Jeremiah Johnson (1972)

Disillusioned by the horrors of war, a US soldier attempts to live alone in the mountains in this unusual western starring Robert Redford. The film is based on the true story of an 1840s fur trapper, however, the basic narrative has more in common with the 'dropping out of society' movies of circa 1970 with Redford rejecting the rules of the society that has raised him, only to have to contend with other (Amerindian) rules. Perhaps most pointedly though, Redford finds himself eventually saddled with all the accoutrements of society that he has tried to avoid, inadvertently making friends, given a surrogate son (after the boy's family is killed) and an Amerindian bride for a wife. One of the film's best aspects is how Redford gradually progresses from being resentful of the son and wife to actually caring deeply enough about them to take action at a pivotal point. Intelligent as all this might sound, 'Jeremiah Johnson' is certainly not a film for all tastes. It is very deliberately, almost lethargically paced and Redford's journeys are accompanied by a series of superfluous sentimental songs. The film also never really probes into Redford's past and all the reasons that culminated in his drop out of society. It is, however, his journey (rather than his motivation) that drives the film. He might look and sound the same by the end of the film, but he is indelibly changed. No matter how one dissects it, it is hard to deny that the film has a potent message to offer about the difficulty of actually avoiding society and the company of others altogether. The scenery is great too.

An American soldier decides to wander into the frontier mountains and live a life of solitude sometime in the 19th century.This is a great man in the wilderness fighting to survive in nature movie. I loved the long periods of silences and the overwrought songs which made the background score.The film is quite politically incorrect. It doesn't portray the Indians in very good light. Anyway, I am not an expert on the context of this film. So this was primarily a man against nature film for me. Though I am sure there are many other themes in this film. Nothing is romanticized here. Life in the mountains is portrayed as tough, violent and dangerous.While I am not a big fan of his, Robert Redford was good enough as Jeremiah Johnson.There were parts of the films which were unbelievable - like the bit where Jeremiah singlehandedly kills a posse of Indians.The part where Jeremiah lives with an Indian woman (to whom he is forcefully married) and a small boy was interesting. Their interactions as a family unit out in the wilderness is the stuff daydreams are made of.(7/10)

A veteran (Robert Redford) of the Mexican War (1848) rejects society, where "It should have been different"; to become a mountain man. Unfortunately the economy of the mountain man era has ended in the late 1830's leaving the main character to wander the wilderness until he happens to meet a veteran mountain man (Will Geer), who teaches him the ways of the mountain man. The film explores the need that human beings have for human contact, in spite of whatever sense of isolation and alienation that society may expose them to. The film is also one of the first to portray Native Americans in a complex manner; revealing them to be something more than a white caricature. The film uses a powerful dialog, that while limited; is packed with deeper meanings that would be lost to many who watched the film. The limited dialog is carried by stunning scenery, which further serves to make a statement about loneliness and isolation. Add to this the bitter cold in which the main character is at constant battle with and the viewer will want to throw another log on the fire. The main character conducts a war of retribution against the Crow after they kill his Flathead wife and an orphan boy. In the end the outcome is left to the viewer.

Although his heart was in the right place, let's face it, Robert Redford is totally miscast as this bitter, rugged mountain man. Placed on the beautifully shot landscapes he just seems out of place with his beautifully layered hair.This quiet Western Adventure is probably better because of its sparse use of dialog because what is used is quite Hollywood corn and mostly rings phony, like most of the characters in this overrated Movie.Clichés abound as the folksy ballad intrudes unnecessarily at times, as if we needed to be reminded that we are watching a Movie. That is undeniable. It is not as bad as Dances With Wolves (1990) and can be viewed for some enjoyment, but for a Film striving for realism it oh so fails as it tries to portray isolation and individualism.It is disjointed and edited rather clumsily and there is unintentional humor and the intentional humor falls flat. Even the dirty faces and scraggly beards look like make-up. This is an experience that many find warm and memorable. It's reputation is solid and if you don't mind all that has been said here, you may enjoy it. But it is much more of gallant failed attempt than great insight into the elusive Mountain Man Mythology.