'The Searchers' review

Synopsis:

Texas 1868. Ethan Edwards finally returns home from the War Between the States. Not long after his return, Comanches attack his brother's home, stealing away the young girls and killing everyone else. Ethan becomes obsessed with finding them and is accompanied by his adopted 'nephew', Martin, who seeks to moderate Ethan's mood. They quest to find a specific group of Comanches led by the man named Scar.

Thoughts:

On its surface, this is a simple 'cowboys vs. indians' type movie. Most all movies classified as Westerns seem to boil down to that point. While that is a plot point to this movie, it isn't as simple as them = bad, us = good. Everything revolves around Ethan as played by John Wayne.

Say what you may about John Wayne's style of acting but I found him fascinating here. Certainly he's still John Wayne, much like Tom Hanks tends to get cast as 'Tom Hanks', but the details of his character and how he plays it is grand. I suppose it either works for you or it doesn't. Certainly the script is solid and the directing is solid, so it can all come together.

Ethan clearly has issues. He returns from the War three years after it ended. When asked where he was all that time, he doesn't answer. His brother notes that Ethan had that desire to leave even before the War. He also refuses to take the Deputy Texas Ranger oath as a man can only hold to one oath at a time, still feeling his oath to the Confederate State of America is active. He also refused to show up to the surrender ceremony that ended that war. This is a man that does not let things go.

Therefore, when it's time to chase down the Comanche, it makes sense that Ethan will pursue them until he no longer can or he succeeds in his quest.

Martin has already identified that Ethan has issues. Martin was saved by Ethan as a child and raised by Ethan's brother. The family has adopted Martin as one of their own. He feels like part of the family and admires Ethan, calling him Uncle. Ethan refuses this title as Martin is no kin of his and is at least part Native American. While they've all moved on, Ethan hasn't. Things are what they were. Martin's obsession become to save the girls he considers family as well as trying to moderate Ethan's excesses.

This quest takes years. Every time they return 'home', Martin will not stay there with the girl he fancies and who fancies him. He HAS to continue with this quest much like Ethan does.

In many ways it's a very grim story. There is no violence as we'd see it today. Certainly guns are fired and they kill people, but there is no blood or gore. All the worst violence is off screen and some of it is more chilling because of it. Ethan, who probably saw some rough stuff during the War, is shaken more than once by the corpses the Comanche leave behind, not allowing the young men to be damaged by seeing them as well, to the point of knocking out Martin with a punch when he resists. Ethan's freakout in the desert is particularly moving as it shows him completely vulnerable, pained, yet fighting to keep the burden to himself and not saddle other with it.

There is humor as well. The Reverend that's also a Texas Ranger is often amusing, as is Old Mose, and Charlie who courts Martin's girlfriend while he's gone. Yet all of these characters are also heroic, setting aside their differences for the greater good when necessary. Even when the characters disagree on methods, they still come together to get the job done.

The ending is happy but not all the ends are tied up tidily. While certainly something positive has occurred and we may see that Ethan can bend, nothing is magically healed or resolved. Some will remain outside.

The movie is visually gorgeous in a way that films no longer seem to be. Everything clicks and works together well. I hadn't seen it for years before last night and I was shocked to see how much of it I found familiar. It's an excellent movie that sticks with you and has depth beyond the standard 'shoot 'em up' Western.

Highly Recommended.