Sam Elliott

Sam Elliott plays Shea Brennan in 1883. His long association with Westerns includes Tombstone and The Quick and the Dead, while The Big Lebowski and A Star Is Born show how distinctive that voice and presence can be in very different films. His television work includes Avery Markham in Justified and T.L. in Landman.

Shea could easily have been a role built around the reassurance of seeing Sam Elliott in a hat. The performance goes further. He makes the guide's experience useful, but also burdensome: knowing what can go wrong means having to watch other people approach it without the same understanding.

His partnership with LaMonica Garrett, as Thomas, is a particular pleasure. The two actors let familiarity show in the space around a conversation. They don't need to announce how well these men know each other.

Elliott also gives Shea's grief a presence without making it his only quality. There is still judgement, irritation and a job to get through. He is one of the main reasons I recommend 1883 so highly.