The Virginian

Though not as timeless as the 1946 film starring Gary Cooper, this elegiac remake marks a solid directing debut for actor Bill Pullman, who also tackles the title role. Pullman makes the production's rugged vistas seem an integral part of the frontier morality play, rather than mere window dressing. In 1885, Medicine Bow, Wyoming is poised to enter a new era of civilization. But West still has some wildness in it, and ranchers fight regularly over cattle and watering holes. Scrappy baron Sam Balaam (Dennis Weaver) feels hemmed in by newcomers and isn't averse to consolidating his domain through rustling. Rival rancher Judge Henry (Harris Yulin), who's been looking th...