Heathens and Thieves (2012)
Lawmen, drifters, and hired guns converge at a Northern California ranch believing its Chinese owners possess stolen gold. When two drifters hear rumors that a Chinese railroad worker has escaped with gold and now owns a remote ranch in the wilds of Northern California, the desperate men set a plan in motion to steal the gold for themselves. Saul, the youngest of the drifters, hopes to win the affections of Zhen and his beautiful wife, Kun Hua. Saul hires on as a farmhand, while his partner Bill lurks in the shadows and waits for the opportunity to strike. However, waves of worse men arrive seeking the stolen fortune, setting in motion a deadly multi-sided face-off of bluffs, gambles, and betrayals. Heathens & Thieves is a western crime drama set in an American era when the riches associated with the 1849 Gold Rush, the fallout of the Civil War, and the impact of Chinese immigration were fresh in people's minds.
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Reviews
Don has an extremely versatile range, in this movie he's seems to take a eloquent theater background performance and morph it with a big screen evil villain. It's like Shakespeare doing a western his character was a thrill to watch! His delivery is outstanding, I was glued to his performance, from perfectly delivered lines to a character that he played beyond brilliant fully invested even in song at one point about, well I won't spoil it but it's hilarious. The movie is shot well and the cast is professional, the sets are beautiful with authentic era wardrobe. I really can't say enough about dons performance, this is one talented actor! I look forward to now viewing more of his work. I'm a western junkie and there are some modern pieces of garbage out there, this is not one of them, Swayze is brilliant in this 10 stars brother
I felt this was an excellent movie. The sets and locations were authentic and conveyed the sense of the timing of the movie. The photography was particularly creative. The story touched on several issues, race,honor, loyalty, corruption, the aftermath of the civil war, without being overpowering. The characters had depth and sincerity, especially the female lead. Some of their background was conveyed in a very subtle, but effective manner. The setting in California was an interesting wrinkle, but the movie still had the feel of a "western". It makes us think of the evolution of America. All in all a good modern take on the western genre.
Exciting and unexpected. This movie thrills and chills and keeps you on the edge of your seat through the final credits. There is no other western like it. A true one of a kind that reflects the mindset and desperation of post-civil war America and the gold rush that change the nation. The music pulls you into the story during the opening credits. Unique characters that are so individual you always know who they are but never know what they will do next. I love the tension, the unexpected twists, the timing and the suspense. Breathtaking cinematography of wildly beautiful fall colors, horses and untamed locations surround and juxtapose against the serious and dangerous games desperate people are willing to play to find a fortune nobody is sure even exists.
I highly recommend this movie, and as to not give anything away I won't break into details ;) so you'll have to see to find out! but the cast & crew quite honestly did a phenomenal job! excellent cinematography. there a lot of points that make this such a wonderful addition to the Western genre, I think you'll know after seeing it for yourself :] great humour and wonderful points not often reflected upon enough in the genre. It breaks into the character of people & hits on the roles different people made on with in the Old West. You see the characters come to life and experience these roles first hand, & to jump the gun,(or guns as one might note) the title isn't without meaning. A really wonderful work!