Maybe Redford and [Pollack] really believe they’re doing something different from the conventional new, brutally ‘‘realistic’” Westerns, because Jeremiah Johnson crawls through the wilderness at a snail’s pace and is stretched out with ponderous lore.

The dialogue is spare, the scenery the real star. Satisfying and impressive.

A gritty, cinematic tall tale that resonates across geography, time, and the loneliest regions of the solitary heart.

Existing in the wilds is depicted as both playful and unforgiving, which results in a contentious clash.