Trampas is deputized and asked to transport a murder suspect to the town of Coulter Station. The prisoner, a meek young man, is accused of killing his girlfriend and escaping justice. He admits that he and his girlfriend had argued, but claims he was drunk and passed out and has no memory of the crime. Trampas looks forward to seeing his old friend, the sheriff of the town. When he arrives there with his prisoner, he learns that the sheriff died just a day or two earlier after being thrown by his horse and dragged. Trampas, along with the man's daughter, both have doubts about the accident. He sets out to discover the truth beside both incidents, which he believes are connected somehow. A strong episode deftly weaves together a complex plot with intriguing side stories. Very well done all around, with a satisfying ending.
Reviews
69 Reviews
Good story to a point
1 April 2024
An impetuous and immature heir to a cattle ranch butts head with his older sister and her boyfriend, who has been picked to take their late father's herd to market. Then, amid this tension, they face a range war with ranchers who fear the herd may introduce a bovine disease if allowed to pass through their valley. Overall good episode, though it could have been made better. A couple of plot elements seem a bit contrived, like the decision by the Virginian to hire the young man even after witnessing the poor judgment displayed in a bar fight. The ending, in my view, could also have been more rewarding.
Family versus duty
26 March 2024
Excellent tale that probes themes of family, loyalty and morality. Lloyd Nolan does a bang-up job as Abe Clayton, an ex-con who doesn't want to be reformed. After spending 10 years in prison, he is invited to Medicine Bow by Emmet, the deputy sheriff, who was raised by Abe. Clayton gets the old gang together, which includes a brother, nephew and adopted daughter, along with her outlaw fiancé, played by Bruce Dern, who could do these roles with his eyes closed. When Emmet realizes the old man is up to no good, he does his best to thwart a planned heist, but runs into barriers including his feelings for the man who took him in all those years ago. Good writing and good acting.
Another Mother's Son
(2017)
Interesting tale of a little-known WWII event
16 March 2023
The plight of the Channel Islands during World War II is a relatively obscure footnote of World War II. As the only example of German occupation of British territory, it is certainly worthy of movie treatment. Though no large-scale battles took place there, citizens of the crown lived under German rule for years. This movie is based on a true story about a Jersey shopkeeper shielding a Russian prisoner of war who escaped from a brutal work camp on the island. The woman's two sons are fighting the Germans, as was this young man, who finds relative safety in the woman's house after enduring torture by his captors. The tension comes as she attempts to keep him hidden from the authorities, sometimes in plain sight. Relatives and neighbors are in the mix, some offering help, others warning of the consequences if they are caught. Collaborators and prying German soldiers provide some tension. This is not a bad movie, but it could have been much better. Instead, it suffers from a tepid script and uninspired direction. It is also weakened by implausible segments, such as how quickly the Russian learns English and the reckless actions of his protector, who often places him in danger by parading him throughout the countryside and in town. The acting is good, and the cinematography successfully places us in the quaint environment of a British populace with strong French influences. But the movie lacks a true climax, and what serves as one seems to be little more than an afterthought. That's too bad.
Excellent treatment of serious themes
2 February 2023
Shelley Winters shines in this moving story early in this excellent series. A young man is held for murder when he kills a man while defending the honor of his sister, whom he hasn't seen in a long time. He claims self defense but after his sister reveals her sordid past, he becomes bitter and loses his will to defend himself. Meanwhile, a drought has put the travelers on edge and the dead man's father demands a hanging. The episode touches on many serious themes, including revenge, morality, justice, desperation, forgiveness and redemption. Ward Bond's authoritative presence as the wagon master is on full display and the ending may even elicit a tear or two.
Unconvincing coincidence
24 October 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This could have been a good episode if the writers had left well enough alone. The idea of a doctor traveling through the area who performs life-changing, emergency surgery on a successful rancher's beloved son while the rancher is away contains plenty of juice for a good plot. Should the ranch hands summon the family doctor in Laramie even though that could result in the son's death? Will the rancher be grateful to the doctor or blame him for crippling his son? Good stuff there. But to throw in the unlikely backstory about the doctor being Samuel Mudd, who set John Wilkes Booth's broken leg, and the rancher having led the unit that arrested him years earlier stretches the imagination to the breaking point. Too bad. A missed opportunity here. On a positive note, Daisy points a loaded shotgun at a man who is attacking Slim, so that is certainly worth a watch.
