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Legends of the Fall
(By Gerry Wang)

VIDEO PICK OF THE WEEK #2
by
Gerry Wang

LEGENDS OF THE FALL
(starring Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Julia Ormond, Aidan Quinn, Henry Thomas; directed by Edward Zwick)

_____This week, my VPOTW is LEGENDS OF THE FALL, the first movie that really catapulted Brad Pitt to stardom. Am I a fag? Nope. I don't like Brad Pitt, probably 'cause he's buffer than me, but I have to admit I like his performances and the characters he plays.

_____This movie captured me w/ its fine performances, cinematography, and music score. Musical score? Gerry's such a friggin' liar. I can prove it. I bought the stinkin' soundtrack. Anyways, LEGENDS OF THE FALL was directed by Edward Zwick, the same guy who brought you GLORY and COURAGE UNDER FIRE. So you can see that Zwick is quite talented at presenting epic and sweeping scope in his movies. You see this ambition in the WWI scenes in LEGENDS OF THE FALL. They boast the new innovations brought upon by WWI, barb wire and the machine gun, and use to illustrate a key plot point. Watch for it. Also watch for the use of tear gas. Another weapon introduced at WWI.

_____But perhaps the most attractive part of this movie is characters, and how the plot advances. The plot involves 3 brothers who all love the same woman, played by Julia Ormand, who is engaged to Henry Thomas' character, the youngest son. Tristan (Brad Pitt) is the hunkish free-spirited brother that instantly gets the attention of Julia Ormond, but she is bound by her commitment to the younger brother. You can see the soap opera elements in this story, but it's Brad Pitt's charismatic performance that makes this movie endearing.

_____I refuse to give away plot points, but I will tell you this, a lot of tragedy happens to these brothers, but in the end, brother love wins out. Anthony Hopkins plays the patriarch of the Ludlow family, and he has a commanding presence.

_____Somehow, this movie made me very nostalgic. I think it was the lush Montana scenery and heart-wrenching tragedies, plus the fine performances. It has an epic scope, kinda like Beowulf, and it works because love is the ultimate nostalgic theme. Love for a woman, love for a father. But primarily, brotherly love.

*** (out of 4)
Chick-o-meter: 5 (out of 4! all girls will keel over and die seeing Brad Pitt's naked body)