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Billy Bob Thornton wrote, directed, and starred in this mesmerizing drama with haunting overtones of To Kill a Mockingbird. Thornton plays a mentally retarded man who has spent 20 years in a psychiatric hospital for killing his mother and her lover. Released into the community from which he came, he befriends and protects a lonely boy regularly harassed and abused by his mom's boyfriend (a terrific performance by Dwight Yoakam). The story is ultimately about sacrifice, but Thornton certainly doesn't get twinkly about it. Some of the best material concerns the hero's no-big-deal efforts to integrate into a "normal" life: working, eating fast food, earning admiration for his handyman skills, and attaining a semblance of community among other damaged souls. John Ritter has a great part as a gay shopkeeper who tries to assuage his own loneliness by spilling his guts out to Thornton's uncomprehending character. The DVD release presents the film in its original 1.85:1 widescreen aspect ratio. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (138)

Parting the waters of the medulla oblongata of mankind
Normally, movies that are written, directed and star the same person have some fatal flaw due to over-control and a lack of another voice of reason. However, in this case, Billy Bob Thorton put together a great movie.

Billy Bob's portrayal of "Karl", a retarded man who killed his mother and lover as a child, is one of the best characters ever on screen. With his high-water pants, bad haircut, underslung grin and gravelly voice, he's not someone you'll soon forget.

A finely acted film, even the smallest parts were well-done. Suprisingly, John Ritter (an actor who I can not normally watch), gave the finest performance of his career as a gay store manager. Dwight Yoakum was great as the abusive boyfriend, and Lucas Black was good as the kid. J.T Walsh, Robert Duvall, and James Hampton are also in it.

This is not a Disney type plot, and there is a fair amount of swearing and yelling, and some violence. It all is natural to the story however, and the dialogue is some of the best you'll hear anywhere.

I don't give out 5 stars to movies very often. Mmm-hmmm.

An terrific wonderful film, which is unforgettable.
When a man by his early forties living in a Mental Hostipal, who being release by the first time in thirty years by the name of Karl Childers (Billy Bob Thornton) for murdering her's mother lover and then his mother. Karl is a mentally challenge man, who never really experience the outside world. Once he's out to the World, Karl befriend with a sad-sensitive boy (Lucas Black), His Mother (Natalie Canerday) and a nice man (John Ritter), who take a liking in him. Karl hits reality with mean-spirited alcoholic abuser man (Dwight Yoakam) and his past comes to haunt him.

Writted and Directed by Billy Bob Thornton (All the Pretty Horses, Daddy and Then), which is based on his Play, which also he win for an Oscar for Best Adatped Screenplay. Thornton was also nominated for Best Actor. This independent film has First-Rate Performances by all. J.T. Walsh, James Hampton and Brent Briscoe appears in Small Roles-including Oscar-Winner:Robert Duvall. This film is touching, sad and funny also. This is a real one of a kind, unique film. A true classic of the 90's-A Winner. Grade:A+.

Billy Bob does everything but sell the popcorn
Billy Bob Thornton took his screenplay and directed himself in this unforgettable film.

Thornton's Karl Childers became one of the Icons of American cinema, and I still hear people doing Karl's gravel-throated mumble which gets an immediate look of recognition from the people around.

Karl is an essentially good man who is mentally challenged. He recognizes good and bad in others, and he seems to understand his place in the world, even if the intricacies of complex human relationships pass by him as unnoticed as the ozone layer.

As the movie opens we learn that Karl is being held in a State Mental Hospital many years after he has killed a couple of people he thought were doing wrong. I'd say more here, but I think it might spoil some of your enjoyment of the movie to learn more - so just watch the movie! We also learn that Karl is being released because they've "cured him".

He goes back to his home town with all his worldly belongings in a sack. A kindly Doctor from the institution gets him a job as a lawn-mower mechanic and he meets a little boy who is friendly to him.

This is a movie of characters, and simply describing them would not do the characters justice. Karl is a simple man with a pretty well-developed sense of right and wrong. The little boy has lost his father, and the boy's mother, Linda, (portrayed in a wonderfully understated performance by Natalie Canerday) has taken up with a hard drinking, bad-mouthing redneck played by Dwight Yoakam. The late John Ritter is almost unrecognizable playing the soft-spoken crew-cut manager of the store where Linda works. Ritter's Vaughan is devoted to Linda and the little boy, Frank (played by Lucas Black), but Vaughan is also a homosexual in a small town in the south, and his social status is precarious.

There are many serious and tender and hilarious and moving scenes, and most of them involve Billy Bob's Karl. For example, there is one scene where Vaughan invites Karl to the diner where Vaughan proceeds to pour his heart out to the uncomprehending Karl. Vaughan goes on about the difficulties he has had in life, and with his father, and being a homosexual. The entire time Karl sits silently, eating his "french-fried 'taters".

Vaughan finally pauses and says "You always seem to be deep in thought. Tell me, what are you thinking right now?"
Karl replies: "I was thinkin', I'm gonna take me some of these taters home with me."

This movie will stick with you long after you have seen it. Highly recommended.

A legendary performance for Billy Bob Thornton
Sling Blade starts out at a mental home where Karl, played by Thornton, is being released after 25 years. He killed his mother and a boyfriend after he caught them having sex and he didn't think it seemed right. But Karl is deemed to be safe for society and he is also a man with a good heart that when asked if he will do it again replies,"I don't reckon I got no reason to kill nobody." Karl, by the way is somewhat mentally challenged. So it is time to be released, and Karl returns to the town he used to call home with no place to go and no one to return to (except a father who will not recognize him).

Karl befriends a young boy named Frank, and the two are friends from the start. Both of them share some of the same emotional issues, but in Frank's case it is due to his mother's abusive boyfriend Doyle (played by Dwight Yoakam). Karl gets a job working on small engines at a local garage and lives there for a while, but Frank and his mother agree it would be good for Karl to live with them. From the first time Karl meets Doyle, he begins to see what a terrible person he is. Doyle is constantly belittling Frank and Vaughn (a friend of Frank's mother who is gay), and is verbally and physically abusive to Linda (Frank's mom). Karl appears to be a very simple man, but it is apparent that his mind is always at work analyzing the people around him. Doyle grows worse and worse, and Karl becomes increasingly fed up with him. Karl always remains calm no matter the situation, but we start to see that he is the only one who can make things better for Linda, Frank and Vaughn and that as the movie progresses Karl realizes something must be done. I will spare you the ending, but the final conflict revolves around Karl's love for Frank and Linda and with him making a choice, a choice that could send him back to the mental hospital.

This is an incredible movie that deserves all of the notariety is has collected since its release. It won many awards, and deservingly so. There is a little bit of dark comedy here, some tragedy (like when Karl is talking about his brother he had to bury when he was just born), but most of all it is a disturbing examination of internal conflict in one simple man that really is a good guy at heart. It is pretty disturbing at times, so you have been warned. The movie is nothing short of perfect though and it is definately one that you need to see in your lifetime.

A darker, more sinister Forrest Gump
Thornton portrays a man whose apparent stupidity masks a deeper understanding of morals and circumstance than the common man. Everyone treats him as, and calls him, a "retard", yet he sits in his own presence watching and learning...taking in his surroundings to figure out who is decent, and who isnn't. He just wants to get on with his life, yet, he befriends a young boy by happenstance who he can relate to through common toils and emotion, who he can share his innermost thoughts and dark history with, and who he can - within his own diminished capacity- protect in full with his own paternal....no fraternal....regards.

This movie will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will make you cringe. But it won't let you go until you see it in its entirety, and question the fact - is it okay to kill if it's for a better cause?

A must-see. ... Read more

Reviews (351)

The Best 2002 Thriller So Far
Many people asked when the first buzz about "Panic Room" came out, "how good can a movie be about two people stuck in a room?" well, those people didn't know the magic of director David Fincher and the true acting ability of Jodie Foster. "Panic Room" is so far the best thriller of 2002.

