Best Montana Movie? Vote Early and Often!

[Ken Egan]

 

Well, cinephiles, you've recommended so many films that we hadn't thought of that we've decided to try a Montana Movie Tournament (or "March Madness Comes Early").  Click on the MTMT link in the menu at the top of this page and vote!  It's easy--and don't worry--you don't have to cast a vote in every pairing in order to continue through the survey. 

 

Use this discussion to lament the losses and celebrate the victories of your favorite movies in the Montana Movie Tournament.

 

 

 

[Jim Heckel]

Good list! It would be cool to actually have showings. An awards project is a great idea. I hadn't thought of Rancho Deluxe for years and may have to see it again.

I would like to add "Psycho Sheep of Butte" to the list.

What are the criteria for a "Montana" film? Made in Montana? Set in Montana? Some portion in Montana? A director or star born in Montana? Somebody in the audience from Montana?

[Ken Egan]

Criteria? We're becoming so formal. . . . .

Set in Montana (or close--"Heartland" is, technically, set in Wyoming--filmed around Lewistown, I believe)

[Cindy Christin]

What's the name of the movie based on a kid in Helena who had a sex change? Heard so much good stuff about it but haven't seen it yet.

[Ken Egan]

Prodigal Sons--good film, good point!

[Cindy Christin]

Thanks!! Now I need to find it and watch it!

[Jason Neal]

I see the Prodigal Sons website has been updated, and on there one can pre-order copies of the DVD (due out this summer).

Also, the movie trailer for Prodigal Sons has been posted to hulu.com. I'm hoping this means it's going to be released in theaters (the film seems to have done very well on the festival circuit, winning many awards).

[Kim Anderson]

Rancho Deluxe is definitely worth revisiting, Jim.
I'd add Missouri Breaks, which I love.

Ken, I suspect you were watching the Golden Globes for the wrong reason. If, like me, you were texting back and forth with your daughter about the evening gowns, you were totally satisfied.

[Kim Anderson]

Okay, i know Heaven's Gate is set in Wyoming, but wasn't it filmed in Montana??? 'Cause that's one great messy movie.

[Ken Egan]

Hm, if we include "Heaven's Gate," can we also include "Shane"? Okay, now I'm reaching a bit--but hey, the Tetons are JUST over the border. . . .

Have you heard about "Sweetgrass," a new documentary about "last cowboys" herding sheep in the Absaroka-Beartooth area of south-central Montana? It's getting rave reviews. Might have to add that one to the list.

[Kim Anderson]

With a heavy heart I say that Humanities Montana had an opportunity to fund Sweetgrass at a very early stage and passed. I am thrilled to see it attracting so much national attention--reviews in The New Yorker and Slate magazine in just the last two weeks! And, I believe it will show at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival.

[Clair Leonard]

That's impressive, I will have to check the schedule for the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, to see if I can arrange to see it. I like the title. I am always curious about films that people rave about. I liked Heaven's Gate and I seem to remember Tom saying it was filmed in Montana, that was our motivation for watching at the time, if I remember rightly. I have to get my hands on a copy of Butte America, as I missed that one at the Wilma last year and the airings on Montana PBS. I am a Gabriel Byrne fan, all goes back to his early acting days on an Irish soap called The Riordains. I think he started there. Or was it Glenroe? I'll have to google, as it was ages ago and they were both good soaps on Irish TV when I was a child.

[Russell Rowland]

as far as fictional films go, I'd have to vote for River Runs Through It, although I also loved Missouri Breaks and Rancho Deluxe. But some of the documentaries are really terrific. Especially Class C and Butte America. Sweetgrass sounds like another winner. Far and Away was also filmed in Montana.