when i hear this film be direct by ang lee and i make sure to see it . this taiwanese director burst into fame with the wedding banquet and eat drink man woman a few year ago and then move on to sense and sensibility and the ice storm . now and he turn his attention to another american icon the civil war . this story take place in missouri and a union state with southern sympathy . these never officially join the confederate army . instead and they form outlaw band and call bushwhacker and grow they hair long and and sometimes would confiscate union uniform which they wear over their regular clothing . the movie depict their moral dilemma and the high drama of the time and and their supposedly heroic mission of kill storekeeper and farmer who aid the union . there be no star in this movie and unless you consider jewel the singer and well cast a a young confederate widow a a star . tobey macquire be cast a a young german farm boy who be deride for his heritage because the german be suppose union sympathizer . this young man be an excellent actor and full of fresh face youth whose performance encompass his wonder and subtle realization a he expose to the horror of war . jeffrey wright be a freed slave who travel with the bushwhacker because of his loyalty to the young man who buy him his freedom . he give a fine and understated performance . some of the acting and however and be wooden and especially in the long conversation they have about morality . and their costume be too new . and the southern gentleman theme of manner and hat tipping and politeness to woman come across a a bit much especially since they make it a point to murder all the men who they pull from their woman arm and then burn down the store and house . while i do not think that this will go down as one of lee ang great movie and i do find myself fascinate by it and in spite of the slow part and it excessive length of 140 minute . i be interested in what be happen next and felt empathy for each of the character who all come across a real and imperfect human being catch up in the force of history . not a much action a the usual war movie and but yet still recommend especially for civil war buff .