Headstrong young gal Sarah O'Rourke (Linda Fiorentino in fine feisty form) is sentenced to hang after she kills her abusive husband. However, Sarah manages to escape from the clutches of her husband's vengeful father Marshal Bill Speakes (a superbly flinty portrayal by Sam Elliott) and goes on the lam with suave highwayman Jack Cooper (a solid and charming performance by Craig Sheffer). Naturally, Speakes gives chase. Director P.J. Pesce, who also co-wrote the clever and hard-edged script with Tom Abrams, relates the gripping story at a zippy pace, ably crafts a tough gritty tone, stages the exciting shoot-outs with skill and aplomb, draws the main characters with genuine depth, and sprinkles nice touches of amusing wry humor throughout. The startling moments of brutal'n'bloody violence pack quite a wicked punch. Fiorentino and Sheffer make for appealing leads; they receive sturdy support from Frank Whaley as Jack's gentle nerd brother Walter and John Furlong as reprehensible heel Zeb Hollister. Moreover, it's an absolute treat to see Elliott play a real ruthless bastard for once. Michael Bonvillain's crisp cinematography gives this picture a pleasing bright look and makes cool use of strenuous slow-motion. Stephen Endelman's offbeat, yet lively score hits the rousing spot. A satisfying sagebrush saga.
Review of The Desperate Trail
