Far And Away

XTom Cruise and Nicole Kidman as Joseph Donnelly and Shannon Cristie in "Far And Away"; directed by Ron Howard. We start the story with young tom cruise an Irish tenant farmer about to lose his family's land because they can't pay the exorbitant taxes. As he rushes off hot headed to the landlord demanding fairness, he discovers the landlords beautiful daughter and things make a many quick turn from there.

With matters becoming more complicated for everyone in Ireland it seems that young Tom and Nicole head for America and the riches it promises soon followed by her family including a former suitor. They have it very hard at first and have advantage taken from them at every turn. It seems that young Shannon was previously used to the good life of being waited on by servants while Tom was a simple working farmer more suited to survive in the cutthroat city of 1893 Boston.

So with the young couple and the parents both pursuing the same goal but running a separate race until the end they are all caught up in the wonders of the Great Land Rush with plenty of excitement to go around.
I would call this movie a good combination of romance, western, and drama. It has just the right qualities it takes to make a really, really good movie. Balance between the director and cast as well as wardrobe, props, camera men, sound people, etc. all working together in harmony to produce a truly wonderful movie.

The accents are a little hard to get used to at first and I'm sure the actors had quite a time with it also, but it gives a quality to the movie that somehow strengthens the plot and keeps you intrigued.

One little fact to leave you with. Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman's romance was not only on the set they also had a real life romantic interlude ending in marriage; but that's another story.

This is a must see and must have for the movie shelf because you will want to see it again and again.