Toronto review: Nicolas Cage in Gabe Polsky’s “Butcher’s Crossing”

In Gabe Polski’s new film, Will Andrews (Fred Hechinger) goes from dropping out of Harvard to a cowboy. Kasaban crossingScreenplay by Polsky and Liam Satter-Malloy, based on the book by John Williams.

Andrews seeks adventure on the open frontier. The school didn’t make it and he is now looking for people to travel with. He meets Miller (Nicolas Cage), a man engaged in the killing of Buffalo. Andrews asks to accompany Miller on his next trip, which is to hunt a herd of mysterious buffaloes, and the young man can join them for a fee of $ 500. He promises this will be the biggest climb of his life. Well appears to lack social and life skills as he walks into a cowboy and cannot dance or talk to women. He at least he knows and is not trying to be something he is not. So the kid has to join Miller on this journey, to learn how to be a man, and he has no idea what he’s getting into.

At the shooting range, Willie fires a rifle for the first time, goes hunting, learns about buffalo skins and what their body parts are for. Any ability to acquire their resolve leads to Miller and his band of hunters. The young man gets to know each member, learns their quirks and absorbs the knowledge they impart. Eventually, Miller’s stubbornness leads the group into a severe snowstorm that keeps them stranded for longer than expected. With each passing day, as the frost falls and stocks dwindle, the group loses touch with reality. Willie then begins to wonder: was it worth it?

Kasaban crossing is a 19th century coming-of-age story that raises questions about masculinity and what it takes to be a “real man”. Poor Will is so rebellious that he looks a lot like that movie. As a character, his hero’s journey is not engaging. He is the subject of this film and is portrayed not as an observer but as a background character in his own story. The men he surrounds himself with are also unique, which no one should say about Nicolas Cage, but here we are. The sweeping mountain views are impressive thanks to David Gallego’s photography, but as most of the film takes place at night, it’s nearly impossible to see the fruits of his labor. In some scenes it is difficult to distinguish faces or movements.

Kasaban crossing With the aim of creating a conversation about toxic masculinity and how it is seen through the eyes of a young newcomer. However, he’s too busy looking over the line to make a strong statement about what it means to his main character.