The Scenery Director Sydney Pollack frames in this film is unbeatable. The story, taken from the novel is treated well. Redford is at his best in this one. He carries the central role of Johnson with pride and grit. Will Geer, veteran character actor best known as Grandpa Walton excels in support as Bear Claw, the mentor who is Johnsons first encounter when he decides to become a mountain man at the top of the film. Bear Claw is an old rough and tumble bear hunter whose necklace of bear teeth chronicle his many encounters.The story is about a rugged frontiersman life in the era of the west when there were still plenty of Native Americans in an untamed West. A lot of the filming is done on location in Utah, among other places. It is visually stunning and the story does hold up well.This movie is for more than Reford fans, though thankfully it shows us a Redford rarely seen in his career.

I never include much of a plot synopses in my reviews, only that which is necessary to underscore whatever calls for a bit of back story, as that information can be found elsewhere. Instead, I concentrate on the all around artistic merit of a film and the quality of its production. In Jeremiah Johnson, I'll make a bit of an exception since it's essentially a true story, and there is so much going on that one would do well to watch it at least twice to catch all the nuances at play. Based on an amalgamation of real life people including a character named "Liver Eatin' Johnson", who ate the livers of his adversaries in keeping with THEIR customs, I will say that essentially the movie tells the story of a white man who drops from society to escape it's politics and finds himself at war with native peoples of the lands wherein he ends up. His family killed by these native peoples for having broken a sacred custom, the real Johnson, confused, scared, mad and alone goes on a vengeful spree. So worthy of an adversary was he and so fierce was his revenge, eventually it was the wily and land-savvy indigenous peoples who sought him out for a truce. This was more or less the way of it. Now on to the technicalities of the film. Pollack has always been my favorite director. His understated direction and touching scores are the stuff of legend. Perfectly lit and beautifully shot, everyone pulls their weight. Perhaps Redford's best work, you can also expect to see Will Geer at the top of his game, and Stephan Gierasch & newcomer Delle Bolton (now a novelty shop owner in the southwest) take turns stealing their scenes as well. To say this is merely a great film does it a disservice.  It's more than just great - it's quintessential. Its a must-see. The tension the viewer feels as Johnson stops cold on his mount, listening to the silence, sensing something is amiss after breaking a native custom and having quietly led a rescue party through a burial ground rivals anything in the movies today - albeit more is left to the imagination. But after all, don't we yearn for more movies wherein we are forced to contemplate plot as opposed to essentially having it all but captioned for us? See this and thank me. Along with All the President's Men and Three Days of the Condor I'd put this atop that short Redford list. Yup. It's THAT good. The evidence: within 10 minutes you forget its a nearly 50 year old film. Now you'll excuse me, I'm going to start it from the beginning and watch it again.....Enjoy!! -Jim Boerner,  [email protected]

I just read an account of Robert Redford stating that one of his takes at the end of the movie where he gnashed his teeth at Paints-His-Shirt-Red was inadvertent and was the one that wound up in the film. When I saw it, I felt he was containing his rage and showing a measure of respect for his Crow Indian foe long after his Flathead wife Swan (Delle Bolton) and companion Caleb (Josh Albee) were slain by the Indian or one of his tribe. It was a way for the viewer to comprehend that Jeremiah Johnson understood that the Crow revenge for going through their sacred burial ground was to their way of thinking justified. At least that's what I got out of it.After watching the movie, one gets the impression that getting back to nature might not be the best idea going. At least not 1800's style. Hunting, trapping and freezing to death to make a living is not the panacea one might envision in a wistful reverie about living off the land. Of course the Indian threat is much less today, but surviving brutal winters outdoors is never fun. It's been below zero every morning where I live for the past week.What's never made clear in the story is why Jeremiah Johnson gave up on civilization in the first place. One could come up with a few ideas but they'd be only guesses. A brief mention is made of the Mexican War but Johnson didn't have a problem with violence when you come right down to it. I would like to have better understood his motivation.The picture is gorgeously filmed and the scenery is outstanding. As a man without a plan, Johnson winds up wherever life takes him meeting colorful characters along the way. There's a sort of romanticism to it in it's own way, but always slammed with a harsh measure of reality every time other human beings are involved.

Although his heart was in the right place, let's face it, Robert Redford is totally miscast as this bitter, rugged mountain man. Placed on the beautifully shot landscapes he just seems out of place with his beautifully layered hair.This quiet Western Adventure is probably better because of its sparse use of dialog because what is used is quite Hollywood corn and mostly rings phony, like most of the characters in this overrated Movie.Clichés abound as the folksy ballad intrudes unnecessarily at times, as if we needed to be reminded that we are watching a Movie. That is undeniable. It is not as bad as Dances With Wolves (1990) and can be viewed for some enjoyment, but for a Film striving for realism it oh so fails as it tries to portray isolation and individualism.It is disjointed and edited rather clumsily and there is unintentional humor and the intentional humor falls flat. Even the dirty faces and scraggly beards look like make-up. This is an experience that many find warm and memorable. It's reputation is solid and if you don't mind all that has been said here, you may enjoy it. But it is much more of gallant failed attempt than great insight into the elusive Mountain Man Mythology.