The Ballad of Lefty Brown

The Ballad of Lefty Brown is a 2017 American Western film written and directed by Jared Moshe, starring Bill Pullman as Lefty Brown, and featuring: Kathy Baker, Jim Caviezel, Peter Fonda, Tommy Flanagan, and Michael Spears.

The Ballad of Lefty Brown
Film poster
Directed byJared Moshé
Produced by
  • Edward Parks
  • Neda Armian
  • Dan Burks
  • Jared Moshé
Written byJared Moshé
Starring
Music byH. Scott Salinas
CinematographyDavid McFarland
Edited byTerel Gibson
Production
companies
  • Om Films, Inc
  • Armian Pictures
  • Dissident Pictures
  • Higher Content
  • Rival Pictures
Distributed byA24
Release date
  • March 11, 2017 (2017-03-11) (SXSW)
  • December 15, 2017 (2017-12-15) (United States)
Running time
111 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$8,000,000
Box office$7,856[1]

Plot

In Montana, a man stumbles out of a saloon after being shot in the back. A lawman, Edward Johnson (Peter Fonda), enters and directs his partner Lefty Brown (Bill Pullman) to go around back. The killer jumps from a window, surprising Lefty, who fails to apprehend him. Ed comes out and subdues the man, admonishing Lefty for his mistake. Ed and Lefty immediately ride off and hang the man despite Lefty protesting the illegality of it; it is Ed's chosen method of law.

Back at his ranch, Ed and his wife Laura (Kathy Baker) prepare to move to Washington; Ed has been elected Senator. She has reservations about Ed's decision to leave Lefty in charge, but Ed is sure of his loyalty. The next day, a ranch hand informs Ed and Lefty that three horses have been rustled and they ride off to check. When Ed and Lefty come to the spot, Ed is trying to bequeath his rifle to Lefty when he is suddenly shot in the head by an unknown sniper. Lefty survives and rides back to the ranch with Ed's body. Laura is distraught and blames Lefty for not protecting her husband and pays no mind when Lefty says he will avenge Ed. Lefty buries the rifle and rides off to begin his search.

Later, the governor James (who goes by Jimmy) Bierce (Jim Caviezel) and marshal Tom Harrah (Tommy Flanagan) arrive to console Laura. They, Ed and Lefty used to ride together. Hearing that Lefty has gone off to find the man, Tom decides to find him to prevent him getting himself into trouble. On the trail, Lefty is set upon by a gunman who turns out to be a young man named Jeremiah Perkins. The boy asks to accompany Lefty, who initially refuses, but takes him along when he considers the boy's situation.

Tom finds Lefty and Jeremiah. Lefty is excited for him to join the posse, but he refuses, claiming he is only there to bring Lefty in. Disappointed that Tom won't help their friend Ed, they tie him up. After hearing his name and claiming he is a western hero from a novel he has, Jeremiah inspires Tom to join their quest. At a juncture, Tom and Jeremiah leave Lefty to chase a lead in which Tom has no faith, which leads Lefty directly to the killer's gang's hideout. The three regroup: Jeremiah will tend the horses, Lefty will go in back and Tom in front. Just as Tom is about to spring the trap, a man rides up who Tom recognizes as an employee of the governor's. A shootout ensues in which Jeremiah (who sneaked back) and the governor's man are shot; Tom kills several of the gang and Lefty apprehends the killer. 2 of the gang escape.

While Lefty tends to Jeremiah's wound, Tom interrogates the killer, named Frank Baines (Joe Anderson). They antagonize one another, with Tom noting that an employee of the governor's was sent to pay Frank, who killed Ed. Tom burns the money and gets drunk, leaving abruptly. Lefty and the injured Jeremiah are left to bring Frank in. Shortly after leaving, however, the escaped gang set upon them. Tom goes to see Jimmy and asks if he hired Frank to kill Ed. Though Jimmy denies it, he alludes to there being a difference of opinion between he and Ed, leaving Tom unconvinced.

Finding out the money is gone, the gang handcuff and strip Frank, Lefty and Jeremiah and search for the money. In the confusion, Frank is able to kill both men but his pistol misfires as he tries to kill Lefty. Jeremiah gets a rifle from a dead man and kills Frank. Realizing the bad shape Jeremiah is in, Lefty rides back to the ranch, where the ranch hands attempt to lynch him. Laura intervenes but they tie him up; she reads him a telegraph from Jimmy claiming Lefty killed Ed. Realizing no one believes him, Lefty escapes and digs up Ed's rifle he buried. He nurses Jeremiah back to health and they go to town to confront Jimmy.

In town, Jimmy is hosting a memorial for Ed. Laura asks Jimmy not to appoint the senatorial runner-up to Ed's position, but Jimmy again alludes to a railroad deal Ed did not support. Jeremiah enters the building to spy and Lefty goes to the saloon to enlist Tom's help. Though Tom initially refuses to help, after knocking Lefty out, he interrupts Jimmy's eulogy and accuses him of killing Ed. Soldiers apprehend him, but Lefty comes to and starts shooting. Jimmy takes Laura inside and Lefty and Tom shoot their way through town; Tom is mortally wounded. In the hotel, Lefty confronts Jimmy, who reveals everything: Ed opposed a contract Jimmy proposed between Congress and the railroad, so Jimmy had a rustler kill him so he could appoint a senator who would support his deal to Ed's seat. Laura hears everything and Lefty knocks him out. Lefty says he'll take him to the judge, but Laura insists on dealing with this "Ed's way" - with an immediate hanging.

