Ride With The Devil (1999)

When the Civil War breaks out, two Southern childhood friends (Tobey Maguire, Skeet Ulrich) join a non military unit loyal to the Confederacy that uses guerrilla tactics in fighting the North. Based on the novel WOE TO LIVE ON by Daniel Woodrell and directed by Ang Lee (ICE STORM). While well made, I found myself distanced from the film. I have no sympathy for the Confederate South and Lee's sympathetic focus is on the two Southern rebels who pillage and kill indiscriminately while the Northern soldiers are portrayed as duplicitous and murderous. It doesn't help that, Jeffrey Wright aside, he uses uninteresting actors in leading roles. The film fights to overcome tediousness and eventually loses the battle. On the plus side, Frederick Elmes' (WILD AT HEART) wide screen cinematography is impressive and Mychael Danna's score is a thing of beauty. The film was a box office flop and one can see why, the film seems uncommitted as if it didn't want to offend anyone. With Jewel (in her film debut), Mark Ruffalo, Simon Baker, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, James Caviezel, Tom Wilkinson, Margo Martindale and Celia Weston.