Westerns are undeniably underappreciated. It’s not a genre that piques the interest of most moviegoers. I remember watching westerns as a kid, but they are now much less popular and even less appreciated. This is understandable given that the majority of our westerns in history contain problematic icons that are difficult to sympathize with in today’s society, but The Legend of Molly Johnson has a significant impact on the genre.
The Legend of Molly Johnson represents a style of western that paints a picture beyond your average John Wayne film. The Legend of Molly Johnson embraces the Western genre in a way that transcends the norm. As this film demonstrates, westerns do not always have to be about men, especially white men. The film depicts the strength of a woman who struggles in the outback and overcomes the same challenges and harsh landscape that traditional western heroes do. The movie provides a rare viewpoint by showing the world through the eyes of a woman who endures such difficult circumstances.
The film is set in the Australian outback in 1893 and is based on Henry Lawson’s short story, The Drover’s Wife. Johnson is played by Leah Purcell, an indigenous woman whose husband left to work as a drover herding sheep across the country, putting Johnson in charge of her family and home during the harsh conditions of the outback As she navigates through her day-to-day life and deals with issues the world throws at her, such as women’s rights, racism, and the appalling colonialism of the late 19th century, Purcell gives such an astounding performance in front of the camera—and a memorable one at that.
She battles to survive and protect her children while her husband is absent; this absence raises the suspicions of local authorities which is only further complicated when a shackled fugitive lands on her doorstep. She must determine her identity and place as a woman in this harsh world. She befriends the fugitive, and a perilous encounter that comes Johnson’s way has consequences that will affect her and her family’s lives forever.
It’s evident from seeing the film that Purcell is profoundly invested in the story it depicts. Purcell has already written a book and presented a play, displaying her commitment to storytelling and the plight of indigenous peoples and women in Australia. She is undoubtedly superb behind the camera. In addition to giving an outstanding performance, she works with cinematographer Mark Wareham and effortlessly captures the starkness and eeriness of the Australian outback, making the viewer feel as though they are in the middle of it.
Nonetheless, despite being your ordinary good guys and bad guys, a number of the other characters come across as unnecessarily pushy and forced. In my opinion, this could have been changed in the final script to something more significant and powerful. No doubt the film has its strengths and a lot of them, but that being said, this was taking a stage play and turning it into cinema, which all provides wonderful storytelling and characters, but the pacing of it just feels off. At times, it actually feels like watching a stage play, which doesn’t translate well into the cinema and the smooth narrative of what a film should be.
However, there is no denying that this is a brilliant addition to a genre that isn’t receiving enough attention today. With the tale it presents and the inspiring and outstanding heroin it provides, we need more films like this in the western genre. The empowerment of women, ethnicity, and the desire for equality were all beautifully conveyed in this film—an outstanding f**king hit.
The Legend of Molly Johnson is currently playing in select theaters and available on digital platforms courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films.
The empowerment of women, ethnicity, and the desire for equality were all beautifully conveyed in this film—an outstanding f**king hit.
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GVN Rating 8
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It all started when I was a kid watching Saturday morning cartoons like the Spider-Man: Animated Series and Batman. Since then I’ve been hooked to the world of pop culture. Huge movie lover from French New Wave, to the latest blockbusters, I love them all. Huge Star Wars and Marvel geek. When I’m free from typing away at my computer, you can usually catch me watching a good flick or reading the next best comic. Come geek out with me on Twitter @somedudecody.