Deadwood: The Movie

Deadwood: The Movie is a 2019 American television drama film directed by Daniel Minahan and written by David Milch for HBO. It is a continuation of the television series of the same name, which was created by Milch and ran for three seasons from 2004 to 2006. The film reunites the majority of the large ensemble cast, including Timothy Olyphant, Ian McShane, Molly Parker, Paula Malcomson, John Hawkes, and Gerald McRaney, and premiered on May 31, 2019.[2][3]

Deadwood: The Movie
Television release poster
GenreWestern
Written byDavid Milch
Directed byDaniel Minahan
Starring
Music by
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
CinematographyDave Klein
Editors
  • Erick Fefferman
  • Martin Nicholson
Running time110 minutes
Production companies
  • HBO Films
  • Red Board Productions
  • The Mighty Mint
DistributorHBO
Budget$20.7 million[1]
Release
Original networkHBO
Original releaseMay 31, 2019 (2019-05-31)
External links
Website

Plot

In 1889,[4] as South Dakota is entering into statehood, past and present residents of Deadwood are taking part in the celebrations. The widow Alma Garret Ellsworth has returned to the town with her ward Sofia, while Calamity Jane has returned to make amends with her old flame Joanie Stubbs, who has taken over the Bella Union gambling hall and bordello following Cy Tolliver's death. Also attending is George Hearst, now a United States senator, who has returned to Deadwood to purchase land from Charlie Utter. Utter's land is interfering with the installation of telephone lines in which Hearst has invested.

Trixie, pregnant with Sol Star's child, insults Hearst from her balcony, causing Hearst to realize he was deceived by Al Swearengen when he demanded that Trixie be killed years earlier. Hearst visits Swearengen, who is ailing due to liver failure, and demands his assistance in acquiring Utter's land in exchange for not taking revenge against Trixie.

Utter consults with U.S. Marshal Seth Bullock about his dealings with Hearst. Bullock reminds Utter of what Hearst is capable when he is refused. Hearst meets Utter on his land and tries to make a deal but Utter declines to sell. Later that night Bullock and his deputy Harry Manning search for Utter and find him murdered on his land. Bullock finds the "Nigger General" Samuel Fields nearby, who reveals that he saw what happened but refuses to testify out of fear. Bullock places Fields under guard at the marshal's office and challenges Hearst, accusing him of the murder of his friend.

E.B. Farnum spies on Hearst and witnesses him meeting with Smith and Seacrest, the gunmen he hired to kill Utter. Hearst informs them of Fields' situation and orders them to kill him. Farnum informs Bullock of this at an auction for Utter's property, during which Alma outbids Hearst.

The hitmen arrive at the marshal's office, where Manning is revealed as Hearst's informant. The hitmen attempt to lynch Fields but are stopped by Bullock, who kills Seacrest and captures Smith. Fields confirms that they are the men who killed Utter. Bullock confronts Hearst, whose men abruptly kill Smith before he can identify Hearst as his employer, thus setting off a brief gunfight in which several of Hearst's men are killed and Johnny Burns is injured. Hearst warns Bullock that he is coming for him but Bullock remains undeterred.

Fearful for the life of Trixie and their newborn son, Sol takes his family to the Bullock home. While discussing their predicament, Trixie agrees to marry Sol. The following day, their wedding is held at the Gem Saloon, where Swearengen gives Trixie away. Before the wedding Swearengen meets privately with Sol and Trixie and informs them that he is leaving Trixie the Gem upon his death and advises Sol to run for office.

During the celebrations Alma sadly accepts that she and Bullock can't be together while Bullock indicates that he is happy with his family. Hearst interrupts the wedding celebrations with two deputies who have come to arrest Trixie for her attempted murder of Hearst in 1877. Bullock points out that they have no jurisdiction in Deadwood and he instead arrests Hearst. On the way to jail, a mob led by Calamity Jane attacks Hearst, viciously beating him. Bullock nearly allows the mob to kill Hearst before having a change of heart when he sees his wife and family. Bullock fires his gun in the air threatening to arrest the members and leads the badly wounded Hearst to his office; after entering, Bullock pulls him by the ear to a cell and locks Hearst up. Calamity Jane notices Manning behaving strangely, follows him into the marshal's office and kills him before he can shoot Bullock in the back.

Bullock discusses the circumstances of Utter's death with Fields, who tells him that Utter was singing and at peace at the moment of his death, giving Bullock a sense of closure. Returning home, he embraces his wife as snow begins to fall on Deadwood. Trixie returns to the Gem to care for Swearengen. Trixie holds Swearengen's hand and begins reciting the Lord's Prayer, "Our Father, which art in Heaven", to which a weak yet defiant Swearengen replies, "Let Him... fucking... stay there."

