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Meek's Cutoff

Meek's Cutoff

Western · History · 2011

A group of settlers traveling through the Oregon High Desert in 1845 find themselves stranded in harsh conditions.

Movie details

Meek's Cutoff

“The Road to Civilisation is Not Always Civilised.”

2011 Western · History 1h 43m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.5 / 10

Community rating

A group of settlers traveling through the Oregon High Desert in 1845 find themselves stranded in harsh conditions.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Meek's Cutoff?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

How the West Was Won

How the West Was Won

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The epic tale of the development of the American West from the 1830s through the Civil War to the end of the century, as seen through the eyes of one pioneer family.

The Last Wagon

The Last Wagon

Western · 1956

When a handful of settlers survive an Apache attack on their wagon train they must put their lives into the hands of Comanche Todd, a white man who has lived with the Comanches most of his life and is wanted for the murder of three men.

3:10 to Yuma

3:10 to Yuma

Western · 2007

In Arizona in the late 1800s, infamous outlaw Ben Wade and his vicious gang of thieves and murderers have plagued the Southern Railroad. When Wade is captured, Civil War veteran Dan Evans, struggling to survive on his drought-plagued ranch, volunteers to deliver him alive to the "3:10 to Yuma", a train that will take the killer to trial.

The Indian Fighter

The Indian Fighter

Western · 1955

A scout leading a wagon train through hostile Indian country gets involved with a Sioux chief's daughter.

First Cow

First Cow

Drama · 2020

In the 1820s, a taciturn loner and skilled cook travels west to Oregon Territory, where he meets a Chinese immigrant also seeking his fortune. Soon the two team up on a dangerous scheme to steal milk from the wealthy landowner’s prized Jersey cow—the first, and only, in the territory.

The Big Trail

The Big Trail

Drama · 1930

Young scout Breck Coleman leads a wagon train along the dangerous trail to Oregon as he tries to get the affection of the beautiful pioneer Ruth Cameron and plans his revenge on the harsh scoundrels who murdered a friend of his in the past.

Dead Man

Dead Man

Drama · 1995

On the run after committing murder, an accountant encounters a strange Native American man who prepares him for his journey into the spiritual world.

3:10 to Yuma

3:10 to Yuma

Western · 1957

Dan Evans, a small time farmer, is hired to escort Ben Wade, a dangerous outlaw, to Yuma. As Evans and Wade wait for the 3:10 train to Yuma, Wade's gang is racing to free him.

Dances with Wolves

Dances with Wolves

Adventure · 1990

Wounded Civil War soldier John Dunbar tries to commit suicide—and becomes a hero instead. As a reward, he's assigned to his dream post, a remote junction on the Western frontier, and soon makes unlikely friends with the local Sioux tribe.

Rooster Cogburn

Rooster Cogburn

Adventure · 1975

After a band of drunken thugs overruns a small Indian Nation town, killing Reverend Goodnight and raping the women folk, Eula Goodnight enlists the aid of US Marshal Cogburn to hunt them down and bring her father's killers to justice.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Kelly Reichardt

Written by

Jonathan Raymond

Michelle Williams

Michelle Williams

Emily Tetherow

Bruce Greenwood

Bruce Greenwood

Stephen Meek

Will Patton

Will Patton

Soloman Tetherow

Zoe Kazan

Zoe Kazan

Millie Gately

Paul Dano

Paul Dano

Thomas Gately

Shirley Henderson

Shirley Henderson

Glory White

Neal Huff

Neal Huff

William White

Court is in session

Put Meek's Cutoff on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.