pretentious drivel be about all one can say . pity because move hardy west be an appeal idea but the performer and mood and conceit of the movie be anything but western . comparison with altman mccabe and mrs. miller be interest but mostly serve to demonstrate that this be ( sorry but it be the best description ) still pretentious drivel . perhaps some enterprising auteur can try this again with a different cast and director but again premise on the mayor of casterbridge do his time in the nineteenth century west but this time without the european music and and one more time and pretentious drivel . i would have note spoiler and mention the end but i could not make it through . page julie christie .