Jeremiah Johnson: The other horse was like "Uhhhhhhh..."

My love of this film is directly related to my love of Northern Exposure, which, itself is based on a very deep love of the wilds. The mountains Robert Redford rides through, and makes his home in, are [cliche]a character themselves[/cliche], and I felt a very wide, strong connection to that character, and this film. The idea of living outside the laws of society, and surviving on your ability to make good decisions is very powerful. And not just camping, but actually travelling--covering ground each day, pitching a tent in a new place each night--opens up a dialogue with nature, with the Earth. I think that's why humans are obsessed with building so much shit. Changing so much of what's out there. Because we, as individuals, feel inconsequential, compared to the universe (or our neighborhood of it: this planet), so we overcompensate for our small... ahem... statures, and build and buy the biggest truck we can find. On some level, it's terrifying to face an entity that says and does EVERYTHING... and yet is completely silent. Some peoples' answer is to worship it. Seems a little tacky, but that's humanity for ya. I feel most comfortable spending time with it. "Let us sleep outside tonight/Lay down in our mother's arms/For here we can rest safely."

So anyway about the film. Robert Redford is great. He has this off-handed bemusement, and it makes him very powerful. It's perfect that he weds a Native American, as he has a Zennitude that blends well with native peoples. I really enjoyed watching him suck at the beginning, and then seeing him slowly get better at suriving, hunting, trapping, until by the end he's a total badass. He takes down anyone and everyone who comes at him, and all the while he has this grim determination: it's the other side of the character, but it's still very honed. Makes me think of Final Fantasy, or even Princess Mononoke. Out on your own, against the wilds, stumbling across the occassional ally, slowly becoming stronger, more awesome... only thing missing was a last boss.

The music reminded me of Sneakers' score, but more Western-y. And it was a Western... but only so far as the other characters he meets. The crazy old man being the coolest one. ...When it's just him and his family, it's more sensitive than a Western. It's about only claiming what you build for yourself, and respecting all the rest.

Oh, and when the whitemen come to his door, which sets all the fucked up shit in motion, Jeremiah (Redford) hears them coming because of a crow cawing. Perhaps it was a Storm Crow...? Mmm?

"You have ever been a herald of woe. Troubles follow you like crows, and ever the oftener the worse ... Here you come again! And with you come evils worse than before, as might be expected. Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow? Tell me that."

Alright, I'll be good, I've had my fun.