The Homesman

What’s with all the sad movies at AFI Fest this year? Director and star Tommy Lee Jones turns in this very sad, bleak tale about an ugly, old maid(?), Hilary Swank (all-in), who agrees to transport three mentally ill women across the prairie to get help. She hires a tough old cowboy to protect her and hilarity ensues. Besides being so depressing, what this movie lacks is relationships between Swank and the ill woman. They stay quiet for the most part, which feels like a missed opportunity for some interesting drama. Falling somewhere between True Grit and Little House on the Prairie, I’m not sure who this movie is for. Western genre fans will be bored by all of the camping. Woman will be devastated by the awfulness of Swank’s situation. It’s not that it’s bad, it just lacks any hope.