at home with the hero of this film, Rafael Covington, a man of few word and an unbending code of honor.

Supporting Selleck are the vibrant Virginia Masden, Mark Harmon, Brad Johnson, David O'Hara, Patrick Kilpatrick as well as the always welcomed presence of those two ever-reliable veteran actors, Wilford Brimley and Barry Corben.

For Australian director Simon Wincer and star Tom Selleck, CROSSFIRE TRAIL is a re-union since they collaborated in the highly entertaining and grossly neglected QUIGLEY DOWN UNDER. Wincer brings his typically excellent eye to period detail and visual meise en scene that he used so successfully in his groundbreaking epic LONESOME DOVE.

Again, if you haven't seen this film, then by all means, do so. If you have, then go back a savor of well-done effort. You will be well rewarded in either case.

"Welcome here to Crazy Woman Ranch."

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 3 February 2007]

Though the story is entirely formulaic, gorgeous Canadian backgrounds and excellent casting give "Crossfire Trail" a formidable presence on the small screen courtesy of cable mainstay TNT. I never could quite picture Tom Selleck in Westerns following his 'Magnum PI' days, but he's entirely convincing here as Rafe Covington, fulfilling a dying wish to a friend who was shanghaied and beaten to death. His arch rival is town boss Bruce Barkow (Mark Harmon), who's effectiveness as a villain requires him to overcome his good looks and fine manners. Maybe that's why he's such a great bad guy, even without a black hat; his nasty turn near the end of the story runs completely against any stereotype you may have of him from his earlier work. But if the devil is in the details, you really have to admire the casting of the supporting players. The part of Joe Gill doesn't look like it would fit Wilford Brimley, but Brimley makes it his as he takes up with Rafe's cause. William Sanderson as the bartender starts out one dimensionally until that fateful stand he takes in defense of Anne Rodney (Virginia Madsen), and wait, didn't Barry Corbin look and sound just great channeling Edgar Buchanan as Sheriff Moncrief?

With lines like "Guess today wasn't my day to die" and "That wasn't shootin', that was killin'", the dialog is a bit clichéd, but doesn't suffer from being over emphasized. That's not the reason to tune in anyway, what you're going for is good old fashioned good versus evil, and there's plenty of that courtesy of Barkow, his toady hoods and hired gun Beau Dorn (Brad Johnson). Dorn looked a bit too sophisticated though for his part, I would have preferred a more seasoned looking villain like John Russell's Stockburn character from "Pale Rider". The final showdown has a bit of "High Noon" going for it with the last bullet fired, fitting since Anne Rodney had to put up with her fair share of abuse.

In fact, watch that gun fight between Beau Dorn and Covington closely. As Rafe stands facing the dying Dorn, he's shot in the front right shoulder by Barkow, but as the camera pulls away, Barkow is clearly standing well in back of Rafe, with Rafe's back to Barkow. That was some exercise in ballistics!

Tom Selleck's performances in Western films seem to be getting better with age, 'Crossfire' compares favorably with 1990's "Quigley Down Under" and is heads and shoulders above 1982's "The Shadow Riders". With any luck, there might be one more good part out there for Selleck as he turns the corner on sixty and heads into the sunset.

Magnificentl-Looking, Solid Western

[ccthemovieman-1 · 9/10 · 26 January 2007]

This was an excellent western that was beautifully photographed. This looks absolutely stunning on DVD and provides some of the prettiest scenery I've ever viewed on film.

With Tom Selleck in the lead and supporting help from Virginia Madsen, Wilfred Brimley, Mark Harmon and others, this is a good cast for this made-for-cable TV movie. There wasn't much action in here but a lot of tension as Selleck fights off bad-guy Harmon, who is trying to marry Madsen because of the oil-rich property she owns (and is unaware how valuable it is).

My only complaint is that this is a frustrating story to watch at many intervals because for most of the film Madsen does not believe Selleck, who is just trying to help. Selleck does his normal excellent portrayal of a rugged cowboy.

Overall, a good movie and highly-recommended for western fans.

Good old fashioned melodramatic Hollywood Western

[=G= · 6/10 · 29 February 2004]

"Crossfire Trail" is an old school Western where the bad guys wear black hats and have names like "Snake" and the good guys never curse or spit. Selleck is the hero who abides a promise made to a dying man and rides to Wyoming in the 1870's to tend to the man's ranch and widow (Madsen). The widow, however, is being courted by the town snake oil salesman who wants Selleck out of the way and hires a badass gunman...etc. The film is good old Hollywoodish big sky stuff with strings and french horns and cattle and branding and bronc busting and whooping and shootouts and even a kiss or two. Entertainment for the whole family with some killing from TNT. (B-)

Great directing and casting. Authentic look and feel.