Meg (Foster), divorced from her husband, and her daughter Sarah (Kristen Stewart) Altman move into a spacious three floor on the West side of New York. The house is too good to be true - huge rooms, an elevator, and a room that is hidden, a panic room. A panic room has a huge steel door which is inpenetrable and is sensored, an entire security camera system to view, seperate phone line, and steel and concrete surrounding the entire area. This looks like a dream come true for the Altman's - until the first night.

Three robbers enter: the family man Burnham (Forest Whitaker), the "boss" and talker Junior (Jared Leto) and the stranger Raoul (Dwight Yoakam). They come looking for one thing: money. Money that the previous owner had kept away. Junior says that they're each going to get a million dollars. The one thing the trio does not expect is that there are actual people in the house. Here's where the suspense begins. Howard Shore's score kicks into full effect as Foster and Stewart run to the panic room.

This movie is too good to reveal what happens, but it all revolves around the money being in the panic room itself. With such plot twists as Sarah (Stewart) being diabetic and Meg (Foster) being claustraphobic, along with many others, this one kept me at the edge of my seat. David Fincher is one of the most under-rated directors of the period, and Jodie Foster completely pulls out the role as mother/fighter/schemer to a T, and does us all in. A must see and a definate buy on DVD!

BEST THRILLER IN YEARS!!!
There is more psychological suspense in this thriller than even Hannibal could contribute. Jodie Foster plays Meg Altman, a recently divorced woman searching for a home in a wealthier area of Manhattan. She and daughter Sarah decide on a beautiful multi-level apartment that seems to have a rather unusual lay-out. The seriously intellectual Meg quickly notices that there seems to be square footage missing from the home. One room seems smaller than it should.

How interesting...Meg is right. Behind a secret wall lies the infamous "Panic Room", designed it seems, to withstand (and I am partially joking here) an atomic bomb explosion. The Room is entirely self-sufficient, able to operate and sustain life independently from the outside world. Everything needed to survive is packaged neatly behind the heavy steel doors (think War Games). In fact, the presence of the panic room is so omnious and claustrophobic, it becomes an acting character itself.

How lucky then, are Sarah and mother Meg when a group of burglers, headed by Burnham, (Whitaker)...break into the home in search of a cache of money supposedly hidden in the panic room. And how unlucky are the two women when it comes to our realisation that Burnham used to be a designer and architect of "panic rooms" himself. He is confident that he can break into the room, using his knowledge of a panic room's inherent design.

The real game becomes a slow evolution from -Can they escape?- and -Will they get in?-, cat and mouse style, to who is most strategic. Burnham may seem to have the upper hand, but Meg is quick-witted and familiar with her own home. She plays her cards well and it is exciting to see her instinctual skills come to life.

As the trailers of "The Panic Room" now entice you with more and more scenes, take them seriously with their new motto: bring a friend with you to see "The Panic Room", because you will need to hold on to someone. Great advice. I saw this movie alone and "The Panic Room" nearly gave me a panic attack!

Five stars for edge-of-your-seat action, suspense, fantasic performances, and the last minute additon of Jodie Foster to play Meg. I really don't think Nicole Kidman has the muscle or strength to pull of the physical requirements of a movie like this (She had to bow out due to an injury). Bravo Jodie on surfacing to the limelight again to make another spectacular film! I believe this is her first film since "The King and I". She proves even a Hollywood Mommy can kick [behind] in a physically demanding role. I am already impatient waiting for her next move in the film world. This movie is fabulous and could be a great date flick...especially since you will feel it necessary to grab hold of someone during the intense scenes. Enjoy. I have no doubt you will.

Excelent Thriller
Drama at it's finest. You'll be close to a heart attack by the end of the movie. A very smart drama. It's very well written. A somewhat original idea for a movie.

A fail considering the talent of Fincher!
Did David Fincher need to demonstrate us he is a promise director and gifted of multiple skills and deep creativity and making us to waste our time and money in a boring film like this one?
May be there was something hidden that I didn't watch ; but I think that the trilogy Forrest Whitaker , Jodie Foster and David Fincher was a safe garantee.
Wrong choice!
The result is just a technically and superb work ; but without a credibble plot ; if the secret intention of Fibcher was to make a homagge to those horror films of the fifties ; then I beg your pardon .
But if not ...

Lame....
Man, this was dissapointing. My feelings can't be described using words. This is definitely one of the most dissapointing movies I've ever seen(and I've seen a lot of crap). Jodie Foster shouldn't waste her talent on such a movie like "Panic Room". ... Read more

Reviews (41)

Dwight and friends make a real western
The more I see this flick, the more I love it. At first viewing this DVD, I thought it started off pretty dull and slow, but then things picked up when I realized the film's characters are supposed to be quirky and odd. I loved the unpretentiousness of the writing and acting. No stupid predictable Hollywood lines or situations in this film. GREAT!

Being Dwight's first Director job (and not knowing anything else about Mr. Yoakam) I think it's a minor masterpiece. I do wish he'd have cast someone else as his character and concentrated on directing only. All the actors were outstanding. Can't say enough about them. Truly a pleasure to watch them in action. I also dug those wild rags!

This movie gave me the western flick bug. I rented other westerns thereafter. Well-known and recent ones, including a God-awful remake of High Noon with Tom Skerritt and Michael Madsen. I love this little gem the most. I intend to buy it. Already own the soundtrack CD.

Can't wait until Dwight's next effort.

A Dark Movie That Isn't For Everyone
South of Heaven, West of Hell really didn't get much theatrical exposure, which is surprising considering its stellar cast, including Dwight Yoakam, Billy Bob Thornton , Bridget & Peter Fonda, Vince Vaughn, Paul Reubens and Bud Cort. In addition, South of Heaven, West of Hell is in the strange position of having different cuts of the film being released on VHS and DVD. The VHS of South of Heaven, West of Hell is 30 minutes shorter than the theatrical and DVD version of the film. I have no idea why Trimark would decide to touch South of Heaven, West of Hell, one of the most intriguing and 'real' westerns I've seen in a long time.

Running at about two and a half hours, South of Heaven, West of Hell takes its time telling its story, but surprisingly doesn't really feel slow. Director/Star Dwight Yoakam does a great job of capturing the feeling of life in the West at the turn of the century. There's a scene at dusk where there's nothing really going on, a group of people sit around outside and listen to people play music. It's such a stark contrast to modern life where people close themselves in their homes and flick on the TV. It's little moments like this that create a real and credible world in which the story takes place.

Aside from being one of the more methodical and realistic westerns I've seen, South of Heaven, West of Hell is also by far the darkest, where there really aren't any heros, and the lines between honor and revenge are quite blurry. South of Heaven, West of Hell is a gem of a movie with stellar performances. While I felt Dwight Yoakam did a great job as the lead, I really enjoyed the supporting performances, especially Bud Cort (best know for being Harold in Harold and Maude), Paul Reubens, who is a thrill to watch playing a cowboy, and Billy Bob Thornton in a brief but pivitol role.

After watching South of Heaven, West of Hell I still had a number of questions about the film, but unfortunately the commentary doesn't clear everything up, which at first was a little frustrating, but after a bit of thinking was ok. It's hard to remember a recent film that I thought about as much afterward. South of Heaven, West of Hell isn't a movie for everyone but for those interested in a dark, real western I'd highly recommend it. [Geoffrey Kleinman, DVDTalk.com]

Beautifully photographed, that's about it...
I love Dwight Yoakam's music and songwriting, he's surely one of the best singer/ songwriters out there but I think he should leave the screenwriting to professional screenwriters. This film looks beautiful, but the plot leaves a lot to be desired and the dialogue is often very dull. Dwight has some positives in this, as bad as it is. For instance, he looks great on a horse, but he looks uncomfortable in front of the camera here, which is unusual for him, given his other movies. The characters are interesting enough, but not given enough development that we can see. I don't think Dwight should give up directing entirely, but I would not recommend seeing this.

