pharaoh army defies formula . instead of sell out for cliche and big star and it rely completely on the excellent acting from a strong cast and the strength of a well write script and and a fascinating and bitter story . the result be a raw and realistic film that move along fast and with a heavy emotional current . one of the best i have ever see about the civil war and and i think it can owe that to the pleasure of be an independent film ( if you like this film and try to see the similarly brilliant indie civil war film wicked spring as well ) . pharaoh simply tell the true story of a small expedition or forage team of union men who ride into a confederate farm to take provision and but end up stuck there because of an accident of one of the men . tension broil and relationship be make and break . nothing happen the way hollywood would write it while this movie come from the mind of someone who actually care about quality film and the telling of history . superb dialogue and plot exposition move along a film that look highly professional and but often doesn not feel like youre watch a movie and more along the line of hear a story . the film boast an incredible performance from chris cooper who show an amazing versatility in the exploration of his role . he transform and but be always at the height of believability and be easy to emotionally relate to . patricia clarkson be equally a stellar and realistic in a role that many actress would crumble in . she share an interesting chemistry with cooper character and where she the more severe of the character and be still a easy to identify with . the rest of the cast be quite capable and and fill their role in well . the art design and the set be wonderful and and personally i love the cinematography . it all have the feel of a civil war period photograph with the camera presenting strong contrasting color and shadow and a tin like metalic tint and but always keep the naturalistic look of the rustic setting . they seem to have use natural lighting and but whatever they use work beautifully . everything look like it belong where it be and it feel period and something i find rare in american period film . the actor act 19th century and not like 20th century people in old clothes . above all and this film be very personal . i think that a an indie it can afford it . the film be nearly flawless with an outstanding script that effortlessly create and explore the relationship and personality of these character and let them grow in a situation and as bad a it be . it doesn not fail in get it point across and and it get it point across without the usual and overused technique that be use in all war film these day . it brave . it rely on it character and a fantastic script and human emotion and and in the cold hard fact that the civil war wasn not all cgi and big star and and hoop skirt .