Sam Elliott is known for his Western roles, but the actor shared harsh criticism for the acclaimed The Power of the Dog. Though Elliott has proven himself a versatile actor in projects like A Star is Born and Mask, he is also one of the most beloved Western actors, seeming like he was made for the genre.

Elliott started earning his Western reputation as part of the cast of Tombstone and Gettysburg. More recently, he earned strong reviews and many accolades after joining the Yellowstone universe in 1883. Elliott has even used the Western persona to great effect outside of Western movies, like his memorable turn in The Big Lebowski.

With such success as a Western star, Elliott has certainly earned the right to share his thoughts on the genre. However, his harsh views on one of the most acclaimed Westerns of the 2020s may surprise you.

Sam Elliott Caused Controversy With His Negative Comments About The Power Of The Dog

Elliott Later Apologized For His Comments

The Power of the Dog was an adaptation of the 1967 novel by Thomas Savage. The movie stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Phil, a mean-spirited rancher who resents his brother (Jesse Plemons) marrying a widow (Kirsten Dunst), while also developing a complicated relationship with her young son (Kodi Smit-McPhee).

The movie was hailed as a modern Western classic upon its release, earning 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. It was also a hit at the Oscars, earning 11 nominations and winning Jane Campion her first Oscar for Best Director. Given all of the praise, it is a surprise that Sam Elliott was so critical of The Power of the Dog, calling it a “piece of s**t“ (via WTF Podcast):

“What the ҒUCҜ does this woman — she’s a brilliant director by the way, I love her work, previous work — but what the ҒUCҜ does this woman from down there, New Zealand, know about the American west? And why in the ҒUCҜ does she shoot this movie in New Zealand and call it Montana and say, ‘This is the way it was.’ That ҒUCҜing rubbed me the wrong way, pal,”

The comments were quite negative for a movie that, at the time, was considered the frontrunner to win Best Picture at the Oscars, but Elliott’s comments also earned controversy as some considered them offensive. Along with the perception that Elliott had an issue with a woman making a Western, he also attacked some of the movie’s undertones:

“They’re all running around in chaps and no shirts. There’s all these allusions to homoSєxuality throughout the ҒUCҜing movie.”

Again, these comments were seen by some as Elliott complaining about the movie depicting gay characters and expressing homophobic rhetoric. In the midst of the controversy, Elliott quickly offered an apology. Along with apologizing to Campion and the cast, Elliott acknowledged how his comments here were deemed offensive by some (via ᴅᴇᴀᴅline):

“I wasn’t very articulate about it. I didn’t articulate it very well. And I said some things that hurt people and I feel terrible about that. The gay community has been incredible to me my entire career. And I mean my entire career, from before I got started in this town. Friends on every level and every job description up until today. I’m sorry I hurt any of those friends and someone that I loved. And anyone else by the words that I used.”

Sam Elliott’s Comments On The Power Of The Dog Reflect A Long History Of Backlash Against Change In The Western Genre

Western Legends Have Pushed Back Against The Evolution Of The Genre

Sam Elliott’s apology for his criticism of The Power of the Dog was generally seen as genuine, but the comments reflect an interesting trend throughout the history of the Western genre. Western movies are perhaps more rigid than other genres and therefore come with certain expectations from the audience.

Over the years, the Western genre has seen a lot of change. However, this change is not always accepted by everyone, and as with Elliott criticizing The Power of the Dog, the pushback can often come from established Western stars.

John Wayne is one of the most iconic Western actors of all time, but he was also very outspoken about other Westerns. He called High Noon un-American due to its allegory of McCarthyist politics of the time. He also criticized the evolution of violent Westerns like The Wild Bunch and Clint Eastwood’s movies.

Recently, Brokeback Mountain co-writer Diana Ossana spoke about Clint Eastwood choosing not to watch the movie when it was up for various Oscars, including Best Picture. Similar to the perception of Elliott’s comments about The Power of the Dog, there was considerable pushback to Brokeback Mountain introducing LGBTQ+ characters in a Western movie.

It is alright for actors and other artists to have negative opinions on other movies, but when it comes to the Western genre evolving, these instances of backlash failed to recognize the necessity of it all. The Western genre has seemed on the verge of ending several times, and it took a new approach to revitalize things.

The Power of the Dog‘s success and acclaim were a victory for the Western genre, showing audiences that there could still be bold and brilliant stories told after all these years.