Cast
See also: List of Deadwood characters

The cast includes:[5]

Powers Boothe, Ricky Jay and Ralph Richeson died between the conclusion of the series and production of the film. Boothe's small role in an early version of the script was written out. Titus Welliver, who portrayed Silas Adams, was unable to appear in the film due to scheduling conflicts as he was filming his Amazon Prime series Bosch. Garret Dillahunt and Larry Cedar, who played characters who were killed in the original series, returned as background characters; Dillahunt plays a drunk who throws something at Hearst, yelling: "Hope you die in the street, like my dad did!"[6][7]

Production

Development

Following the surprise cancellation of Deadwood, on June 5, 2006, HBO and creator David Milch agreed to make a pair of two-hour television films in place of a fourth season.[8] On July 12, 2007, HBO executives admitted that producing the telefilms would be difficult and put the chances of their ever being made at "50–50."[9] Actor Ian McShane claimed in an interview on October 1, 2007 that the show's sets were due to be dismantled and that the movies would not be made;[10] actors Jim Beaver and W. Earl Brown commented a day later that they considered the series to be over.[11]

On August 12, 2015, it was reported that talks between HBO and Milch had resumed regarding a Deadwood film.[12][13] In January 2016, HBO gave Milch the green-light to write a script for the film.[14] On April 19, 2017, McShane announced that Milch had submitted a script for a two-hour Deadwood movie to HBO, saying "[A] two-hour movie script has been delivered to HBO. If they don't deliver [a finished product], blame them."[15] On November 12, 2017, TVLine reported that the Deadwood movie was set to begin production in fall 2018, although HBO had not officially greenlit the project.[16]

On July 25, 2018, HBO confirmed that a Deadwood movie had been greenlit and that Daniel Minahan, who directed four episodes in the series' original run, would direct the film, with production set to begin in October 2018.[17] According to research requested by the producers, the film was to be set in 1889, approximately 10 years after the end of season 3.[18] On August 21, 2018, W. Earl Brown confirmed that virtually everyone in the main cast would be returning; however, the characters played by Powers Boothe and Ralph Richeson, who have since died, would not be recast. "Everyone from the main cast who still draws air, with the exception of Silas Adams" (played by Titus Welliver) would return, Brown said. Production on the film would begin on October 5, 2018, according to Brown.[19]

Filming

On November 5, 2018, HBO announced that the film had begun production. The returns of cast members Ian McShane, Timothy Olyphant, Molly Parker, Paula Malcomson, John Hawkes, Anna Gunn, Dayton Callie, Brad Dourif, Robin Weigert, W. Earl Brown, William Sanderson, Kim Dickens, and Gerald McRaney were confirmed, while Jade Pettyjohn and Lily Keene (taking on the role played by Bree Seanna Wall in the original series) were added to the cast.[20][21]

Nic Pizzolatto revealed in December 2018 that he had helped Milch write the screenplay.[22] The show's mining town was recreated by production designer Maria Caso and was filmed on the same sets as Westworld.[23] Milch, whose Alzheimer's diagnosis was made public in April 2019, took a hands-off approach to the production of the film; he relied on director Daniel Minahan and co-executive producer/writer Regina Corrado to see to the details.[24] The first photos of the production were released on December 19, 2018.[25] An accompanying interview with the film's executive producer Carolyn Strauss was released that day, in which she characterized the film as being about "the passage of time. The toll of time on people. It's mellowed some people and hardened others. And it's about the town's maturing and becoming part of the Union and what that event sets in motion, in a very personal way for the people that it brings in town and what ensues. The time has taken its greatest toll on [Al] Swearengen. He's the person who really drove so much of the life of the town and there's a sense of that power waning somewhat, and what ensues of that is a big part of the story."[23]

The first footage from the film was released on February 24, 2019, during a trailer announcing the 2019 lineup of upcoming films and series for HBO.[26] A full trailer was released on April 25, 2019.[27]

Reception

Critical response

The film has gained critical acclaim. Review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, reports the film holds a 98% approval rating based on 87 reviews, with an average rating of 8.32/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "A triumphant coda to a beloved series, Deadwood: The Movie will satisfy fans longing for a little f---ing closure."[28] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 86 out of 100 based on 29 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[29]

Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com gave it a highly positive review, rating it 4 out of 4 stars. He praised the direction by Daniel Minahan, writing, "Some of the best imagery in the entire arc of the show is right here in this movie." He also praised David Milch's writing, stating, "It feels like the product of a creator who fully understands that this is his last creation, but even he refuses to end on an easy note. There can be closure without sentimentality." He called it "a rich 110 minutes of filmmaking that rewards fans without pandering to them."[30]

Ben Travers of IndieWire gave it an "A−" grade and called the film "a bittersweet and brutally honest triumph". He also wrote that the final line of the film "is one of the greatest ever written".[31]

Ratings

In its original broadcast on May 31, 2019, on HBO, the film received 931,000 viewers.[32]

