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Writer and director John Sayles has taken what could have
been a very Hollywood storyline and, with the help of an exceptional
cast, delivered some keen insights into the pressures of life
on the border between Mexico and Texas.
There's people smuggling, racism, family feuds, corruption
at many levels, romance and the murder investigation. All
plot threads are really well interlaced in a script that won
Sayles an Oscar nomination.
While all this is going on Sheriff Sam Deeds (Chris Cooper)
struggles against his dislike of the town's hero worship of
his late father Sheriff Buddy Deeds (Matthew McConaughey),
who ran the corrupt Sheriff Charlie Wade (Kris Kristofferson)
out of town at gunpoint.
His attitude is not helped by being told by a crusty old
timer: "Sheriff Deeds is dead, you're just Sheriff Junior."
Covering the two generations through seamless flashbacks,
Sayles also delves into the tensions between the different
ethnic groups within the town.
The majority of residents are Mexican-American and Deeds
junior's love interest is the fiesty Latino school teacher
played by Elizabeth Pena who, also, has trouble with a parent
- her domineering mother.
The third group in the racial mix are the blacks who tend
to make up a large part of the army base. The tensions here
are between the owner of the local army/black bar and his
son, who is a ramrod straight colonel, and his son who wants
to see his grandfather.
Lone Star is not an all-action western but is a really enthralling
piece of drama that will keep you interested from go to whoa.
Worth the price of admission.
Conclusion: Movie: 85% DVD Extras: 40%
Continued:
DVD details at a glance >
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