The Ballad of Lefty Brown

Name: The Ballad of Lefty Brown
Genre: Western
Released: December 15, 2017
Duration: 111 min
Rating: 64
Cast: Bill Pullman, Brian Henningsen, Dillinger Steele, Emily Jones, Joe Anderson

2017

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 12 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Ratings

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6.3

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6.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Ratings

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The Ballad Of Lefty Brown

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Movie Details & Credits

A24 | Release Date: December 15, 2017 | Not Rated

Starring: Bill Pullman, Brian Henningsen, Dillinger Steele, Emily Jones, Joe Anderson, Joseph Lee Anderson, Kathy Baker, Lexi Anastasia, Michael Spears, Peter Fonda, Tommy Flanagan

Summary: Lefty Brown is a 63 year old sidekick. Loyal, crotchety and rarely taken seriously, he’s ridden with Western legend Eddie Johnson for his entire adult life. Now Johnson has been appointed Senator of Montana, and despite the objections of his spirited wife Laura, he plans to leave Lefty in charge of his ranch. But when a rustler killsLefty Brown is a 63 year old sidekick. Loyal, crotchety and rarely taken seriously, he’s ridden with Western legend Eddie Johnson for his entire adult life. Now Johnson has been appointed Senator of Montana, and despite the objections of his spirited wife Laura, he plans to leave Lefty in charge of his ranch. But when a rustler kills Johnson, Lefty is forced from his partner’s shadow. Devastated by guilt, he sets out on a journey that will reunite him with old friends US Marshall Tom Harrah and Governor James Bierce as he confronts the ugly realities of frontier justice. [SXSW]… Expand

Director: Jared Moshe

Genre(s): Western

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 111 min

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Critic Reviews

Danny King

Dec 21, 2017

Moshe relates his tale of can-do vengeance with an unfussy clarity and an obvious fondness for the oaters of yesterday’s Hollywood — an affection that, as in Burden, imparts a winning sincerity. Read full review

Danielle Solzman

Dec 14, 2017

Moshe’s approach turns the Western genre on its head by having the sidekick rise up as the hero. Read full review

Richard Roeper

Feb 7, 2018

This is a Western that places the sidekick front and center, and in doing so gives reliable everyman supporting character actor Bill Pullman a rare chance to carry the film, and what a fine job he does with the added responsibilities. Read full review

IndieWire Eric Kohn

Apr 14, 2017

By giving the spotlight to an archetype usually relegated to the background, writer-director Jared Moshé puts a revisionist spin on the familiar oater, but everything else about The Ballad of Lefty Brown is by the book. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Glenn Kenny

Dec 15, 2017

Pullman is always great to watch, the Montana landscapes are gorgeously captured by cinematographer David McFarland, and there are a couple of action set pieces that spark. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

Dec 14, 2017

While Mr. Moshé’s ambitions can be frustratingly modest, he does know that — however fraudulent the genre’s myths — the image of a man riding a horse into the sunset is in our cinematic DNA. Read full review

The Film Stage Andrew Ward

Dec 18, 2017

The Ballad of Lefty Brown, the sophomore effort from director-producer Jared Moshe, invests blind faith in the classic western format and shows just how hollow genre films can prove when they strive too earnestly towards imitation. Read full review

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User Reviews

Emgiff

Aug 2, 2021

I don’t agree with some other reviews that the acting is bad, characters like Lefty Brown are supposed to be awkward. The writing and pacing struggle at times, but this movie is a beautiful western with heart.

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DawdlingPoet

Jun 18, 2022

This film has lots of softly spoken dialogue, which may be frustrating for some. There are some plot elements I thought weren't very believable, although there are some gripping moments present at times. This is very much an ok Western. I particularly liked the character of Laura Johnson,This film has lots of softly spoken dialogue, which may be frustrating for some. There are some plot elements I thought weren't very believable, although there are some gripping moments present at times. This is very much an ok Western. I particularly liked the character of Laura Johnson, played by Kathy Baker. She's a real no nonsense lady. Otherwise this film is ok but nothing especially worth writing home about, so I wouldn't recommend it as such, no.… Expand

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MeritCoba

Dec 24, 2017

Every once in a while someone tries to take a shot at the western genre, seemingly in an attempt to flog that long dead horse back to life again, but the result is at best iffy, in the case of the ballad of left brown we get a snore feast. My god what is this movie boring. This can beEvery once in a while someone tries to take a shot at the western genre, seemingly in an attempt to flog that long dead horse back to life again, but the result is at best iffy, in the case of the ballad of left brown we get a snore feast. My god what is this movie boring. This can be totally written down to the pace of the movie, the predictable plot, the run-of-the-mill characters, and the weak dialog. Bill Pullman, playing the title role, is not a bad actor, but without anything to make the the character remotely interesting any acting effort is wasted. The director is a master in making ill use of the conflict brewing between Lefty and the wife of his former friend, neglecting to use the landscapes and any the lack of having interesting cinema photography. It is a marvel to notice in the far distance the chance for a nice landscape shot that is totally lost on the director who prefers to have his sky lines blocked with shrubbery and brush. What is even worse, this movie, like many others, as has been pointed out by a critic, suffers of the one color scheme curse. Everything is dusty earth tones. It is the easy lazy digitalization method. The result is a plodding colorless movie. It is a pity, for the idea behind, a sidekick who gets forced into the limelight, who has a strenuous relation with his former friends wife and has nothing going for him that taking revenge could have been interesting.… Expand

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