Deadwood: The Movie (2019)
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As South Dakota celebrates its statehood, the residents of Deadwood face the consequences of time and the shifting power dynamics of a maturing town.
The story
In 1889, as South Dakota celebrates its statehood, the residents of Deadwood gather for the festivities. The widow Alma Garret Ellsworth returns with her ward Sofia, while Calamity Jane seeks to make amends with Joanie Stubbs. Meanwhile, United States senator George Hearst returns to the town to purchase land from Charlie Utter, whose property interferes with Hearst's investment in telephone lines. Trixie, pregnant with Sol Star's child, insults Hearst, leading him to confront the ailing Al Swearengen. Hearst demands Swearengen's help in acquiring Utter's land to avoid revenge, setting off a series of dangerous dealings and escalating tensions among the town's inhabitants.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1889, during South Dakota's statehood celebrations, various residents of Deadwood converge. Alma Garret Ellsworth returns with her ward Sofia, and Calamity Jane seeks reconciliation with Joanie Stubbs. George Hearst, now a U.S. senator, attempts to buy land from Charlie Utter for telephone lines. After Trixie insults Hearst, he discovers Swearengen's past deception regarding Trixie's life and demands Swearengen's help in acquiring Utter's land. Utter refuses to sell, and is subsequently murdered by gunmen hired by Hearst. U.S. Marshal Seth Bullock investigates, discovering the murder and confronting Hearst. E.B. Farnum witnesses the hitmen meeting Hearst and informs Bullock. During an auction for Utter's property, Alma outbids Hearst. The hitmen attempt to lynch a witness, Samuel Fields, but are stopped by Bullock, who kills one and captures the other. Manning is revealed as Hearst's informant. A gunfight ensues, injuring Johnny Burns. Sol Star takes his pregnant Trixie to Bullock's home for safety, where they agree to marry. Swearengen gives Trixie away at the Gem Saloon, promising her the establishment upon his death. Hearst is arrested by Bullock for the murder of Utter, and a mob led by Calamity Jane beats him. Calamity Jane kills Manning to prevent him from shooting Bullock. Fields provides Bullock with closure regarding Utter's peaceful death. The film ends with Trixie caring for the ailing Swearengen as he recites the Lord's Prayer.
- First release year
- 2019
- Runtime (minutes)
- 110
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Daniel Minahan
- Writers
- David Milch · writer
- Cast and characters
- Timothy Olyphant; Ian McShane; Molly Parker; Paula Malcomson; John Hawkes; Gerald McRaney
- Genres
- Western
- Themes
- The passage of time; The toll of time on people; Maturing of a town; Power waning
- Tone and mood
- Bittersweet; Brutally honest; Triumphant
- Premise and plot tags
- Western; Sequel; Television film; Reunion
- Source material / true-story basis
- Deadwood (TV series)
- Franchise connections
- Deadwood
- Reception
- The film has gained critical acclaim, described as a triumphant coda to the series and a bittersweet, brutally honest triumph.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 98% · review count: 89; Metacritic · score: 86 · scale: 100 · review count: 29
- Production trivia
- The film was shot on the same sets as Westworld.; The film was originally planned as a pair of two-hour television films in place of a fourth season.; The film was set approximately 10 years after the end of season 3.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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