i love this movie and have see it quite a few time over the year . it do get good with every viewing . i agree with all of the positive review here . yes and it gritty and brutally realistic a life on the prairie be in those day . i find myself do commentary a i watch it . someone on here say rip torn be miscast . i couldn not disagree more . he be brilliant a the dour and miserly clyde stewart who say little and work like a slave or workhorse . conchatta farrell be fantastic a the widow elinor and whom clyde hire a a housekeeper or cook ( along with her 7 old daughter ) . lilia skala be excellent a distant neighbor call grandma . also a star be the stark montana prairie . it be both beautiful and brutal country in which to settle . there be some scene that be both repulsive and necessary . no special effect here and what you see be real . it even have a terrificly perfect music score and a great script . once you see heartland and you will never forget it . it deserve all the 10 it get here .