Miracle at Sage Creek (2005)

A little slow getting started, in fact I shut it off, but then decided to continue with it. I am glad that I did. I like a movie when the producers are not afraid to mention the words God or prayer in the movie itself. This movie offers both of those words several times. I loved it when the Native American Grandfather, while using Native methods to treat the sick child, also took the time to talk to the Creator. If you are looking for a movie that you can sit down and watch with your children or grandchildren without having to worry about content or language then this is a very good movie to watch. You might want to have a Kleenex handy, because there is a very touching Miracle or two that happens along the way.

A step back in time richly done not only in the actor portrayals but in the cinematography as well. Wes Studi and David Carradine were expertly cast in their roles as were the kids. Great job kids! Also appreciated is the attention to detail. This was living history at its best. The life lessons that abound were not only good for us old folks but for the kids as well. I see this show as an "evergreen", something we could develop a tradition around viewing at Christmas each year. Mostly though it was so nice to be able to sit through this family oriented movie with my 12 year old daughter for the entire picture without having to worry. Watched it a second time with a bunch of grizzly old cowboys and their wives from nearby ranches and enjoyed it just as much. Looking forward to more good things from Talmarc and company.

Can a western be too nice? Yup, as much as I hate to say it here, because this a goodhearted, good-messaged film with good people and - yes, a touch of good Christianity, the fact remains it's a dull movie for the most part.You need some kind of edge in a western and it's not here, at least in the first half of the film. If you're boring in the first 30-60 minutes, you're going to lose them.....even in a very nice movie like this one.In a faith-based film, as this is, I don't expect nor want profanity or gory stuff, but you have to have some action and some villains that are more than just one old man carrying a grudge and acting a bit sour, as Keith Carradine does here. That isn't enough. However, kudos for the effort and for bringing God into a positive light in a western movie. I was glad to at least support like that with my rental money. I also appreciated seeing nice kids, a nice mom and dad, and I always enjoy seeing Wes Studi. I wish he had a bigger role in here. The acting in here was fine, too.There are a lot of good elements to this film, but it got off to such a slow start it lost me.

Thadd Turner is a true western writer. The realism in the film reminds me of Unforgiven. The story reminds me of Shane. The whole feeling of the film from the photography to the music and the acting has that resonance of how it really was back then. Westerns are my favorite type of film and this one is excellent. If you like a good exciting story and if you like westerns, then this one is for you. The casting is great too. You have David Carridine, Michael Parks, Wes Studi, Rance Howard, who turns in a great performance as the Doctor, and believe it or not Buck Taylor from Gunsmoke, and Thadd Turner too! The whole cast turns in excellent performances all around. James Intveld directed and did the music, both an excellent achievement. His directing gave it that real hometown feel. You don't get the feeling the actors are acting like in some movies. The music brought you into the old west. You really get the sense how tough you had to be back then and how hard it was to make ends meet. We take a lot for granted these days, but that's how we started the west always hoping for a miracle.