Accolades
Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
Art Directors Guild Awards Television Movie or Limited Series Maria Caso Nominated [33]
Casting Society of America Film – Nontheatrical Release Junie Lowry Johnson, Libby Goldstein and Josh Ropiequet Nominated [34]
Cinema Audio Society Awards Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Movie or Limited Series Geoffrey Patterson, John W. Cook II, Bill Freesh, Paul Parker and Jeff Gomillion Nominated [35]
Critics' Choice Television Awards Best TV Movie Deadwood: The Movie Nominated [36]
GLAAD Media Awards Outstanding TV Movie Nominated [37]
Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guilds Television Special, One Hour or More Live Program Series or Movie Made for Television – Best Period and/or Character Make-Up Lana Horochowski, Maurine Burke and Lesa Nielsen Duff Nominated [38]
Television Special, One Hour or More Live Program Series or Movie Made for Television – Best Period and/or Character Hair Styling Melissa Yonkey, Laine Trzinski and Jose Zamora Won
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Television Movie David Milch, Carolyn Strauss, Gregg Fienberg, Scott Stephens, Daniel Minahan, Ian McShane, Timothy Olyphant, Regina Corrado, Nichole Beattie and Mark Tobey Nominated [39]
Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or Movie David Klein Nominated
Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Supporting Role Eric Hayden, David Altenau, Alex Torres, Joseph Vincent Pike, Ian Northrop, Christopher Flynn, David Blumenfeld, Matthew Rappaport and David Rand Nominated
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited Series or Movie John W. Cook II, William Freesh and Geoffrey Patterson Nominated
Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Limited Series or Movie Martin Nicholson and Erick Fefferman Nominated
Outstanding Hairstyling for a Limited Series or Movie Melissa Yonkey, Laine Trzinski and Jose Zamora Nominated
Outstanding Makeup for a Limited Series or Movie (Non-Prosthetic) Lana Horochowski, Maurine Burke, Lesa Nielsen Duff, Ron Pipes and Mary Kay Morse Witt Nominated
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special Mandell Winter, Daniel Coleman, Ben Cook, Bernard Weiser, Brian Armstrong, Shane Hayes, Rob Chen, Dhyanna Carlton-Tim, Micha Liberman, Eryne Prine, John Sievert, Stefan Fraticelli and Jason Charbonneau Nominated
Producers Guild of America Awards Outstanding Producer of Streamed or Televised Motion Pictures David Milch, Carolyn Strauss, Gregg Fienberg, Scott Stephens, Daniel Minahan, Ian McShane, Timothy Olyphant, Regina Corrado, Nichole Beattie and Mark Tobey Nominated [40]
Satellite Awards Best Television Film Deadwood: The Movie Nominated [41]
TCA Awards Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials Nominated [42]

References
  1. Film and Television Tax Credit Program Program 2.0 (PDF) (Report). California Film Commission. p. 4. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  2. Ausiello, Michael (March 21, 2019). "Deadwood: The Movie: Watch First Teaser Trailer for HBO Revival — Plus, Premiere Date Announced". TVLine. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  3. HBO PR (March 21, 2019). "HBO Films' DEADWOOD Debuts May 31". Medium. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  4. Moreau, Jordan (March 21, 2019). "'Deadwood' Movie Drops First Trailer, Premiere Date". Variety. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  5. "Deadwood: The Movie". HBO. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  6. Seitz, Matt Zoller (May 28, 2019). "What Timothy Olyphant Learned From Deadwood". Vulture. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  7. Sepinwall, Alan (May 31, 2019). "'Deadwood: The Movie': A Proper F-ckin' Farewell for TV's Unfinished Masterpiece". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  8. "'Deadwood' to return". CNN.com. June 7, 2006. Archived from the original on November 13, 2007. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  9. Kimball, Trevor (July 13, 2007). "Deadwood: Are the Two Wrap-up Movies Dead?". TV Series Finale. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  10. Stewart, Ryan (September 30, 2007). "EXCLUSIVE: Ian McShane Tells Cinematical HBO Has Scrapped Those 'Deadwood' Movies". Cinematical. Archived from the original on March 18, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  11. Serico, Chris (October 1, 2007). "'Deadwood' regulars react to series' reported demise; Brown: 'I guess the horse is dead'". The Journal News. Archived from the original on March 11, 2008. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
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  26. "'Game of Thrones' Final Season, 'Deadwood' Movie, 'Watchmen' Series Teased in Trailer". Variety. February 24, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
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  33. Giardina, Carolyn (February 1, 2019). "'Parasite,' 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' Win Art Directors Guild Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  34. Lewis, Hillary (September 24, 2019). "Artios Awards: 'Succession,' 'Pose,' 'Dead to Me' Among Casting Society TV, Theater Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
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  40. "Nominations Announced in Motion Pictures and Television Programs Categories – 2020 Awards". Producers Guild of America. January 7, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  41. Peterson, Karen M. (December 3, 2019). "24th Satellite Awards Announce Nominations, 'Ford v Ferrari' Leads the Way". Awards Circuit. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
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