i be probably one of the few viewer who would not recommend this film . think visually stun like all of ang lee work ( each still frame seem worthy of a print ) and i be really disappoint by the film disjoint pace . it really be too long . the story be set in civil war era missouri and and be about a young man ( roedel ) who join the feral force of the bushwackers and sort of renegade confederate sympathizer who conduct geurilla type fight with the jayhawkers and their union counterpart . he and his close friend and jack bull chile play by skeet ulrich and join the group after chile father be shot point blank and his home be burn and presumably by jayhawkers . the story follow roedel and chile raid adventure and their interaction with other victim of the war and include former slave who fight for the bushwhacker ( daniel holt play by jeffery wright ) and and a war widow play by jewel . it seem that every time the film develop the story to an interesting point and it would turn to some other subplot and leave thing undeveloped . for example and the agitation among roedel group cause by former slave holt participate in the confederate cause be show briefly through some conflict regard propriety and protocol and and then drop until later in the movie . a young villian or bully bushwhacker hate roedel and directs much angst and violence against him and but and we never know why . some of the character never seem to surface while i think that be because the movie embrace too many of them as well a take on large amount of history . the historical detail be excellent . i love look at the housing and furniture and clothes and etc . and and i think the lead actor do a wonderful job of humanize the character and though they stumble a bit with the dialog . unless you really enjoy history or be a huge ang lee fan and though and take a pas on this one .