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RIDE IN THE WHIRLWIND (1966)
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
Of Monte Hellman’s three Westerns, I feel RIDE IN THE WHIRLWIND is his best effort in the genre. My second viewing the other night confirmed that feeling.
More straightforward and “classic” in its approach than the more-discussed THE SHOOTING, this film succeeds mostly because of Jack Nicholson. And I’m not only talking about his work in front of the camera. Nicholson’s screenplay for RIDE is a riff on the Westerns of directors like Budd Boetticher with a touch of that American New Wave realism and pace. Some might complain about the latter but I found the slow speed of the narrative to be refreshing. We follow Nicholson and Cameron Mitchell’s long day after they’re mistaken for outlaws and as they start to behave like the men they’re falsely accused of being. Both leads are good, anchored by memorable supporting turns from Harry Dean Stanton and Tom Filer. I wish Filer had more screen time, not to mention a longer career in the movies. The camera loves him.
Re-watching RIDE, it did not have the same impact as it did on my initial viewing but it still stands tall above the pretentious SHOOTING and the sloppy CHINA 9 as Monte’s best shot at making a Western. I wish Nicholson had written and acted in more of ’em.
Watched on Criterion Channel.
