Tommy Lee Jones Directs, Supports In 'The Homesman'

Actor/Director Tommy Lee Jones second directorial effort The Homesman shows the legendary acclaimed actor helming a Western film that is predominately carried by the female leads, notably Academy Award winning actress Hilary Swank. The film centers around a woman named Mary Bee (Swank) as she enlists the help of a claim-jumper (Jones) as they transport three insane women cross country. 

Jones adapted the screenplay from Glendon Starthout's 1988 novel of the same name and The Hollywood Reporter calls it "both lyrical and shocking, weirdly funny and grimly serious" and praising Swank's performace as "possibly her best big screen role since Million Dollar Baby."

Jones himself also received praise for the film, in both directing and acting, as he handles the subject of women on the frontier with "a sensitivity that comes as a welcome surprise", according to Peter Debruge of Variety. He describes the male characters in the film as "unflattering" that "serve as the butt of whatever humor exists". Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian shares the same opinion, saying it could win Jones an award at the year's festival.