Not wanting Laura to be hung herself for murdering the governor (since they lynch him without trial), Lefty hangs Jimmy himself. Knowing he will be apprehended, Lefty tells Jeremiah to stay and be raised by Laura and he rides off himself, concluding the Ballad of Lefty Brown.

Cast

Themes

The major themes throughout the movie are friendship, reciprocity and western dime novel culture.

The four main characters, Jimmy, Ed, Lefty and Tom used to ride together. Their exploits are frequently discussed and even chronicled in western dime novels read by Jeremiah. Lefty is upset when Tom refuses to help find Ed's killer, citing their long-standing friendship. Contrarily, Lefty and Tom feel particularly betrayed by Jimmy, whom they perceived to be their friend. Ed chooses Lefty to run the ranch in his absence because of their close friendship, a point of contention with his wife, Laura. This is consistent with common western movie themes of trust, the value of a man's word and doing "what's right."

Lefty, the most loyal of the characters, frequently discusses reciprocity. He always challenges others to consider what Ed would do, insisting he would do the same for them. Since Laura intervenes when the ranch hands try to lynch him, at the end of the movie he reciprocates by lynching the governor on her behalf, so that she will not be held responsible. His mission throughout the film is to avenge Ed, that is, to reciprocate his kindness for employing and housing him for his entire adult life.

Finally, and perhaps most pervasively, this movie tells a fascinating tale meant to cast a modern light on the western dime novel. The title, of course, alludes to a story of that age. Jeremiah brings this theme to light the most. He reads western dime novels throughout the film, and when he hears the proper names of Ed, Tom and Jimmy he realizes their posse is famously chronicled in them. He asks to hear stories from the trail about their group and is disappointed to hear that one of the stories he read isn't true (it claims the gang rode to find Ed's wife who had been captured by Indians; in reality, Tom's wife was captured and never found). In another instance, he asks to hear a story from Lefty and Lefty tries to tell a story about Ed. When Jeremiah asks about Lefty, Lefty claims he doesn't have any interesting stories, but tells a fascinating western tale that paints him as the true hero, which he hardly believes he could be. Lefty also jokingly refers to Jeremiah as "Wild Bill," alluding to another larger-than-life western icon.

While Lefty is clearly the protagonist and proves to accomplish his mission, he does not fit the typical western dime novel hero archetype of a strong, confident man who prevails through bravery and righteousness. He lacks self-confidence (and certainly the confidence of even his close friends), skill and tact, but fits more of the typical "underdog" role not usually seen in the western setting. This juxtaposition of a western antihero in a typical western story setting is one of the more satisfying aspects of the film.

Production

The project was initiated in September 2016, at which time the casting of Bill Pullman, Jim Caviezel, Peter Fonda, Kathy Baker and Tommy Flanagan was announced. Writer and director Jared Moshe and producer Neda Armian considered other locations where they could film the movie. After scouting many different states in the West, they chose Montana to film the movie, because of the authenticity that would bring to the project. More than a hundred locals were used as extras.

Principal photography began on September 8, 2016 - filming took place at Bannack State Park in Bannack, Montana, 25 miles southwest of Dillon. Other locations included Dillon, Montana, Virginia City, Montana and Ennis, Montana. Filming lasted for 20 days.[2][3]

Release

The film had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 11, 2017.[4][5] Shortly after, A24 and DirecTV Cinema acquired distribution rights to the film.[6] The film had a subsequent wide release on December 15, 2017.[7] Sold-out screenings of the film, near its shoot location in Whitehall, Montana, raised over $10,000 toward historical preservation efforts by the Jefferson Valley Museum.[8]

The Blu-Ray/DVD from Lionsgate features bonus content: “Designing the Look of ‘The Ballad of Lefty Brown" with Director Jared Moshe and Production Designer Eve McCarney discussing the creative process, color palettes and set choices for the film. “Bringing the Truth to Myth: Inside of the Characters of ‘The Ballad of Lefty Brown,’” interviews with Director Jared Moshe, and Actors Bill Pullman, Kathy Baker, Tommy Flanagan, Jim Caviezel. Also featured, audio commentary with Director Jared Moshe and Actor Bill Pullman.[9]

Critical reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 78% based on 23 reviews, and an average rating of 6.2/10.[10] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 64 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[11]

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References
  1. "The Ballad of Lefty Brown (2017)".
  2. Bill Pullman, Jim Caviezel Starring in Western ‘Ballad of Lefty Brown’ (EXCLUSIVE)
  3. ‘The Ballad Of Lefty Brown’ To Star Bill Pullman, Jim Caviezel And Peter Fonda
  4. "The Ballad of Lefty Brown". South by Southwest. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  5. D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 8, 2017). "SXSW 2017 Lineup: 'Baby Driver', 'Free Fire', 'Muppet Guys Talking' & Docus That Matter In Trump Era". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  6. Busch, Anita (April 13, 2017). "'Ballad Of Lefty Brown': SXSW Darling With Bill Pullman To DirecTV Before Theatrical Via A24". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  7. "The Ballad of Lefty Brown". A24. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  8. susan.dunlap@mtstandard.com, SUSAN DUNLAP. "Sold out screening of 'Lefty Brown' raises $10,000 for Whitehall museum". Montana Standard. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  9. https://pilotonline.com/blogs/high-def-watch/article_77ad6fa2-17f4-11e8-b4b9-5cb9017bdfe0.html
  10. "The Ballad of Lefty Brown (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  11. "The Ballad of Lefty Brown Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
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