South of Coherence, West of Logic
Dwight Yoakam, accomplished country/western singer, loves movies. He has appeared, as an actor, in over a dozen films. On this film, Yoakam functioned as writer, co-producer [with Buck Owens], director, star, and of course, he worked on the musical score as well. This would be quite a feat for the most accomplished of movie stars, which Mr. Yoakam is not. He can be very effective as an actor, when directed properly, as in "Sling Blade" and "Panic Room". He is a better actor than Johnny Cash was, or Merle Haggard; certainly as good as the icon known as Willie Nelson.

This film is so bad, it is almost good. It is so different, so off-center, so oblique, that it challenges the audience. The cinematography, by James Glennon, is lush; images bathed in dust and golden light, drenced in blood-red sunsets and shimmering mirage riders, ghost-like apparitions. I think it is admirable that Yoakam had enought influence, enough money, enough good friends, and enough ego to launch this dark confused tale. But, alas, it does not emerge as eclectic as Jim Jarmusch's mini-classic,"Dead Man". We all love a western, and Yoakam can be applauded for purposefully breaking down many of the cliches of the genre. Next time though, sir, please procure blanks for your handguns that do not sound like cap pistols.

The movie has been called self-indulgent, and it is; tedious, even egregious. Actually, what it is remains closer to a labor of love falling leagues short of coherence. It was poorly written. Without strongly defined characters, clear conflicts, and fully-realized conclusions, we struggle as viewers. At times, the film becomes too esoteric; like Dennis Hopper's "The Last Movie", one suspects the cast had fun doing it, but where's the fun in watching it ? No one wants a film to fail. We search for those tiny nanoseconds that elevate, entertain, and enlighten us.

The movie is populated by bizarre characters portrayed by a bevy of terrific actors. Yoakam, as U.S.Marshall, Val Casey, is at ease in front of the camera; but Val comes off as shallow posturing. Where is the anger, inner strength, and passion ?
Several times in the semblence of a plot it is mentioned that an official government letter exists, and in it is the information that Valentine Casey was deceased; that he had died in Cuba in the Spanish-American war. When confronted with this conundrum, Val just stares wistfully toward the horizon. So, as an undercurrent, we wonder if Val is really an avenging spirit, or if the whole movie represents a nightmarish dream ?

Joe Unger, as the outlaw Nogales, makes a strong impression, finding a real person within the absurdity of the script. Billy Bob Thornton, Peter Fonda, Matt Clark, and Bo Hopkins, sleepwalk through their brief scenes, lending their visage and names to the project. Bridget Fonda, as Adelyne, is credible, considering her character is written incoherently. The Henry Clan are the heavies. They are led by Luke Askew, astride a primitive wheel chair, spouted biblical platitudes, manning a machine gun mounted on his wagon, and finding time to bugger his daughter. Vince Vaughn cuts a wide swath as Taylor Henry, the most lethel of the bunch; killing without remorse, ice-blooded and stone-faced. Comic relief is provided with the bawdy flavor of Shakespeare; down, dirty, and bloody. Bud Cort is dipped in [foul stuff], stripped, humiliated, beaten, and shot. Paul Reubens, as Arvid Henry, seethes like a [unique] gunslinger, bouncing about like a Marx brother; murdering, [abusing], stealing,... Michael Jeter, as the uncle, gets to whine, beg, howl, cajole, and [be abused],... Terry McIlvain, as Val's sidekick, U.S.Christmas, is costumed in a colorful skirt, like a South American gaucho, and he makes the most out of his screen time.

...this one could become a cult classic.

The Best Western Since Pale Rider
Easily the best western since Pale Rider. As a 26 year old non-country boy, the only other westerns I considered worthwhile were those of Sergio Leone and anything shoot-em-up with Clint Eastwood, pre-Unforgiven days... Dwight Yoakam serves up a fine dish of honky-tonk, gunfighting, and even raunch in a western that plays more like a documentary than fiction. Not in the boring ... documentary fashion, but in a way of life, be it low or otherwise. This movie is original, intelligent, and puts any later western to shame, including Young Guns, its sequel, Unforgiven, or Posse. Those who claim there is no plot are obviously not paying attention to a film they decided to critique. ... Read more

Description

When Jesse stumbles on a drug deal gone bad, he finds himself on the run with a suitcase full of money, and the previous owners in hot pursuit. They?ll kill anything and anybody that gets in their way - including Jesse?s friends and lovers. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Fast Paced, Well acted, Super movie.
Don't Look Back is an excellent movie. Eric Stoltz gives a very convincing performance as Jesse, a failed musician with a big smack habit. As the film unfolds, it is impossible not to sympathize with his plight. After stealing a large sum of money - the proceeds of a failed drug deal - he heads back to his home town, Galveston, Texas. He is embraced back into his circle of childhood friends and visits his rather grumpy grandad. Little does he know that the owner of the money, gang leader Marshall (a corpulent Billy Bob Thornton) is hot on his trail.

I first saw this film when I was recovering from heroin addiction myself, so the scene where Jesse's friends take him for a holiday in the woods to detox was particularly moving for me and, I think, realistically portrayed.

The film features a lot of fairly explicit violence and is not for kids. Stoltz and Thornton both act their socks off and are totally convicing. The supporting cast are excellent too.

Buy this movie and I promise you will not regret it. Maybe not an all-time classic but a film you will remember and want to see again in the future.

John from oklahoma
This is an awesome movie the actors they picked couldent have been better Stoltz fit the part perfect along the three kids Steve(Brett Besselman) Morgan(fabio spacy) Jesse (Brian clark. This movie will keep you on the edge of your seat and you wount even want to get up to use the bathroom. I highly recommend it.

The story work and executive producing were awesome!
...Gripping... ...An emotional roller coaster... ...Billy Bob Thornton gives a tour de force performance... ...Dwight Yoakam thrills and delights... ...A twist ending that will blow you through the back wall of your living room... ...Whoever both executive produced and wrote the story for this baby knew what he was doing... ...I'll bet he had at least one other project sold and one other project optioned...

A very good job indeed
The story line surely has to be considered as the issue is a serious one. But the value of this movie has developed through the brilliant performance of Mr. Stoltz. Once again he brought his unique personality into a story, expressing deep emotion and uncomparable character traits. He appears as a very special person, fitting not only this part perfectly. As an actor and person one might put him in line with great and special actors, repectively personalities like Robert Redford and Kevin Costner.

My Review
i thought this movie was good. I think it should have had more of Bobby and Fabio fernandez in it but hey they did good in the whole 10 minutes they were in it! this movie had a good story line to it and i think eric stoltz did a very good job. ... Read more

Reviews (105)

NOT REALLY A COMEDY, BUT A LIGHT-HEARTED ROMP THRU COP LIFE
Harrison ford and Josh Hartnett play homicide detectives investigating the quadruple murder of an up-and-coming rap group. Yet, no, don't go in expecting a nailbiting police procedural.

The film is strewn with several cliches but I fail to see why reviewers tend to compare it to "Lethal Weapon" and "Rush Hour." The partners are not mismatched, not constantly annoying each other , and it is filled with interesting characters that make up for the generic storytelling.

Ford's character for instance moonlights as a real-estate agent who, despite not having sold a house in some time, dabbles in the business because being a cop can't pay the bills. Hartnetts character takes yoga lessons, in the process meeting women. This makes even the most generic scenes seem fresh and new.

So, when watching an otherwise predictable car chase, you will find yourself worrying more about the characters reactions than the actual car chase itself. This is a film that relies more on characters than action and eye-candy. You will probably wear a slight grin on your face when Hartnett re-enacts "A Streetcar Named Desire" on the balcony of a Beverly Hills condo, or when Ford closes a real estate deal on his cell phone in the middle of an intense gunfight.

