Sweetwater

Sweetwater is simply a movie about revenge with some racism and religion added. As a gimmick for a Sundance premier, old style Mormonism - complete with polygamy - was used.

January Jones gives a flat performance - she did smile sincerely a few times - but generally is not noteworthy other than a topless scene. AND SHE IS THE FEATURED CHARACTER! Ed Harris steals his scenes as a crazy grizzled lawman. We never really know if he is legit or not but he really adds a crazy randomness that definitely helps the movie. Jason Issacs does a great job as well - psychotic prophet seeing women and land.

I gave this movie only one thumb up because of Harris and Issacs. I might give it a higher one but I was under impressed with January Jones' assets - after X-Men: First Class I expected more.

Official synopsis:

2012, 94 minutes, color, U.S.A.

Against the backdrop of the American Old West, newlyweds Miguel and Sarah struggle to make a living cultivating their small patch of land. Soon a much bigger struggle arises as powerful landowner and community preacher Prophet Josiah makes a play for their property. As he launches his diabolical plot to take their land, an eccentric big-city sheriff comes to town. Things soon go from bad to worse, culminating in a jaw-dropping, hell-hath-no-fury showdown.

Sweetwater boldly establishes its own identity while remaining true to the tenets of the western genre. Wonderfully cinematic, this expressive tale is superbly directed by the Miller brothers, who extract strong performances from the ensemble cast. Ed Harris is especially striking in a bravura role as the sheriff. With the magnificent New Mexico countryside as their canvas, the Miller brothers imaginatively stroke their cinematic brush across an intense but humorous film.

Directors: Logan Miller, Noah Miller

Screenwriters: Logan Miller, Noah Miller, Andrew McKenzie, based on a story by Andrew McKenzie

Executive Producers: Trevor Drinkwater, Tucker Moore, Steve Bannon

Producer: Jason Netter

Cinematographer: Brad Shield

Principal Cast: Ed Harris, January Jones, Jason Isaacs, Eduardo Noriega, Jason Aldean, Stephen Root