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Jack Bull The Movie

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The Jack Bull is a Western Starring John Cusack

Not everyone knows a steadfast idealist such as Myrl Redding in The Jack Bull; a man who will go to extremes, or who will drudge through a situation to the very end. Some people would think, "I can't be worried about that." "Forget it, let it go," some might say. That is not the case in The Jack Bull starring John Cusack.

A person like that would drive me crazy, nonetheless individuals who display steadfast traits can be heroes. TV magazines give us stories about determination. Newspapers, blogs and Squidoo are good sources for the "stick to it" stories and the "finish what I begin" resolve.

Hollywood movie plots use this scenario endlessly. I like these kind of stories because they convey the human in us. Sometimes the stories have sad endings because events do not always turn out so well.

Plot of The Jack Bull

I will keep this short. Watch it to get all the good details.

Matched Pair by Gunna as in The Jack BullIn Jack Bull John Cusack is Myrl Redding a struggling western rancher in the Wyoming territory before it became a state. Everyone in the territory is working hard to make their lives and families comfortable in this almost lawless land.

Myrl Redding wants a underhanded injustice corrected. The wealthy landowner, Henry Ballard, is too proud to admit that his hired hands have mistreated Redding's horses, left as a toll to cross his land. A feud with tragic results holds your interest till the very end of The Jack Bull.

If I remember correctly the end or the beginning of the film says based on a true story. The true story takes place in the 16th century and there was no Myrl Redding in Wyoming. Further information on this is covered in Wikipedia.

Update: 07/07/11 When I wrote this story Wikipedia had a lengthy article about this movie. It has since been removed. Now the Wikipedia for The Jack Bull is a rather long outline of the whole script. Do not read it before you see the film. This film is better enjoyed without all the details known.

Amazon Editoral of the DVD

The Jack Bull

The Jack Bull

Amazon Price: $3.17 (as of 02/18/2012)Buy Now

Use this link to read the Amazon editorial review of the DVD and one of the 46 5* customer reviews Jack Bull received.

A Movie About a Determined Man

The latest hit Slum Dog Millionaire was a story about a young man looking for his childhood friend and love. It was absorbing and heart felt. I liked it a lot. At first the opening scenes seemed too raw, I felt, oh no, I will not like the end of this story. I settled down after awhile and was swept away by the plot and story. The ending was so fun with the ballywood dancing.

Forrest Gump was a movie of a determined man that was enjoyed in the nineties.

The Jack Bull also is out of the nineties. I caught it one night surfing the channels for something to watch several years after its TV release. It is an HBO release. The new revisionist westerns are a favorite of mine. My first school research paper was on the settling of the American West.

I am just drawn to the subject, but no doubt about it, I will not pass up John Cusack films. Thinking about it is Cusack the bad guy in any role? If you know one please add it to the plexo below.

Script Written by Dick Cusack

Back to Our Movie

Have you noticed that Joan is in many of her brother's movies? For The Jack Bull it is John's father that writes the script. The idea was inspired by the novel "Micheal Kohlhas" by Heinrick von Kleist written in 1811. "Micheal Kohlhass" is a different time and country, 16th century Germany, but it is a story about horses, revenge and justice.

Dick Cusack did a very good job of adapting the plot into the American west. The events ring plausible and the characters authentic. Costuming looks natural. Maybe the Ballard character was a bit flashy at first.

At the end of the film I thought it was a real story about a ranger in Wyoming and an actual boy who loses his parents. If you want a journey into the old west this movie is it.

10 Fun Facts About The Jack Bull

1 Dick Cusack (John's father) is the jury foreman.

2 Bill Cusack is in the movie somewhere.

3 John Goodman is the Judge.

4 John C. McGinley from "Scrubs" is the hired hand.

5 The plot is based on a 16th century novella. Read about the short story "Michael Kohlhass" on wikipedia.

6 Drake Bell from "Drake and Josh" is the son, and played the son again in "High Fidelity."

7 L.Q. Jones is the evil ranger. You will think, "I have seen him before."

8 Filmed in Calgary, Alberta

9 Released 1999.

10 Film credits song is "Ring Them Bells" written by Bob Dylan.

Based on Michael Kohlhaas

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Link List for more on Jack Bull

Variety Reviews
Outlines the whole plot and mentions characters and actors.
Jack Bull on Wikipedia
The Jack Bull entry was updated in Sept. 2010. The references to the plot link of the novella Michael Kohlhaas was removed.
Wikipedia on Michael Kohlhaas
The plot summary for the Novella, Michael Kohlhaas is here. Very interesting. It was well adapted to the American West.
Wiki on John Cusack
Hey, there is a good still. Full Filmography.

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Also this is a good source for all the movie "one liners."

Ex. "Buck up little camper" "I want my two dollars."
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Revisionist Westerns

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