Yes, the story is stale, but the characters are not, and that is probably the point. "Hollywood Homicide" puts itself a step above other cop films by offering characters (or caricatures thereof) that we can actually care for.

ok movie/ nothing great
Hollywood Homicide is a decent movie.
nothing great.

plot is ok, predictable.

but good entertainment.

BUM RAP
HOLLYWOOD HOMICIDE plays like a Starsky and Hutch episode, that might air on Showtime since it's violent and has some nudity. Harrison Ford is a LAPD cop who moonlights as a real estate broker; Josh Hartnett is his young partner, who wants to be an actor and teaches some kind of yoga on the side. Together they investigate the execution style slaying of a rap group named H20 Slick, a group who was planning on getting out of their contract with a sleazy record producer, played by Isaiah Washington (True Crime, Ghost Ship). Add Bruce Greenwood (Below) as an IA cop who's trying to nail Ford due to an old vendetta; Gladys Knight as the mother of an eyewitness to the crime; Lena Olin as Ford's psychic radio star girlfriend; Lou Diamond Phillips as a male hooker undercover cop; Martin Landau as a hasbeen director; Master P as a record producer out to buy the perfect house; cameos by Robert Wagner and Eric Idle---you get the picture.
Ford and Hartnett have a good rapport and some of their dialogue is hilarious, but the movie is so disoriented and implausible, it leaves you wanting more...of what, I'm not sure, but something's missing.
Not a bad time passer.

Homicide's DOA
Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett star in "Hollywood Homicide", an action comedy that has a lot to say about the sillieness of buddy-cop movies. Ford and Hartnett are partners assigned to investigate a nightclub massacre. The problem is that neither one of them really want to be cops; Ford has a real estate buissness on the side and Hartnett is an actor off duty. I am sorry to say that there are no stand out performances here, which is sorry to say considering the outstanding cast involoved. Ford and Hartnett are usually very good, but here they are just, well, blah. Lina Olin is just kind of there in a very rediculos subplot involving her psycic powers. Isaiah Washington, Lolita Davidovitch, Keith David, and Matrin Landau are all underused in their bit roles. The problem is that it wants to be a comedy, but it isn't very funny, too many cliches. It isn't very action packed, either. The only real action piece is at the end, but it is too long, and it just dosn't seem to have any punch to it. I was very disappointed, I am truelly sorry to say. If you can find it on TV, that would be best. All I can say in it's defense is that It's biggest problem is that it feels like no one was really trying, it is just a lazy movie all the way through. It's only defense is I have seen much worst.

hollywood waste of time and talent
harrison ford is playing a over the hill grandfather of a cop in his 60's moon lighting as a realestate salesman and the handsome josh harnett playing the doof partner.

get a real storey with substance, harrison ford does have a fan base, but stay away from the hip hop element or sound track, it just annoys people seeing that in a theatre.

harrison ford get a face lift, ya look like a worn out old man ! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Pamela Gidley is hot !!
The story is standard. A young woman married to a rich man seduces her stepson to kill his father. But what set this apart with other similar movies is Pamela Gidley. She is sexy and beautiful. Please release the DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (41)

Dwight and friends make a real western
The more I see this flick, the more I love it. At first viewing this DVD, I thought it started off pretty dull and slow, but then things picked up when I realized the film's characters are supposed to be quirky and odd. I loved the unpretentiousness of the writing and acting. No stupid predictable Hollywood lines or situations in this film. GREAT!

Being Dwight's first Director job (and not knowing anything else about Mr. Yoakam) I think it's a minor masterpiece. I do wish he'd have cast someone else as his character and concentrated on directing only. All the actors were outstanding. Can't say enough about them. Truly a pleasure to watch them in action. I also dug those wild rags!

This movie gave me the western flick bug. I rented other westerns thereafter. Well-known and recent ones, including a God-awful remake of High Noon with Tom Skerritt and Michael Madsen. I love this little gem the most. I intend to buy it. Already own the soundtrack CD.

Can't wait until Dwight's next effort.

A Dark Movie That Isn't For Everyone
South of Heaven, West of Hell really didn't get much theatrical exposure, which is surprising considering its stellar cast, including Dwight Yoakam, Billy Bob Thornton , Bridget & Peter Fonda, Vince Vaughn, Paul Reubens and Bud Cort. In addition, South of Heaven, West of Hell is in the strange position of having different cuts of the film being released on VHS and DVD. The VHS of South of Heaven, West of Hell is 30 minutes shorter than the theatrical and DVD version of the film. I have no idea why Trimark would decide to touch South of Heaven, West of Hell, one of the most intriguing and 'real' westerns I've seen in a long time.

Running at about two and a half hours, South of Heaven, West of Hell takes its time telling its story, but surprisingly doesn't really feel slow. Director/Star Dwight Yoakam does a great job of capturing the feeling of life in the West at the turn of the century. There's a scene at dusk where there's nothing really going on, a group of people sit around outside and listen to people play music. It's such a stark contrast to modern life where people close themselves in their homes and flick on the TV. It's little moments like this that create a real and credible world in which the story takes place.

Aside from being one of the more methodical and realistic westerns I've seen, South of Heaven, West of Hell is also by far the darkest, where there really aren't any heros, and the lines between honor and revenge are quite blurry. South of Heaven, West of Hell is a gem of a movie with stellar performances. While I felt Dwight Yoakam did a great job as the lead, I really enjoyed the supporting performances, especially Bud Cort (best know for being Harold in Harold and Maude), Paul Reubens, who is a thrill to watch playing a cowboy, and Billy Bob Thornton in a brief but pivitol role.

After watching South of Heaven, West of Hell I still had a number of questions about the film, but unfortunately the commentary doesn't clear everything up, which at first was a little frustrating, but after a bit of thinking was ok. It's hard to remember a recent film that I thought about as much afterward. South of Heaven, West of Hell isn't a movie for everyone but for those interested in a dark, real western I'd highly recommend it. [Geoffrey Kleinman, DVDTalk.com]

Beautifully photographed, that's about it...
I love Dwight Yoakam's music and songwriting, he's surely one of the best singer/ songwriters out there but I think he should leave the screenwriting to professional screenwriters. This film looks beautiful, but the plot leaves a lot to be desired and the dialogue is often very dull. Dwight has some positives in this, as bad as it is. For instance, he looks great on a horse, but he looks uncomfortable in front of the camera here, which is unusual for him, given his other movies. The characters are interesting enough, but not given enough development that we can see. I don't think Dwight should give up directing entirely, but I would not recommend seeing this.

South of Coherence, West of Logic
Dwight Yoakam, accomplished country/western singer, loves movies. He has appeared, as an actor, in over a dozen films. On this film, Yoakam functioned as writer, co-producer [with Buck Owens], director, star, and of course, he worked on the musical score as well. This would be quite a feat for the most accomplished of movie stars, which Mr. Yoakam is not. He can be very effective as an actor, when directed properly, as in "Sling Blade" and "Panic Room". He is a better actor than Johnny Cash was, or Merle Haggard; certainly as good as the icon known as Willie Nelson.

This film is so bad, it is almost good. It is so different, so off-center, so oblique, that it challenges the audience. The cinematography, by James Glennon, is lush; images bathed in dust and golden light, drenced in blood-red sunsets and shimmering mirage riders, ghost-like apparitions. I think it is admirable that Yoakam had enought influence, enough money, enough good friends, and enough ego to launch this dark confused tale. But, alas, it does not emerge as eclectic as Jim Jarmusch's mini-classic,"Dead Man". We all love a western, and Yoakam can be applauded for purposefully breaking down many of the cliches of the genre. Next time though, sir, please procure blanks for your handguns that do not sound like cap pistols.

