Quendrith Johnson

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by Quendrith Johnson, Los Angeles Correspondent

Academy Award nominee Diane Lane has been in the public eye since Coppola, even before THE COTTON CLUB, where she polished her star so brightly that the film still shines out today.

Now Focus Features has her set in this gem opposite another leading man of the period, Kevin Costner. The film is novel adaptation LET HIM GO, on deck for November release.

LET HIM GO, set in 1951 in Montana, revisits Western themes of family and isolation where the actor made a name for himself by writing and directing classic film, DANCES WITH WOLVES. Sidebar: How do you know this film is a classic in Hollywood? Because insiders still refer to the first AVATAR as "Dances with Smurfs" - nice.

Here’s What Focus Features Says About LET HIM GO

Following the loss of their son, retired sheriff George Blackledge (Costner) and his wife Margaret (Lane) leave their Montana ranch to rescue their young grandson from the clutches of a dangerous family living off the grid in the Dakotas, headed by matriarch Blanche Weboy.  When they discover the Weboys have no intention of letting the child go, George and Margaret are left with no choice but to fight for their family.

Take a Look at LET HIM GO’s Opener Set for November

Now back to our story without the press notes…

Getting back to this custody, hell-bent for vengeance story that is “Let Him Go,” what is there to say about the novel from which this film is adapted? There’s a reason this book won the 2013 Montana literary prize. Larry Watson, the author from Montana, is so steeped in the American West’s emotional topology that he can spin forth tales like this with ease.

Prediction: this will be a hugely popular award favorite around some virtual cinema circuit for Lane and Costner, and might become the new combo that was once Lane and Gere. Switching gears to Costner, couldn’t help using that one, sorry, Lane might finally find her way to that small gold guy with the cloaked modesty that is the Academy Award.

Focus Features has a true West story here, with a little of the best of Clint Eastwood’s PALE RIDER type energy beaming from Costner’s glare.

Diane Lane is so great in this, even though they somehow made her up to look like June Carter Cash. 

Something to look forward to in November besides Thanksgiving, anyway, LET HIM GO. Let’s face it, Diane Lane is due, and her box office draw is rock solid. Kevin’s okay too, and the film is directed Thomas Bezucha, with music by the great Michael Giacchino, UP's Oscar winner.

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