"The Homesman" (2014 release; 122 min.) brings the story of Mary Bee Cuddy (played by Hilary Swank) and George Briggs (played by Tommy Lee Jones). As the movie opens, we are reminded that we are in "Nebraska Territory", sometime in the 1850s. Cuddy is working on her farm, and still a single woman (although she is trying hard to marry herself off, without success still). Meanwhile in her small community three woman go insane, and need to be taken to a church in Iowa that can give the proper care.
Cuddy ends up doing the dangerous trek, but not before she encounters Briggs, whom she rescues from a certain hanging death. In return Briggs agrees to accompany her to Iowa. Will they make it to Iowa? Do Cuddy and Briggs find happiness together? To tell you more would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.
Couple of comments: this is another directing tour de force of Tommy Lee Jones, now a crisp 68 years young if you can believe it, and what a fine effort it is indeed. He also co-wrote the script and co-produced, in addition to playing one of the lead roles. Second, this is not your run-of-the-mill western, in fact you could stay it is a "reverse-western" (and not only because the trek goes eastward), even though it certainly has some elements of a traditional western.
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