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An apology to Robert Redford

When I first saw Milagro Beanfield War many years ago, I viewed it as yet another great novel underserved during the screenwriting and production process.

I was crabby about some omitted details, details I had found poignant and key to the story as I interpreted it.

I was hypercritical of character development (or lack thereof in my opin), and felt less than enough time had been spent providing a basis for the viewer.

In short, I didn't like it.

Since I saw it for the first time, critiqued it to no end, and basically decided that what Redford did was a reflection of his Eastern seaboard roots vs deep immersion into the whole Northern New Mexico life/politics/Hispanic history/flavor, I've mellowed a bit.

I've begun to shun most critiques (literary and cinematic) as just that -- opinions often rendered by those that critique rather than risk creative failure by actually writing or producing or directing a book or movie.

That said, I'd like to alter my opinion of the movie, and offer my apology to Redford for allowing myself such a narrow view of his work. He took on a project of epic proportions. The book was big, the characters were complex, and the historical information was broad and now I realize impossible to capture and convey in a feature-length movie.

On second viewing just this past weekend, I was charmed and entertained and pleased by the movie. I was struck by the beautiful landscapes, the relationships, the story, the bittersweetness he'd managed to capture.

Making movies is a challenge at any point. Making one to please a book lover is nearly impossible.

But Bob did it. It just took me 21 years to appreciate his effort.

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