The movie has been called self-indulgent, and it is; tedious, even egregious. Actually, what it is remains closer to a labor of love falling leagues short of coherence. It was poorly written. Without strongly defined characters, clear conflicts, and fully-realized conclusions, we struggle as viewers. At times, the film becomes too esoteric; like Dennis Hopper's "The Last Movie", one suspects the cast had fun doing it, but where's the fun in watching it ? No one wants a film to fail. We search for those tiny nanoseconds that elevate, entertain, and enlighten us.

The movie is populated by bizarre characters portrayed by a bevy of terrific actors. Yoakam, as U.S.Marshall, Val Casey, is at ease in front of the camera; but Val comes off as shallow posturing. Where is the anger, inner strength, and passion ?
Several times in the semblence of a plot it is mentioned that an official government letter exists, and in it is the information that Valentine Casey was deceased; that he had died in Cuba in the Spanish-American war. When confronted with this conundrum, Val just stares wistfully toward the horizon. So, as an undercurrent, we wonder if Val is really an avenging spirit, or if the whole movie represents a nightmarish dream ?

Joe Unger, as the outlaw Nogales, makes a strong impression, finding a real person within the absurdity of the script. Billy Bob Thornton, Peter Fonda, Matt Clark, and Bo Hopkins, sleepwalk through their brief scenes, lending their visage and names to the project. Bridget Fonda, as Adelyne, is credible, considering her character is written incoherently. The Henry Clan are the heavies. They are led by Luke Askew, astride a primitive wheel chair, spouted biblical platitudes, manning a machine gun mounted on his wagon, and finding time to bugger his daughter. Vince Vaughn cuts a wide swath as Taylor Henry, the most lethel of the bunch; killing without remorse, ice-blooded and stone-faced. Comic relief is provided with the bawdy flavor of Shakespeare; down, dirty, and bloody. Bud Cort is dipped in [foul stuff], stripped, humiliated, beaten, and shot. Paul Reubens, as Arvid Henry, seethes like a [unique] gunslinger, bouncing about like a Marx brother; murdering, [abusing], stealing,... Michael Jeter, as the uncle, gets to whine, beg, howl, cajole, and [be abused],... Terry McIlvain, as Val's sidekick, U.S.Christmas, is costumed in a colorful skirt, like a South American gaucho, and he makes the most out of his screen time.

...this one could become a cult classic.

The Best Western Since Pale Rider
Easily the best western since Pale Rider. As a 26 year old non-country boy, the only other westerns I considered worthwhile were those of Sergio Leone and anything shoot-em-up with Clint Eastwood, pre-Unforgiven days... Dwight Yoakam serves up a fine dish of honky-tonk, gunfighting, and even raunch in a western that plays more like a documentary than fiction. Not in the boring ... documentary fashion, but in a way of life, be it low or otherwise. This movie is original, intelligent, and puts any later western to shame, including Young Guns, its sequel, Unforgiven, or Posse. Those who claim there is no plot are obviously not paying attention to a film they decided to critique. ... Read more

Amazon.com

First broadcast on HBO in June of 1998--shortly before the theatrical release of Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan--this World War II drama offers an equally intimate and devastating study of combat and its tragic aftermath. Set in Germany during the closing days of the war, the film uses a little-known episode of U.S. military history--the bloody battle of the Hurtigen Forest--as the backdrop for the story of a battle-weary private (Ron Eldard) who is the only surviving member of his platoon. Despite his request for dismissal on the grounds of mental disability and shell-shock, he is considered a promising soldier by his superiors, promoted to sergeant, and assigned to command a fresh platoon of young, inexperienced soldiers. The cycle of war continues, and the film ends as it began--with one soldier carrying a mortally wounded comrade from a scene of devastating loss. A veteran of several war films, director John Irvin emphasizes the gritty, physically exhausting realities of combat with keen attention to detail on location in Hungary. This film is decidedly downbeat (don't look for any Spielbergian uplift here), but its depiction of warfare is undeniably powerful, earning praise for Irvin and HBO for tackling such an uncompromising project. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (84)

"Platoon" set during WW2. Worth watching.
This is a pretty decent look at the "forgotten front", otherwise known as the battle for the Huertgen Forest. This is one of those episodes that doesn't find frequent mention in the history books, but strangely it wound up with its own movie.

When I watched this, I couldn't help being reminded of the Vietnam flick "Platoon." The emphasis here is on showing the gritty, unglamorous side of infantry combat, and it's well done. Heroism, cowardice, mud, blood and fratricide are all featured in this story of a scared G.I. who's determined to survive the war at any cost, even if it means the loss of his honor.

The story opens with a young private, brand new to the war, who is the sole survivor after his platoon attacks a German position and is wiped out. His survival is qualification enough to earn him a promotion to sergeant, and not long after, to lieutenant. He wants neither. All he wants to do is survive at any cost, and he doesn't care what his superiors or subordinates think about it.

The action scenes are generally believable and well done, even if some of the mock-ups of the German tanks aren't. Several of the scenes are particularly intense and bloody, a little reminiscent of Private Ryan, but not to the same degree of utter carnage. In general I thought the acting was okay, but seeing Dwight Yoakam as a light colonel was a little surreal for me. The ending, in my humble opinion, was a little corny, and didn't do justice to the rest of the movie, which otherwise might have rated four stars instead of just three. Still, it's definitely worth watching for anyone who likes war flicks.

Adds a gritty and dark twist to WWII films.....
If you are looking for Saving Private Ryan 2, don't buy this movie. However, if you are looking for a down-in-the-dirt (more so than Pvt. Ryan), grim and gritty war film, than this is your movie.

The plot centers on a Private, in the much-forgotten battle of Hurtgen Forest, who is the only soldier of his platoon to make it back alive from a raid on German foritfications. The company commanders see him as a perfect candidate for a leader, due to his obvious survival skills. He is promoted directly to Sergeant, and is put in charge of a squad of misfits. This Sergeant only cares about himself, and doesn't mind sacrificing others to get himself back to the base alive.

At first, a minor gripe I had is that I never really cared for any of the characters (except the medic played by Frank Whaley, and the young private Sanderson). And I especially hated the main character, who, like I mentioned before, only cares for his own hide and takes advantage of his subordinates (playing with their lives) for personal gain. But, in the end, you will not gripe about this. It will show you a true protrait of the frontline -- there are no glowing Hollywood heroes....just normal boys from all over the country -- some of them good men, others flawed. That is what makes this film so good.

Though not as good as Saving Private Ryan (simply because it is just too dark and bleak at times), it is a good addition to the collection of epic war films.

Bad acting and contrived plot
Compared to the best I have seen, i.e. SPR and Band of Brothers, this dog barks. The acting is atrocious and the plot so contrived it begs ridicule. And the guy that plays the Major should stick to country music and leave the acting to people a bit less wooden.

I know the Hurtgen Forest was a horrendous episode in WWII but this film cannot possibly do the brave US Soldiers who actually fought there justice.

Save your money, buy Band of Brothers or The Lost Battalion.

Those highly feared yet respected German 88's
This is a must see for any WWII movie fan. One of the best. The German 88's were the staple of German terror and here you get to see them in action. Awsome ! Now go see, "A MIDNIGHT CLEAR".

