ROGER EBERT GAVE A PERFECT SCORE TO A FILM STARRING YELLOWSTONE’S KELLY REILLY
From Montana Ranches to the Silver Screen
Yellowstone has turned its cast into household names, with Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, and Cole Hauser all gaining new recognition. Among them, Kelly Reilly has stood out for her fiery portrayal of Beth Dutton, a role so intense she once filmed a scene with live wolves. But while Reilly’s television fame is tied to the Dutton family, her film work also holds a special place in cinematic history — including one role praised by the late Roger Ebert with a rare perfect score.
Kelly Reilly’s Breakthrough in Flight
In 2012, Reilly co-starred in Robert Zemeckis’s drama Flight alongside Denzel Washington. The film tells the story of pilot Whip Whitaker (Washington), who becomes an unlikely hero after saving a plane during a near-fatal crash. His victory soon unravels under public scrutiny as his troubled personal life comes to light. Reilly plays Nicole Maggen, a recovering addict who crosses paths with Whip, forging a fragile but meaningful bond through their shared battles with sobriety.
Critics praised Flight, and it received two Academy Award nominations. Yet Roger Ebert went further, awarding the film a perfect four stars. He applauded Washington for what he called a “brave and tortured performance,” noting it as one of the actor’s greatest roles. Ebert also singled out the film itself as “nearly flawless,” with Reilly’s nuanced performance complementing Washington’s powerful presence.
Costner’s Dances With Wolves Earned the Same Honor
Interestingly, Reilly isn’t the only Yellowstone star to appear in a film Ebert deemed perfect. Kevin Costner’s 1990 epic Dances with Wolves also earned four stars from the critic. The Civil War–era story follows Union soldier John Dunbar (Costner) as he befriends a Lakota tribe and ultimately joins them in the fight to protect their land.
Ebert praised the film for presenting a fresh perspective on a well-trodden period of American history, calling it “one of the best Westerns” he had ever seen. The Academy seemed to agree, awarding the film seven Oscars, including Best Picture.
A Shared Legacy of Acclaim
Both Flight and Dances with Wolves reflect the range and talent of the Yellowstone ensemble. For Reilly, Flight showcased her ability to hold her own opposite one of Hollywood’s greatest actors. For Costner, Dances with Wolves cemented his place as both a leading man and a visionary director. And for Roger Ebert, both films earned a rare distinction: the critic’s highest possible praise.