Cozy. Final shot a little obvious but that’s fine.

Way more of a jukebox than I would have assumed from its reputation, cribbing haphazardly from classical and revisionist Westerns to stitch together a fairly surface level but undeniably charming portrait of Wyatt Earp and co. The assembly of dozens of great character actors chewing up scenery is great fun and it’s at its best in brotherly hangout mode. I wish this delved more into Earp’s fall in reputation after the Fitzsimmons/Sharkey match fix, the epilogue rings completely hollow with him as an unambiguous legend.

Where was Stephen McKinley Henderson. Don't studios realise yet that movies need Stephen McKinley Henderson in them.

The more I sit with this the more I adore every aspect of it. Just stunning, full-blooded, high-carb work. The assimilation vs identity metaphor via vampires has been done before but never this potent. The only moment it falters is the choice to place the coda mid-credits - I think it really deflates the scene's power as the cut to credits shifts the emotional apogee a few minutes too early. It's the only moment where Coogler's will to give the audience a full meal belies his own ability and doesn't trust the film to satisfy that urge. It's a great scene though.