Meek’s Cutoff (Blu-ray)

(Oscilloscope Laboratories, 9.13.2011)

Regardless of how you feel about Kelly Reichardt’s films, you have to admire her audacity. She’s going to make them her way, an approach that couldn't be further from the rom-coms, comic-book movies and earnest indie films cluttering theatres. Meek’s Cutoff is slow, but it's action-packed compared to Reichardt’s Old Joy and Wendy and Lucy. Suggested by a real event, this film tells the story of a small group of settlers heading for Oregon in 1845 under the guidance of Stephen Meek (Bruce Greenwood), who proves to be an incompetent blowhard. Only the stubborn resolve of Emily Tetherow (Michelle Williams) keeps things from tipping over into complete chaos.

The drudgery and pain of this journey proves to be the perfect subject for Reichardt's style. She doesn’t offer a clear view of any of the characters for the first ten minutes, presenting most of the film in long shots that emphasize the fragility of these people in their endless battle with nature. Not much happens until an enigmatic Native American (Rod Rondeaux) shows up to amplify the tension between Emily and Meek. As with Old Joy, this borders on tedium, but it is ultimately saved by its hypnotic rhythms and hauntingly stark images.

While there isn’t considerable difference between the DVD and Blu-ray versions of some recent films, Meek’s Cutoff is an exception. Managing to offer both gritty realism and otherworldly abstraction, this film's visuals prove ideal for high definition. The detail is such that it’s almost possible to count grains of sand -- and those wishing for a more conventional narrative may find themselves doing precisely that.

In keeping with Reichart’s spare approach, the lone extra is a montage of behind-the-scenes shots (crew members painting wagon wheels, etc.). -- Michael Adams