Worth taking a look....if only for Ron Eldard's performance.
I applaud Rod Eldard's performance and would have thought him suitable for HBO'S BOB, not to mention Private Ryan. Support performances weak on the whole I thought, no one else stood out. Subject matter grim but to the point. Considering the Hurtgen Forest Battle was largely overshadowed by The Bulge..am glad this film was made. What a horrible, inhospitable place. The DVD has a relatively short running time. Worth taking a look if only from an historical/educational point of view and Ron Eldard of course. Where was HE when Speilberg and Hanks were casting for BOB ???? ... Read more

Reviews (11)

An amazing film that takes you from Roswell to the Pentagon
First off, the entire UFO scene is corroded by "nit-pickers" who couldn't be proven that cookies exist at a grocery store much anything more ("We have no proof that cookies are always in the cookie aisle, sometimes they are seen in the dairy department.."). Essentially they are wannabe-lawyers without practical information to live life by; real people need good-enough information to act on, and this film gives us just that. This is probably THE best UFO/ET movie Hollywood has made yet, better than E.T., Close Encounters and all of the other fairy tales. It takes what took place at Roswell in 1947; puts you there with Major Jesse Marcel, and runs-with-it, to its full conclusion: the worse-case-scenario that indeed alien craft crashed there etc. In an exciting, and dramatic way you see how the truth is covered up with intimidation (Your career will be ruined!) and fear and how the military/government was (is) scared white by the UFO/ET phenomena as it should be. Civilians who seek courtroom-level "proof" and "open-ness" are not so smart. There is a big differance between National Security and a feel-good debating society.

The film works on many levels, authentic 1940s look/feel, excellent music, but the key idea is the general concept of a cover-up and what do the men who hid the truth do when they get old and are ready to die? Do they talk? Noone had asked that question until the film. A few years later, Colonel Philip Corso wrote a book from his end as an Army R&D developer (The Day After Roswell) just before he died; so the question is; if someone hid the truth as a young man, would we listen to him as an old man with nothing-to-lose? If we are wannabe lawyers in our mentality, we certainly will be legalistic and not listen because these folks have ruined their "credibility". Real people, not UFOlawyers understand that in time of war you have to lie at times to protect the common good and that people/situations change...as life is in some ways a struggle, and when the time is right the truth might be able to be revealed. That the USAF has already lied at least twice about Roswell (Weather balloons, lately parachute dummies) should tell you something is not what it appears. Those that say it was project MOGUL sensor balloons to monitor Russian A-Bomb test, geee big deal. After the Russians declared they had "the bomb" most people wouldn't care if you ran kites up to the stratosphere to measure radiation. Why the secrecy now, then? We have spy satellites that everyone in the world has known about since SPUTNIK. Its not the surveillance methodology or the tidbit that we knew the Russians were testing A-Bombs that was worth hiding/deceiving about. Why use stretchers to carry parachute dummies? You simply throw them over your shoulder and walk.

The most compelling scene in the movie is when Secretary of Defense Forrestal communicates with the so-called ET; consider this with the fact that he later jumped out of a window (with assistance) to his death (murder). Suggest you read Corso's book in conjunction with this video and consider that the "beings" that are manifesting themselves are NOT cuddly Spielberg toys from outer space and that there may really be indeed a very GOOD REASON why the military/government covers up the UFO/ET mess.

Good movie about the "UFO Crash near Roswell, N.M"
"Roswell - The U.F.O. Cover-Up" was a made for TV movie in 1994 and I thought it was a good version of what might have happened there in the New Mexico desert in 1947. The Air Force at Roswell claimed that they had captured a "Flying Saucer" but then reversed itself and said it was only a weather balloon! Years later the Air Force said the event was the crash of a "Mogul Train of Spy balloons". ( Special balloons with listening microphones to detect Russian atomic bomb testing). Then later, Air Force claimed the "Crash" was a test where dummies were dropped from aircraft. The film was well acted with Kyle MacLachlan as Jesse Marcel. It showed how he was ordered to be photographed with the remains of a weather balloon and keep quiet about the material that was actually recovered from the crash site; miles from the city of Roswell. I enjoyed the movie ,but wish the film had followed the book "The Truth about the Crash at Roswell", by Kevin Randle.

Uninformative, A Film That Could Have Been Made Better.
"Roswell: The UFO Cover-up" is the type of film that could have been made better, could have been made to be more interesting. It's as if, the writers just thought of slapping together a UFO Conspiracy flick instead of an investigative piece. Some scenes aren't interesting as well as the characters. Never for a second, would I be convinced by this film that a UFO crashed in Roswell and that the government covered up the facts. The rest of the movie is also boring, I almost fell asleep watching it! If there was controversy surrounding this movie, I don't know why. It's not threatening to any conspiracy (look, before I wrote this, there were only 3 reviews). Also, I think a documentary version of this movie would have worked better. It's just to ridiculous to believe any of this in this form. There's also too much dramatic license, stuff you know never really happened. The film also lacks a visual style, it looks too plain. It doesn't matter if this is a "true story," it's still a movie. I bet Oliver Stone could make a much better film about this subject and come out with a masterpiece. Other than that, "Roswell: The UFO Cover-Up" seems too much like a badly written, badly-made, uninteresting film that is pure science fiction.

THEY'RE OUT THERE
The Roswell story has been an interesting piece of "urban legend" for some time now. Did our government conspire to cover up the supposed crash landing of an alien spaceship? We'll never really know the truth, I'm sure. ROSWELL is an intriguing movie, although it lacks any real suspense and since we know how it ends, one is left with what is basically a character study of Jesse, the soldier who was humiliated and promoted in order to keep his mouth shut. Kyle MacLachlan, one of our most underrated actors, gives a solid, sturdy performance, even though his makeup conjures up images of Brad Dourif. Martin Sheen's enigmatic character makes an appearance at the end of the film, but we never know who he is. Dwight Yoakam does well as the farmer who first discovers the wreckage. However, only MacLachlan's character is developed fully enough to care about. A clean, clinical and provocative movie; just not a great one.

The case they so desperately want to crush...
As I indicated in my review of debunker Karl Pflock's Roswell book, there is an erroneous belief that if you can disprove the Roswell Incident, you have automatically debunked all UFO reports. How ridiculous.

This is the case they feel they HAVE to crush in order to get a handle on disempowering the pro-UFO/Alien lobby. When you watch this movie, you will understand why.

Roswell is a very well made movie, with an excellent cast, which features some powerful performances by Kyle Mac and Dwight Yoakam above all.

The UFO debunkers will hate it because it tells the story of an actual Alien incident including the recovery of at least one semi-telepathic crash survivor.

Some contemporary UFO purists will have a problem because of the artistic license taken and the fact that it seems like Marcel was stuck between a rock and a hard place, having wanted to release the true account of the crash - whereas now some people believe that Marcel was told to release an exaggerated 'crashed disk' report by Blanchard, which was then pulled/denied in true disinformation style.

Whatever the theorizing, this movie tells a fairly traditional Roswell story, which includes all of the main elements of the discovery and cover-up. If anything, as another reviewer said, a worst case scenario.

The Project Mogul balloon that debunkers keep whining about, DID have a roughly disk-shaped instrument gondola suspended way beneath it, but nobody in their right mind could EVER mistake it for a craft that was capable of independent flight, even if it had become totally separated from the mother balloon, which seems not to have been the case, per their own debunking mythology.

This movie has a feel about it that just gets under your skin, and for many reasons, flaws and artistic license or not, it flows more like a documentary of Marcel's life than a piece of pure fiction. When you compare the flow and feel of this movie with the infantile ramblings of debunkers such as the barely literate Kal K. Korff (yeah, KKK), you cannot help but feel that the movie is the closest thing we might ever know to the Truth.

The idea that the whole Incident was a piece of disinformation, to fool the Russians or whatever, falls apart instantly for 10,000 reasons and is perhaps the most ludicrous suggestion of all.

No, something unusual came down in Roswell, and until the Government comes clean, and stops fabricating seemingly deliberately absurd 'explanations', the story told in this movie may be considered a very reasonable possible scenario.

