"Lonesome Dove" is one of the greatest mini-series made. Not surprisingly, it resulted in a few sequels. Well, while "Broken Trail" isn't a sequel, it's a western mini-series with Robert Duvall...and it certainly WON'T be mistaken for "Lonesome Dove" despite the two starring Duvall.
The story is about a couple cowboys...an uncle (Robert Duvall) and his nephew (Thomas Haden Church). They are driving their cattle to market when they come upon a VERY disreputable jerk who is forcing some Chinese women to come with them....and for a lifetime of prostitution. After the jerk tries to rob them, they turn the tables and take the women with them. But what are they going to do with five Chinese women??
"Broken Trail" is an odd one. On one hand, it's much more historically accurate than most westerns, with realistic costumes and a less than typical plot. But, on the other hand, it's unrelentingly grim and slow...glacially slow. According to IMDB, it was originally going to be a two-hour film but execs wanted a mini-series and stretched it out to three...and it shows. Too often, the film just seems slow...glacially slow. And, while Duvall gets top billing, he says VERY little and Thomas Haden Church really seems to be the lead. This isn't bad...but it's a disappointment to folks like me who love Duvall and wanted to see more of him.
The story is about a couple cowboys...an uncle (Robert Duvall) and his nephew (Thomas Haden Church). They are driving their cattle to market when they come upon a VERY disreputable jerk who is forcing some Chinese women to come with them....and for a lifetime of prostitution. After the jerk tries to rob them, they turn the tables and take the women with them. But what are they going to do with five Chinese women??
"Broken Trail" is an odd one. On one hand, it's much more historically accurate than most westerns, with realistic costumes and a less than typical plot. But, on the other hand, it's unrelentingly grim and slow...glacially slow. According to IMDB, it was originally going to be a two-hour film but execs wanted a mini-series and stretched it out to three...and it shows. Too often, the film just seems slow...glacially slow. And, while Duvall gets top billing, he says VERY little and Thomas Haden Church really seems to be the lead. This isn't bad...but it's a disappointment to folks like me who love Duvall and wanted to see more of him.