Ride With the Devil

Director: Ang Lee
Year Released: 1999
Rating: 1.0

Just what's needed: an apathetic film about the Civil War. Missouri residents Skeet Ulrich, Jeffrey Wright and Tobey Maguire team up with the South to fight against the Yankees - Ulrich has a particular grudge, because they killed his Daddy, and no one really likes that. It's lifeless and intellectually dry when the characters sit around and mope, only picking up when Lee and cinematographer Frederick Elmes burn a couple buildings down or show a lil' gun violence. The characters seem lost in thought, but the forever-outstanding Jeffrey Wright emits a quiet dignity.