Meek's Cutoff Kelly Reichardt, 2010
My quippy take on this was that it was like Chantal Akerman remaking Ford's Wagon Master. I don't know if that holds up, but the thought amused me. The aspect ratio doesn't bother me at all (why would it? I don't understand the gripes about it) and actually helps reinforce the idea that these people are being deprived the overall picture (their overall knowledge is limited). The story's about some white people trying to go to some place. They went off the path they were supposed to be on, thanks to Bruce Greenwood's Meek (all beard and epic stories about bears), and now appear to be lost. Then an Indian shows up. And the doubt sets in. Should they place their trust in the Indian, or should they continue to follow Meek's advice? The story is a deconstruction of the western, sure, with nothing but toil, work and drudgery - no heroics, no cowboys or hats as signifiers or anything. Just a series of tasks: feeding the horses, fixing the wheels, lowering the wagons down a hill (an incredibly tense scene that seems to go on forever, its importance highlighted through sheer duration - this is some life and death shit). Just some people walking. Exciting.