Jeremiah Johnson

As someone who generally prefers movies where lots of people chat pretentiously to each other for a couple of hours, I’m an unlikely audience for Jeremiah Johnson, a movie in which very few people do very little talking for a couple of hours. That’s a testament to the subtle perfection of this film, in which Robert Redford (at his grizzled peak) plays a disillusioned veteran of the Mexican War trying to make his way in the harsh, unforgiving Rocky Mountains. We follow Jeremiah Johnson through seasons of his hardscrabble existence, with the scenery a striking and foreboding backdrop. This isn’t a happy movie, but his struggles are realistic, compelling and masterfully acted by Robert Redford. (If you like this one, you might also enjoy All is Lost, another quiet, powerful movie featuring Robert Redford in a battle against the elements.)