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Review

Husband and wife Cruise and Kidman manage to ignite a few sparks in this handsomely produced romantic epic set in late 19th-century Ireland and America. Essentially a three-act story, the first part, set in Ireland, finds poor farmer Cruise and rich landowner's daughter Kidman meeting after he attempts to murder her father. The second act takes place in Boston, where the two have emigrated, finding only poverty and corruption. The final is set in the Old West, where all have surfaced to strike a claim. Though the film's Boston scenes are overly melodramatic, it is the first and last acts in which director Howard distinguishes himself. The lush Irish landscapes and the vast Western skies provide a thrilling backdrop for what becomes, ultimately, a surprisingly rousing entertainment.