Well Deserved Praise

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Beautiful scenery, lame story. Had read all Louis L'Amour's novels, in words, all his novels were pretty good albeit with a formulaic structure and style, but this adaptation was kinda too lukewarm. Tom Selleck was always a great choice for the Western genre movies, but the role he played in this film didn't feel real, a mysterious guy worked on a ship as a sailor but so handy with a gun? Then he went to the ranch, easily got so many wild horses and bought lot of cattle. Virginia Madsen always looked too modern in a Western film. Mark Harmon looked too light wt. as a cunning behind-scene manipulator, felt more like a miscast. Yes, it felt just like a TV movie with a very loose lukewarm script only held together by Tom Selleck's great presence. Barely watchable because it's so predictable and boring, not great at all.

CROSSFIRE TRAIL has Tom Selleck keeping a promise to a dying friend to look after his widow (the always gorgeous Virginia Madsen) and ranch. He does so with the help of several buddies, among them the always colorful Wilford Brimley who is well hidden under a huge wig, facial hair and massive Stetson. Mark Harmon, playing a villain for once, has designs on the lady and the ranch. He brings in a bunch of hired guns, headed up by Brad Johnson, to settle Selleck's hash. You can guess whose hash gets settled. This is a TV movie that belies its made for TV nature. It is beautifully shot and wonderfully plotted and acted. For my money, Selleck can keep playing cowboys forever. Whether he wants to or not may be another matter.

This was an excellent western that was beautifully photographed. This looks absolutely stunning on DVD and provides some of the prettiest scenery I've ever viewed on film.With Tom Selleck in the lead and supporting help from Virginia Madsen, Wilfred Brimley, Mark Harmon and others, this is a good cast for this made-for-cable TV movie. There wasn't much action in here but a lot of tension as Selleck fights off bad-guy Harmon, who is trying to marry Madsen because of the oil-rich property she owns (and is unaware how valuable it is).My only complaint is that this is a frustrating story to watch at many intervals because for most of the film Madsen does not believe Selleck, who is just trying to help. Selleck does his normal excellent portrayal of a rugged cowboy.Overall, a good movie and highly-recommended for western fans.

I am an avid fan of westerns. No one is a bigger fan of the greats like John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, and Clint Eastwood, however if we are going to be realistic about westerns I have to go with Tom Selleck's characters. He does a great job. This classic has been researched very well. I am also a gun enthusiast and the weaponry was VERY accurate in this and all of the movies done by Selleck and Wincer. I also like the attention to detail concerning little things that Louis L'amour would pay attention to. If you will remember when Rafe braced Snake Corville he pulled the leather thong off of the hammer of his sixgun(which I think was a Smith and Wesson). This is a re-occurring theme in L'amour's books.This movie may never get the praise it deserves in the world of westerns but what a great one it is. I hope Tom Selleck does more of these.