Butcher's Crossing

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Directed by Gabe Polsky
Produced by Gabe Polsky, Will Clarke, Molly Conners, Amanda Bowers, and Andy Mayson

Screenplay by Gabe Polsky and Liam Satre-Meloy Based on the novel by John Edward Williams

With: Nicolas Cage, Fred Hechinger, Jeremy Bobb, Paul Raci, Xander Berkeley, and Rachel Keller

Cinematography: David Gallego
Editing: Nick Pezzillo
Music: Leo Birenberg

Runtime: 105 min
Release Date: 26 October 2023
Aspect Ratio: 2.4:1
Color: Color

Visually elegant, well-acted 1870s western about a wide-eyed Harvard dropout who joins a group of buffalo hunters on a harrowing journey. Nic Cage stars in his ultra-cool-customer mode until he turns into Ahab Without a Cause. Too many gaps in logic to work fully — did these guys bring a wagon full of whiskey on this treacherous trek? — but I love how much it reinforced the sensation of being stuck on an endless camping trip with a bunch of guys you can't stand.

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How I Rate Films



An All-timer. One of the 5000 greatest films. Usually only awarded after repeat viewings.



One of the year's best. An excellent film. Possibly one of the 5000 greatest and certainly worthy of repeated viewing.



A very good film. Most films I see fall in the two- or three-star ranking. I give an extra half-star to three-star films that could end up on the list of the 5000 greatest.



A good film that fully succeeds at what it sets out to accomplish. Well worth seeing, but less effective than a three-and-a-half stars films and often less consequential than a two-and-a-half star film.



A noteworthy or enjoyable film that I can’t fully recommend. Still, two-and-a-half star films are often some of the most memorable films of a year.



A disappointment, an interesting failure, or just a bad movie. But still worth seeing if you’ve got the time.



A bad, rant-worthy film. Should be avoided regardless of hype or talent involved.



One of the worst films.