Godless (2017)

Watchseries; I am hooked by a series on Netflix called 'Godless' I'm now on episode 4 since last night and I can honestly say that it is one of the best Westerns I have seen for a long time since the likes of John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Gary Cooper etc.

The cinematography is stunning in full screen and as the story-line unfolds and revisits the plot cleverly, the shocking and gruesome happenings become clear. For an episodic series it is a worthy 45+ minutes of attention grabbing and human moments.

The title becomes self evident quickly and the characters have true depth and realism. The story would be a riveting read if one had the book. I highly recommend Godless!

I am hooked by a series on Netflix called 'Godless' I'm now on episode 4 since last night and I can honestly say that it is one of the best Westerns I have seen for a long time since the likes of John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Gary Cooper etc.

The cinematography is stunning in full screen and as the story-line unfolds and revisits the plot cleverly, the shocking and gruesome happenings become clear. For an episodic series it is a worthy 45+ minutes of attention grabbing and human moments.

The title becomes self evident quickly and the characters have true depth and realism. The story would be a riveting read if one had the book. I highly recommend Godless!

Godless watchseries. It's been on my Netflix list for a long time, but I've finally found the time to get back to 2017's "Godless" from writer/director Scott Frank, who would later reteam with Netflix for "The Queen's Gambit" another 7-episode miniseries. Reminiscent of the all-time classic "Deadwood", I enjoyed it overall, but I felt that with a tighter story, told over less time, it would have been even better.

The mining town of LaBelle has stagnated since an accident took 200 of its menfolk two years previously. Now populated almost exclusively by the widows and children of those men, the town's sheriff Bill McNue (Scoot McNairy) captures the notorious criminal Roy Goode (Jack O Connell). Goode had betrayed his former gang leader and father figure, Frank Griffin (Jeff Daniels) and he and his posse have been hunting him ever since. Word has spread that the Griffin gang murdered everyone and razed a town that had previously given Goode shelter and it's only a matter of time before word gets out that he's in LaBelle.

There are dozens of little stories that feed back into the main narrative thrust of "Godless". Some of which run over episodes, others that just take a few scenes. Much of it was really good, but I did feel myself thinking that as this is a seven-episode mini-series, rather than an ongoing affair, wouldn't we have been better served focusing more on the actual story we're here for? That was my problem with "Godless" in a nutshell. It's often beautiful, funny, entertaining, exciting and the performances are, too a person, excellent. But if it was just a bit more focused on its story. I don't think I want to lose any of the other tales either, because I felt we needed it all for the last episode to hit like it does, I just want the show to be tighter with them. Once I've got that Roy Goode is a master horse wrangler, I don't need 45 more minutes of him breaking in the horses, for example.

I don't want to sound too negative though. It really is wonderfully shot and as I say, performances are excellent and the actual story is really good, it's just a little buried.

Excellent tale well told. Great cast - great screenplay - great music - great costumes - great cinematography. A thoroughly satisfying viewing experience. Definitely among the best films of the western genre. My hats off and I thank all who were involved in bringing this story to the screen.

Cried.

Also a poem: (because review too short)

Man or woman.

Wearing cotton or hide.

Nobody cried.

When the Journalist died.

Or did he? Guess you'll have to watch to find out. Such a shame.

Im a very huge Western Fan and i love everything about this Netflix production. What a great journey. The Actors are high quality. Everything seems perfect. But im sad that its not longer. I could watch easily 10 Seasons more.

What a gem this is. You gotta thank Netflix for letting this creation blossom and see the light of day. Scott Frank did a fantastic job here; the story is very intriguing and one of the best character building in recent westerns. The direction and cinematography are top notch. It is undeniable that we have a classic on our hands.