[Gala-6 · 9/10 · 16 May 2003]

This was a surprise gem that we rented on dvd. The directing and cinematography are excellent. Mark Harmon is wonderfully evil. Tom Selleck the hero....but with support of friends. Great cast all around. Beautiful scenery. A very enjoyable movie.

good not great

[A_Different_Drummer · 6/10 · 3 March 2020]

Slow, plodding, seems like the runtime is over 2 hours but it is not. Selleck carries the movie. If you want "GREAT" check out Quigley Down Under, done a decade earlier, on my list of movies you can watch over and over.

disappointing western , unbelievable, inept

[chipe · 5/10 · 1 November 2009]

I am surprised this got such a high user rating vote here. Wishful thinking and blindness to the movie's faults must account for it.

The beginning of the movie was confusing and unnecessary. Then things got better and interesting. Then the movie slowly and surely gets worse and worse. It developed into an unbelievable mess with bits and pieces reminiscent of better movies (saving the Indian princess, hiring the famous out-of-town killer with the black outfit, the town folk rising up at the end to defend justice, driving cattle into town during a gunfight, etc. -- Blahh!). This is the worst Tom Selleck or TV western that I can recall.

Good were: the cinematography, isolated dialogue and scholarly allusions and most of the acting. Mark Harmon gave his usual adept and likable performance, IF HE WERE IN A DIFFERENT MOVIE.

Everything else was quite poor. I blame the screenplay and direction most. Harmon's character's actions were so over the top and incredible, it was shocking. Unbelievable and poorly motivated were almost everything -- the men working a ranch that wasn't theirs, the mortgage on the place, the "courtship" of Madsen, the death of her husband, etc. The tactics and movements in the gun fights were silly/unconvincing. Another thing I didn't like, but typical of many movies, is that Selleck and Madsen didn't initially have an honest conversation dealing with all the facts of the situation; instead they let the information drag out in bits and pieces to prolong the story.

excellent tv western

[loupgarou-2 · 4 February 2001]

Tom Selleck, kinda like Sam Elliott, was born to star in Westerns. He and the rest of this marvellous cast bring another Louis L'Amour western to vibrant life. Tom is great as the straight-shooting (in both ways) hero who does whatever it takes to keep his promise to a dying friend. Mark Harmon is delightfully smarmy as the vile villain, and Virginia Madsen makes a great schoolmarm. Production values are very high for a TV movie, and the photography is gorgeous. Like in all good westerns, the scenery almost becomes another character. Kudos to Turner for their continued efforts to produce topnotch television drama!

Solid traditional Western with Tom Selleck, Virginia Madsen and Mark Harmon

[Wuchakk · 7/10 · 5 April 2018]

RELEASED TO TV IN 2001 and directed by Simon Wincer, "Crossfire Trail" is a Western starring Tom Selleck as a laconic Westerner named Rafe Covington who travels to Wyoming to honor his promise to a dying friend: Look after the man's wife (Virginia Madsen) and ranch after he's gone. The problem is, the charlatan mogul of the nearby town wants them too (Mark Harmon).

While this was a TNT production, it's on par with the average traditional Western/theatrical release, e.g. "The War Wagon" (1967) or "Open Range" (2003), and is more satisfying than most goofy spaghetti Westerns. Voluptuous Madsen is formidable in the female department while cutie Kyla (Anderson) Wise works well in the periphery as a barmaid. Moreover, likable Selleck towers in the role of the noble protagonist, who attracts an equally noble group of sidekicks (Wilford Brimley, Christian Kane and David O'Hara).

The story surprisingly loses steam in the last act with a classic shootout-in-town between the heroes and villains. Don't get me wrong, the fight is muscular and competently executed, it's just a little lackluster somehow and gives away the flick's TV origins. Nevertheless, this is a worthwhile modern Western with Harmon superlative as the swindling antagonist.

THE MOVIE RUNS 1 hour 32 minutes and was shot at CL Ranch, Calgary, Alberta. WRITERS: Charles Robert Carner (script) and Louis L'Amour (book).

GRADE: B

Excellent performances; great locations; story well told by the director.

[jesse3 · 9/10 · 3 February 2001]

The performances were non-cliche (a rarity in westerns), script was tight, locations in Calgary were beyond stupendous, and Tom Selleck brings a humanity to a tough cowboy that few actors, if any, can bring. He's the most charismatic and likeable of all leading western actors today. Best television show I've seen in ten years. Hats off to TNT for the foresight.

Must watch more than once

[mlmichelin · 10/10 · 4 February 2001]

Tom Selleck and co-stars did honor to Mr.L'Amour's story. It is time Westerns made a come back- lots of action-no raunchy sex- no filthy language-the good guy wins. The scenery is beautiful-though the houses looked fake-and the history was on target. If I wore a hat I'd tip it to all involved with the making of Crossfire Trail- Now Mr Selleck and Sam Elliot need to make one together. Thank You for some good entertainment.

I usually dont like westerns but.......

[bigjuan · 8/10 · 27 June 2004]

I enjoyed this. Nothing out of the ordinary. Great Casting. Sellect and Brimley are very enjoyable and believable. Great scenery. Nicely shot. This is a western. Black and white are the paint of choice. And after perusing the 24hr moviechannels line up I truly am amazed how many truly bad movies are made. This isn't one of them. Plus the added bonus was these actors left the "open range" pretty much the way the came in. Respectful and Gracious.

