The Ballad of Lefty Brown Movie Review

The Ballad of Lefty Brown (2017)

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Written by: Jared Moshe
Directed by: Jared Moshe
Starring: Bill Pullman, Peter Fonda, Stephen Alan Seder, Kathy Baker, Lewis Pullman, Tommy Flanagan, Jim Caviezel, Diego Josef
Rated: R
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Plot
When cowboy Lefty Brown witnesses the murder of his longtime partner, Ed Johnson, he strikes out to find the killers and avenge his friend's death.

Verdict
I wanted to like this, but it never rises above status quo. It's somewhat unique in that our protagonist is unassuming and ill-equipped, but the movie never seems to leverage that to the full degree. Lefty's struggles are little more than superficial and easily overcome. The conclusion is all too typical which defies a character that claims he never gets anything right.
Skip it.

Review
This doesn't waste any time establishing Lefty (Bill Pullman) as well intentioned if not the most capable. He works on Ed's (Peter Fonda) ranch, and while he lacks ability he's loyal. That's what Ed appreciates about him and the reason the newly elected senator will leave Lefty in charge of the ranch despite various objections.

An attack on Ed soon leaves Lefty sprawled on the dirt looking for answers. He vows vengeance, but no one takes him seriously. He's just not the typical capable cowboy. He does know enough to track down the culprits. By this point Lefty's posse has grown. He's got men more violent than he which is necessary when tracking down killers.

Bill Pullman, Diego Josef play Lefty, Jeremiah

Throughout the movie Lefty bemoans his bad luck, but he continues to progress though the movie's plot. That does include finding the killer only to be ambushed moments later. Lefty ends up being the scapegoat in a larger conspiracy. He's a target, but I was surprised at how everyone was so quick to believe the worst about Lefty. They knew his loyalty, and this provides few reasons why everyone is so quick to turn on him. You'd think the people on the ranch he's lived and worked with would give him the benefit of the doubt. Then again no one seems to have much faith in him. It could be that we so often see the protagonist succeed, but so much of our perception of Lefty is shaped by what he tells us. If this had better established the others on the ranch don't like him or were suspicious of his motives it would bolster their feelings for him later.

Pullman does a great job of playing outside his typical characters. It's not often that a protagonist is as ill-equipped as Lefty. That doesn't make this movie good but at least it's a fresh angle. Lefty manages to surprise everyone with every step he takes further into the plot, but this ends too neatly. The entire movie Lefty is a screw up, yet everything manages to intersect just perfectly so that Lefty can ride off into the sunset with his honor intact. While he loses some friends, it doesn't feel true to the character. I wanted to see Lefty struggle, but it never happens. What we're told about the character doesn't align with the plot.