Very highly recommended. ... Read more

Amazon.com

With Red Rock West and The Last Seduction, writer-director John Dahl established himself as America's leading maker of tough, twisted, funny little neo-noir pictures. Red Rock West is a spare, tight reworking of noirish motifs--the lone man caught in a web of circumstance and betrayal, the rich femme fatale, the corrupt policeman, the wounded military veteran, the homicidal psychopath--that brings to mind classics from Detour to Out of the Past to Bad Day at Black Rock. Cage--warming up for his career-peak (so far) performance in Leaving Las Vegas a few years later--plays an unemployed former Marine (his leg injured in the truck-bombing of the base in Beirut) who stumbles into a nightmarish situation when he stops at a bar in the isolated Wyoming town of Red Rock West. With one fateful step, he's trapped; and no matter how hard he tries, he just can't seem to leave town. The late J.T. Walsh is (as always) splendidly corrupt as the bar owner who harbors some deadly secrets, and Dennis Hopper does a variation on his patented Blue Velvet/River's Edge psycho that suits the treacherous environs of Red Rock West just fine. --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Don't miss this one too.....
I hadn't heard much about this film, nothing in fact, when I stumbled across it in the video store. I was pleased to discover a taut little noir picture about a down-and-out ex-marine (Nicolas Cage) looking for employment in the wrong town. What ensues is a winding story involving murder for hire and a femme fatale. Cage and Boyle put in solid performances and Hopper is vaguely creepy as usual. I liked the pacing of this movie; it kept up the tension without overdoing it. With crazy twists and some laughs it kept me interested the whole time despite being occasionally formulaic. Too bad this movie was overlooked by the public, I advise you not to make the same mistake.

Film Noir, yes, but with a new dimension
Yes, this is Film Noir, but it's a new step in Film Noir evolution....and not just because it's funny! Cage's character does get into hot water because of one tiny slide into temptation. When he's mistaken for a hired killer, his desperation for money gets the better of him. But he's just too nice to do the job. As he goes deeper into the muck, he has three choices: give in & be corrupted...or walk away & leave these nut-cases to their own dysfunctional devices. Even that wouldn't be enough, though: he's determined to go with the third choice: stay in the game & Make The World a Better Place.

Cage can pull it off. His essential goodness seems very real, and the befuddled expression on his face, when confronted by the greed of the other characters, is hilarious. The movie has enough action, but it's really a well-crafted balance of thriller and fable.

A Nice Dose of Murderous Double Crossing
A basically decent drifter (Nicolas Cage) lands in the tiny town of Red Rock, Wyoming, looking for work. When he stops in the bar, the bar owner (J. T. Walsh) asks why he took so long and asks him to step in the back office so they can discuss the job. Cage plays along, then discovers the work is to kill the bar owner's wife. He takes the money, drives out to the ranch to warn the wife (Laura Flynn Boyle), and starts to leave town. Problems arise and he returns to town in time to witness the real hit man (Dennis Hopper) arrive. Things go downhill for the Cage character after that.

This is an excellent, convoluted, well-acted and offbeat mystery. Funny, too. Cage never knows what's happening, but everybody else assumes he does. Dennis Hopper again plays a charming semi-psycho but he hadn't patented the style yet so it seems fresh. J. T. Walsh was a great character actor who died young. He's outstanding as the bar owner...who also happens to be the sheriff. He has one or two other secrets as well. And if Boyle doesn't rev your engine, you may need a tune up. She's more ruthless than the lot of them.

The DVD transfer is clean and clear.

Twists, twists, and more twists.
Nicolas Cage stars as Michael,an unemployed Texas roughneck desperate enough to drive all the way to Wyoming for a potential job. He is honest to a fault but always seems to be on the dark side of fate.
After failing to obtain gainful employment he stumbles into the Red Rock Bar, where the owner Wayne (J.T.Walsh), mistakes him for a heretofor unseen contract killer he hired to do in his lovely, but lethal wife Suzanne (Lara Flynn Boyle).
Wayne gives Michael the necessary details and a down payment for the hit on the adulterous Suzie. With no intent on killing, Michael takes the money and warns Suzanne about her impending demise. He also writes a letter to the local sheriff exposing the plot and splits town.
As fate would dictate, Michael is involved in an accident in which he runs down Suzannes lover during a heavy rainstorm. He takes him to the hospital where it's discovered that he's also been shot. The sheriff is summoned and of course to Michaels misfortune, Wayne is also the local law. Michael escapes while being taken on that last ride and is subsequently picked up by the real killer,"Lyle From Dallas" (Dennis Hopper) who plays the role with murderous glee.
After discovering that both he and Michael are former marines, Lyle insists on buying him a drink at, where else, The Red Rock Bar. It is there that Wayne realizes his mistake and soon he and Lyle are in hot pursuit of Michael who willingly falls into Suzannes waiting arms.
The duo are now both on the run and as the plot develops we learn that Wayne and Suzanne are actually also on the lam with 1.9 million stolen dollars which now becomes the central focus of the film.
The casting in this movie is excellent, with the actors blending well with their assigned roles, especially Dennis Hopper.
Marc Reshovsky's photography was superb, utilizing many unique angles which added to the suspense and plot development. The fim's also enhanced by director John Dahl's tight style and Scott Chestnuts rapidfire editing.

Just GO, man!
I've watched this marvelous noir movie, oh, maybe 4 times, and my response is always the same. Nicholas Cage has yet another opportunity to just get the hell our of Red Rock, and you can see the conflict and indecision and inevitability play across his face, and you just want to shout at him, 'GO, man, just GO!'
But of course, if he did, there wouldn't be a movie, and it's such a good one that it would really be a shame to have it not exist.
Cage plays a down and out ex-Marine who literally stumbles into Red Rock West, Wyoming. For his sake, you wish it could have been maybe Red Rock East, or Laramie, or Cheyenne - anyplace other than Red Rock West...but no. It's in Red Rock West that he finds himself caught in a web of betrayal that begins with a case of mistaken identity and goes from silly to confusing to scary to terrifying in the space of about 20 minutes. There's a femme fatale, a psychopath (spectacularly played by Dennis Hooper), money, power, treachery, and ruthlessness at play here. Cage is trapped but good, and no matter how hard he tried, he just can't seem to leave town.
Bravo, bravo. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good
This looks to be good because there is a good cast and strong sex scenes. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

great videos here''
hi there just like the video says pieces of time. is what this video dvd colection is all about. some that will are may never air on tv again. so hurry up and get yours while they still have it be one of the first to own it. its worth it i know i have it too. dwight yoakam shows you nothing but his best in this one for sure. and shows you he is the king of rockabilly (modernday) turn it on turn it up turn me loose is the best one on here. thanks kellysherman

Dwight does not dissapoint
This is essential for any Dwight Yoakam fan. Dddddddddddddddddddddddddwight!

Music and comedic pieces drive Pieces of Time
Released in 1994, the "Pieces of Time" video is a collection of 11 music videos from '90-'94, including: "Suspicious Minds," "The Heart That You Own," "Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose," "Takes A Lot To Rock You," "You're The One," "It Only Hurts When I Cry," "Ain't That Lonely Yet," "A Thousand Miles From Nowhere," "Fast As You," "Try Not To Look So Pretty," and "Pocket Of A Clown." The videos are linked by a series of vignettes that are both amusing and revealing. Not just a pouty country music singer, Yoakam has a sense of humor - and humor is what he uses to bring to light what goes on in his (somewhat twisted) mind. This is a great collection of music videos plus the chance to see the comedic side of Dwight Yoakam we don't usually experience through his songs. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Worth your time ? DEFINITELY!!!!
This is the type of film that you don't see everyday. Four real-life bankrobbers who happen to be brothers, their safe-cracking accomplice and lots of gunfire, but no deaths. This is entertainment at its best. This is also a very different step for director, Richard Linklater whose other credits include DAZED AND CONFUSED, SLACKER, and SUBURBIA. Allof which were relatively low-budget but true to life. There has been much said about this movie and the "lack of plot" , but this is where you remember that this is a true story and none of Linklater's other films had plots either. The film moves along at a nice leisurely pace giving you a chance to learn about and like the characters. As far as performances go, there isn't a bad one in the bunch. (the cast is outstanding) There is plenty of action to satisfy all of the DIE HARD fans out there and when the action is toned down, it is fun to watch the poor old farmboys plan their next big heist. It has to be said that, of all the performances, Dwight Yoakam, playing a very different role than his Doyle in SLING BLADE, is the best. If you're looking for a night of action and good old fashioned, downhome characters, give it a try. It is suitable for the whole family and it is definitely worth owning. SO, forget renting. Go buy it on DVD. Now!!!

