Seraphim Falls
One man chases another through the wilds of Nevada.
In the opening sequence of the Seraphim Falls, a former Confederate soldier played by Liam Neeson shoots a nearly unrecognizable Pierce Brosnan in the arm, said Owen Gleiberman in Entertainment Weekly. Brosnan's ex-Union soldier falls down a snowy hill, trailing blood. He extracts the bullet from his arm and then cauterizes the wound with a hot knife, howling in pain. Now that Brosnan is free of his James Bond role, it's time to demonstrate 'œwhat a damn fine actor he is.' This rare, austere Western allows him to do so. Neeson and Brosnan do most of their work here without actual words, said Richard Nilsen in The Arizona Republic. Neeson's vengeful character pursues the resourceful Brosnan over the snowy landscapes of New Mexico, stopping only to glare into the distance. For most of its running time, 'œthe film is downright taciturn.' We don't even know until near the end why Neeson is after Brosnan, or which one is in the right. Unfortunately, just as it's time to solve these mysteries, 'œfirst-time writer-director David Von Ancken goes on a peyote trip,' said Craig Outhier in the Orange County, Calif., Register. Along comes Angelica Huston, peddling snake oil as Madame Louise, and the film attempts to resolve itself through half-baked American Indian mysticism. In that moment, 'œthe illusion is ruined, and we see Seraphim Falls for what it really is: a couple of Irish guys in cowboy hats.'
Rating: R
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Today's political cartoons - April 5, 2025
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - paper records, Democratic Party resistance, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 costly cartoons about Liberation Day tariffs
Cartoons Artists take on the auto industry, 401(k) plans, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Whipped ricotta and asparagus bruschetta recipe
The Week Recommends This creamy irresistible dish is springtime on toast
By The Week UK Published