The stage curtains open ...
I just saw this movie for the first time tonight, 26 years after it was made. And even though this movie is already a 1/4 of a century old, it still holds up and resonates well. A solid crime story with 3 deadly, big city killers finding themselves in small town america. The story centers around Lila Walker (Cynda Williams) on one side, and Police Chief Dale Dixon (Bill Paxton) on the other. Lila, her boyfriend Ray (Billy Bob Thornton), and Pluto (Michael Beach) decide to steal a store of drugs and cash, leaving 6 dead bodies in their wake. The authorities think they are heading back to Star City, Arkansas where Lila has family, so they contact Dixon to give him the heads up. However, there is a common thread that runs between Lila and Dixon as the plot runs much deeper than we initially believe.
Bill Paxton is solid in his portrayal of the small town police chief, a good ol' boy with a chance to have a real case to work on in a town where nothing beyond the crimes of domestic disturbances or breaking the speed limit occur. In fact, we learn in all the time he has been police chief of Star City, he's never once had to draw his gun. The direction is tight and the pacing excellent. There are no boring parts in the movie. It is pretty violent and raw in its depiction of the characters and their plight with the only drawback being the overuse of harsh language to try and drive home the point of how ruthless and out of control they are.
I enjoyed this film - it was a surprise to me and I wonder how it is that I've missed out on seeing it for all these years. But, better late than never - and I would certainly watch it again.
I just saw this movie for the first time tonight, 26 years after it was made. And even though this movie is already a 1/4 of a century old, it still holds up and resonates well. A solid crime story with 3 deadly, big city killers finding themselves in small town america. The story centers around Lila Walker (Cynda Williams) on one side, and Police Chief Dale Dixon (Bill Paxton) on the other. Lila, her boyfriend Ray (Billy Bob Thornton), and Pluto (Michael Beach) decide to steal a store of drugs and cash, leaving 6 dead bodies in their wake. The authorities think they are heading back to Star City, Arkansas where Lila has family, so they contact Dixon to give him the heads up. However, there is a common thread that runs between Lila and Dixon as the plot runs much deeper than we initially believe.
Bill Paxton is solid in his portrayal of the small town police chief, a good ol' boy with a chance to have a real case to work on in a town where nothing beyond the crimes of domestic disturbances or breaking the speed limit occur. In fact, we learn in all the time he has been police chief of Star City, he's never once had to draw his gun. The direction is tight and the pacing excellent. There are no boring parts in the movie. It is pretty violent and raw in its depiction of the characters and their plight with the only drawback being the overuse of harsh language to try and drive home the point of how ruthless and out of control they are.
I enjoyed this film - it was a surprise to me and I wonder how it is that I've missed out on seeing it for all these years. But, better late than never - and I would certainly watch it again.