Good Film Overlooked By Most
I saw this in the theater and thought it was great, but no one else I knew had seen it. Then I saw it on DVD and bought it quickly. It was just as good as I remembered.

This is a "gangster" movie without gangsters. No one gets killed or tortured graphically. It's a real life story of depression era brothers trying to get some cash and having some adventures along the way.

I think Hawke puts in one of his best performances ever. Dwight Yoakam also contributes some good acting, especially when compared to his fabulous "Sling Blade" villan.

The only flaw is the length. The movie drags a little after a while, but it still manages to make you care enough about the characters to see it through to the end.

The final credits featuring Willis and Joe Newton at the end of their lives make the film worth owning. It's one of the most clever ways to make the credits worth watching I've seen.

Give this movie a chance. It's well acted and is aesthetically pleasing to watch. Plus it's really low cost!

LAWBREAKERS
THE NEWTON BOYS is a well done period film, richly and warmly photographed and performed by a talented cast. I still have a problem in "justifying" their robberies. Willis' conclusion that he has been done wrong so he can do wrong too is not a quality I find admirable. Stealing is stealing, and Linklater makes it look perfectly normal to "cheer" these boys on. The fact that this is a true story only adds fire to the fuel of how we make heroes out of bad guys because they were "cute" or they got the "system", etc., etc. Nough about that, though. Matthew McConaughey, Skeet Ulrich and Ethan Hawke are splendid; they needed to give the excellent Vincent D'Onofrio more to do; Julianna Margulies was fascinating as Louise; Luke Askew in a great supporting role as the suspect-beating cop; and Dwight Yoakam as the friend who supplies the nitroglycerin.
The movie is a little long, drags some in the middle, but for a period piece, it's effective...just don't think these guys are heroes. (The end credits with the real Willis and Joe is superb)

Excellent Movie!
Matt at his best! Funny, insightful, historical (for the most part). Worth seeing time & time again!

An underrated film if there ever was one!
Richard Linklater's The Newton Boys eschews much of the post-modern trappings that have defined the western genre in the nineties. Sure, it begins with a credits sequence that mimics the style of an old silent serial (complete with a fisheye lens), and it has one scene in which some of the eponymous boys are accused of stealing from a movie house (though they are never convicted), but the film's sensibilities seem much closer to those of the 1920's in which the film was set. It's an old-fashioned work, and that feeling is compounded by some wonderful documentary footage that plays during the credits. The comments of those involved in the actual events lend an immeasurable air of authenticity to the film. It might be tempting to classify the film's identification with the bank robbers as post-modern, especially since Bonnie and Clyde essentially kicked off the modern era of filmmaking, but consider the fact that even 1903's The Great Train Robbery gave more screen time to its criminals than its posse.

That screen time tells a fairly standard story, and there are few genuine surprises to be found in that respect. Still, the movie isn't so much about plot as mood and character. This is the closest Linklater has come to making a Hollywood film, and he uses the resources to enhance, rather than ignore, his worldview. The cast is fairly excellent, with Ethan Hawke's drunkard being the standout. Matthew McConaughey has the largest role, and shows more charm here than in nearly any other film that he has been in. Although the film's setting is far from the modern day slacker world of Linklater's other films, the prevailing attitude seems to be the same. It's a mix of Texan charm and genteel sophistication. This treatment of the subject matter doesn't ever come off as cocky. It creates a wonderful sense of respect toward history. Several times, the Newton boys are allowed to state their socio-political justification for robbing banks. That they use flawed logic isn't the point. That they get a chance to make their case is. Linklater really isn't an astounding visualist (though the film is attractive) nor does he have a tremendous sense of pacing. What he does have is a humanist streak that runs throughout his films. Even when a double cross occurs in the film, he pauses to note that the traitor continued to assert his innocence. That genuine regard for his characters and fidelity to his setting are his strongest directorial traits. I'll take that over puffed up set pieces and quick cutting any day. ... Read more

Reviews (40)

You'll either love it, or hate it....
It's an amazing thing. My top-five movies of all-time all have one thing in common- they are all either loved or hated by the reviewers on Amazon. This to me, is the sign of a great movie, because it means that people either got it, or the didn't. Some viewers need to be force-fed hollywood clichés, while others are capable of using their brain. This film is a low-key masterpiece, humming like a fridge- almost drugged. People complain that Owen Wilson isn't "scary" or "a believeable serial killer". You tell me what is scarier: a hollywood killer who runs around like a maniac chasing people and screaming, or a quiet-cool, detached psychopath who kills without remorse. This is reality folks. Owen Wilson nails- absolutely NAILS the role. If it's not "Hollywood" enough for you, maybe you should buy Armageddon instead.

A slow/but very good movie about a serial killer
The Minus Man is a movie about a serial killer/drifter, played by Owen Wilson, that arrives in a small town, befriends everyone that he sees. He lives by three rules...do not kill in your own town...do not kill anyone that you know...and do not kill violently. None-the-less, he breaks all of these rules? Owen plays such a low key character, Vann, that it really is kind of disturbing. He has absolutely no remorse or guilt of any kind.

The acting in this movie is phenomenal, the story is very slow paced, but fast enough to keep you interested in the characters. The character development is great, one outstanding performance is by Brian Cox who plays Mr. Durwin (Vann's landlord and friend). There is an interaction between Vann and the Durwins that really identifies this character...I wish I could say more, but I don't want to give away any of the story....basically it identifies how removed - emotionally - Vann is from society...including those you think he truelly cares about.

Outstanding film that may not be for everyone, but if you get it, then all the better.

IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING GOOD...
...this is a disappointing movie. I found myself truly mesmerized by the first half of the movie, trying to figure out what Owen Wilson's character was motivated by; who were these two detectives (Dennis Haysbert, Dwight Yoakum) and why were they haunting him? What really was going on with the landlord's missing daughter? Why did Brian Cox off Mercedes Ruehl? What was the glib ending supposed to mean? Owen Wilson and Janeane Garafolo do fine jobs in their roles; Brian Cox as always is astounding. But why was Vann doing this? The movie answers no questions and ultimately that's why I find it hard to recommend it, in spite of its good points.

Underrated Movie
Owen Wilson is fantastic in this movie, which I had never heard of until I came across it at the video store. It is not the best movie I have ever seen, but it is a very good flick, and I have to wonder why it was not highly promoted.

Other people that made the movie more interesting: Janeane Garofalo, Dwight Yoakam, and Sheryl Crow. The singers didn't sing, and the comedienne didn't crack jokes. And yet they didn't need to, because the acting was great all around.

The only part of this movie that I wouldn't have understood had it not been written on the back of the box was the two imaginary cops who showed up all the time. But unlike Mulholland Drive, this movie was not confusing on the whole. On the contrary, it gave me something to think about.

There's A Hole In The Middle
This is the movie that convinced me that Owen Wilson is for real; it also confirms what a lot of us already suspected: Janeane Garofalo is a perfect woman.

But something is missing from the film; too much time is spent focused on disassociated trivialities: hands picking up pieces of paper, feet walking on pavement, car tires rolling on asphalt. They are images that add up to nothing, mean little to the story, and serve only to pad out the playing time.

But the story is interesting and the acting--especially Wilson, Garofalo, and Dwight Yokum--make it well worth watching. Not a great movie, but a good, quirky, off-beat one. ... Read more