The Ballad of Lefty Brown
An underestimated Montana cowboy becomes a fugitive while pursuing the killers who framed him for his friend's murder.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- gritty
- bleak
- tense
- western movie night
- serious action drama viewing
What critics said
Critics generally found the film a solid, atmospheric revisionist western elevated by Bill Pullman's lead performance and its humanistic treatment of frontier justice.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Lefty is accused of murdering Senator Edward Johnson while powerful men connected to the killing manipulate the law.
Lefty hunts Johnson's killers after witnessing his partner's murder and refuses to abandon the search for accountability.
The revenge journey crosses vast, stark Montana landscapes that reinforce Lefty's isolation and vulnerability.
Lefty must persuade his former hard-drinking friend Tom Harrah to stop drinking and resume his duties as a U.S. Marshal.
Films like The Ballad of Lefty Brown, and why
The Homesman
shares a revisionist western setting, frontier justice, moral ambiguity, and a solitary protagonist seeking accountability
Hostiles
shares a rugged old-west atmosphere, revenge journey, political corruption, and hard-edged character drama
True Grit
shares a classical western framework, pursuit of killers, friendship, and themes of justice versus institutional power
The Proposition
shares a revisionist western tone, outlaw violence, betrayal, and a damaged protagonist navigating a hostile frontier
Movie Details
- Director
- Jared Moshé
- Release Date
- 2017-12-15
- Runtime
- 105 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (191)
Cast
- Bill Pullman
- Peter Fonda
- Kathy Baker
- Jim Caviezel
- Tommy Flanagan
- Diego Josef
- Joseph Lee Anderson
- Michael Spears
- Dillinger Steele
- Brian Henningsen
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Ballad of Lefty Brown about?
- An underestimated Montana cowboy becomes a fugitive while pursuing the killers who framed him for his friend's murder.
- What is The Ballad of Lefty Brown like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Ballad of Lefty Brown as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Ballad of Lefty Brown violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Ballad of Lefty Brown as brutal.
- What did critics think of The Ballad of Lefty Brown?
- Critics generally found the film a solid, atmospheric revisionist western elevated by Bill Pullman's lead performance and its humanistic treatment of frontier justice.
- Which films are like The Ballad of Lefty Brown?
- Films with a similar feel include The Homesman, Hostiles, True Grit, and The Proposition.
- How long is The Ballad of Lefty Brown?
- The Ballad of Lefty Brown runs 105 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Ballad of Lefty Brown?
- In United States, The Ballad of Lefty Brown is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