A movie without anything new!

[gazineo-1 · 4/10 · 12 July 2001]

Weak, dull and extremely predictable western adventure where a gunman (Selleck) comes to a small town to defend a young and beautiful widow (Madsen) of a bad and ruthless rich man (Harmon) who practically owns all the city. A peasant direction, cardboard performances and a ludicrous ending make this one a bad choice. I give this a 4 (four).

almost my favorite western

[MichaelM24 · 13 July 2001]

If it wasn't for QUIGLEY, DOWN UNDER, CROSSFIRE TRAIL would be my favorite western. Tom Selleck easily slips into the type of role he seems born to play. Not many current actors look right at home in a western, but Selleck is one who does. He looks like he stepped right out of the 1800s. Mark Harmon makes an appropriate ass as the bad guy, and the beautiful Virginia Madsen is gorgeous as the school teacher Harmon plans to marry and Selleck has vowed (to her dead husband) to protect. The talented and underused Brad Johnson is a good villain as well, a hired gun Harmon brings in to kill Selleck. Good performances from all, and excellent score as well, by Eric Colvin, that deserves a soundtrack release. The Vancouver locations are a surprisingly-good stand-in for Wyoming, and director Simon Wincer (who should be the person to call when a western needs to be made) gives the film a nice pace with an exciting climax, intercutting between two shootouts. Seeing as how this was the highest-rated original cable movie in history when it debuted, I hope to see more Selleck/Wincer team-ups in the future.

Crossfire Trailer (may contain spoilers!)

[jimmiemary · 10/10 · 13 February 2017]

Slowly but surely making my way through #ChristianKane/Christian Kane's IMDb credits list and watching all of his movies/TV shows! Haven't seen so far I haven't liked! Just watched Crossfire Trail with Tom Selleck as the lead actor.Have loved everything he has done as well. Have been a fan of both of theirs for a long while. So sorry though that Christian's JT LANGSTON came to that ending. Heartbreaking scene he did a wonderful job on. Have to confess no, I did not read the book so I can't make comparisons to it. That being said it was just the kind of movie I love. It was touching, romantic, western with a touch of action and endearing. The good guys won the day! And a little revenge there at the end was well deserved! Mark Harmon made a great bad guy, he had me scared! Wilfred Brimley,oh man just love the guy! This is one movie I just didn't want to end,but I would have had had to had Christian Kane come back as twin to JT or something HAHA! I highly recommend this movie! Family Friendly! (couple of shoot out scenes though) If you haven't seen it.. you should!

honor, keeping a promise, love of the west, right and wrong.

[rbheartwood · 9/10 · 4 March 2001]

What a great movie. Since I was a small child, the genre of the cowboy western has enthrawled me. The photography is incredible, being filmed in the Canadian Rockies shows the unspoiled West, the love of the land they show in trying to protect and use it wisely. Authentic clothing and weaponry enhance the enjoyment of the picture. I believe the same director was in Quigley Down Under. After all, what else do you need if you have Cowboys, guns, horses, good guys and bad guys. I hope Mr. Selleck continues to make fine westerns. Everyone that has seen this movie has come away impressed with the quality and timeless story of honoring a promise and carrying it out. Doing what is right, even though the consequences may be high. Thank you all to those that help make this picture, and thankyou to Turner Network Television.

Above Average Made-for-TV Western

[sasnelling · 8/10 · 2 September 2001]

For those who thought his career began and ended with Magnum, P.I., it's a pleasant surprise to find Tom Selleck has become a credible and familiar face in--surprise, surprise--westerns. This classic Louis L'Amour story seems tailor made for the tall, rugged actor who is apparently just as comfortable on a horse as in a Ferrari. With Mark Harmon playing the essential villain, Virginia Madsen playing the not-so-helpless widow, Selleck gives us the quintessential western hero, an average guy just trying to make good on a promise to a dead friend. While the gunplay may not be appropriate for young children, this is a film with both high quality of production and high quality of content for all viewers.

Dull and mind-numbing TV movie (spoilers)

[hhfarm-1 · 3/10 · 7 November 2005]

What an fresh story: A banker's trying to get the widow's ranch; The good guy kills the local bad guy so the banker brings in a hired gun; the townspeople finally rise up to help at the messy showdown.

Manipulative and DD (deadly dull) TV-grade fare in every respect: clichéd dialogue, holes in the story (if Covingington is so tough, why didn't he stop the beating on the ship?), one-dimensional characters, no chemistry among the leads, hard but honorable Indians, and a hero that says "mam" as often as feasible.

And there's plenty of synecdoche: ridin, ropin, more ridin, mendin fences, herdin, ridin through cricks, herdin through cricks, lookin out over cricks, and then ridin through more cricks; then more ropin, ridin, fencin, buildin.

As with any TV or Disney pap, your ability to imagine is reduced and you end up with fewer brain cells. More reasonable Westerns include, Lonesome Dove, Open Range, Tombstone, The Unforgiven or even Conagher - at least Sam Elliott tries to act sometimes.