Lonesome Dove (1990)

Empire
3 stars out of 5 -- "Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones lead the amazing cast...It's an enjoyable six-hour yarn..." 05/01/2008

Sight and Sound
"[I]ts appeal lies in its deeply entrenched romanticism, even though the world it depicts is frequently harsh and violent." 05/01/2008 p.98

Uncut
4 stars out of 5 -- "Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones star, and dominate....[Urich is] uncommonly good as the killer Blue Duck." 06/01/2008 p.124

The Fresh Films Review 9 of 10
One of many remarkable aspects of Lonesome Dove is its first-class cast, completely unprecedented for a tv-production. People stood in line to get into this, and the end product greatly profits from it. As opposed to most tv-productions, Lonesome Dove has a timelessness to it that makes it not only an outstanding production, but also an important document in the western genre timeline...The number one key to Lonesome Dove's unique quality and wonderful narrative, is the depiction of the characters and its two lead protagonist in particular. Gus McCrae and Woodrow Call have a delightful mix of complimentarity and incompatibility which serves as the foundation for their deep, implicit respect and love. The performances from Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones are arguable career highs for both...The mini-series format is not the most common, and certainly not as reputable as a two-hour cinematic release. But for Lonesome Dove, it serves perfectly right for the story, and it gave tv-productions a general lift. Still, in retrospect, Lonesome Dove won't be remembered for its format or for which medium it was released through, but simply for being one of the most nuanced and accomplished westerns of all time. A testimony that in the name of storytelling, a thrusting narrative and great characters will overshadow almost anything, and, last but not least, keep the viewer constantly engrossed. - Fredrik Gunerius Fevang
 
Apollo Movie Guide 8 of 10
Based on Larry McMurtry's Pulitzer Prize winning novel, Lonesome Dove is a rare mvoie: a network television production that easily succeeds as a motion picture. This is thanks in large part to excellent production values and a knowing eye for detail. The teleplay adaptation (by Legends of the Fall scribe Bill Wittliff) often veers into typical television-movie melodrama, but more than a few clever twists and some excellent performances cause this one to rank pretty darn high in the Mini-Series Hall of Fame...Robert Duvall is the glue that holds the production together. His rascally-yet-wise portrayal of Augustus McRae would be entertaining even if it ran for twice as long. Even when his character ventures perilously close to the trite or cliched, Duvall has a twinkle in his eye, and it's obvious he's enjoying this role...Aside from the presence of television regular Robert Urich, Lonesome Dove consistently betrays its television network lineage. It has the scope and look of a well-made (albeit low-budget) feature film. Granted, calling it one of the best mini-series may be damning a movie with faint praise, but Lonesome Dove is easily that good. It is sometimes predictable, but it's a dramatic and satisfying -- and lengthy -- story that you'll find yourself immersed in quickly, and you'll stay that way until the bittersweet yet satisfying finale. - Scott Weinberg