Undercover and under par
16 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Not one of the better episodes of this very good series. To begin with, the plot is not believable. The clumsy performance of the horse robbery should have made it obvious that it was a setup, even to the somewhat dim-witted Charlie Wooster. The double cross of the double cross revealed at the end is also implausible. Some of the performances were second rate. And the dialogue among the Mexican outlaws at the end is laughable, though it is supposed to be serious.
The Tall T
(1957)
Scott and Boone shine in understated but solid roles
16 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The Tall T features two leads who shine. Randolph Scott and Richard Boone make an excellent protagonist-antagonist pairing. Boone's character shares a grudging respect for Scott's, and there is also a subtle indication of the reverse. They have experienced a lot and feel a certain weariness at this point of their respective lives. Cliches are nowhere to be found; the motives, actions, and dialog are realistic, likely in big part due to the excellent story-telling skills of the short story's author, Elmore Leonard. Spoiler alert: While I understand that the ending may have been necessary to reflect the desires of audiences for closure, I would have preferred that Boone would have ridden away unmolested, with the tacit understanding that these men may meet again some day under different circumstances. Excellent flick, nonetheless.
Red Tails
(2012)
Hokey history lesson
11 August 2012
It's unfortunate that a story with such potential is told in such a poor fashion. "Red Tails" attempts to familiarize us with the true-life exploits of black American fighter pilots during World War II who battled racism to gain respect. But instead of rich storytelling, we get a somewhat sanitized version of history. The dialog is lame, the character development shaky and acting unsatisfying. The in-air action -in its CGI glory - feels like part of a video game. It pales when compared to the edge-of-your-seat excitement generated by great WWII movies such as Saving Private Ryan and Das Boot. Apparently, producer George Lucas waited years to make this film. Unfortunately, he should have waited around for a better product.
Trust
(I) (2010)
Kudos for risky subject, but thumbs down for poor plot development
15 November 2011
Warning: Spoilers
While Schwimmer may be applauded for taking the risk of making a movie wrapped in such a controversial subject, I feel the script interfered with the effort. The movie had me up until the point where the girl accepted her middle-aged pervert "date" and decided to go to a motel room with him. That may have been slightly believable if she had come from a seriously dysfunctional family, but that obviously wasn't the case here. A few other plot devices bothered me. I don't believe that in such a case the FBI would call the student out of a class and let the whole student body look on as she is placed in a squad car. I would think the more likely result would be knocking on the door of the family's home after school, where they could quietly (and privately) discuss the situation with her and her parents. Also, the girl's behavior didn't seem to fit with her character, who seemed to be reasonably intelligent up to a certain point. Her antagonism toward her family and expressed "love" for her rapist didn't ring true for me. I can, however, relate to the rage exhibited by Clive Owen.
Date Night
(2010)
Good date movie if you're wanting to make out at the theater
4 November 2011
I have to admit: I have high expectations when it comes to comedies. That's because most simply aren't very good, even those that feature talented comic actors. "Date Night" certainly gives us comedy potential, with Steve Carell and Tina Fey in the lead roles. In addition, Ray Liotta, Mark Wahlberg, James Franco and Mila Kunis are cast in amusing cameos. Sadly, this TNT cast is handed a dud of a script. Silly plot devices, goofy car chases and cringe-inducing scenes had me watching the clock, waiting for the end. The premise was good: A couple caught up in a marriage routine wanting to do something a bit more adventurous try to get a table at a trendy restaurant without a reservation. They wind up in the middle of a mess involving a mobster, corrupt police officers, a former black ops consultant and a wide-eyed taxi driver whose cab becomes part of a bizarre car chase through Manhattan. (Actually, that scene consisted of some of the movie's funniest moments.) Unfortunately, the best thing I can say about this film is that it has a running time of under 90 minutes.
Tenderness
(2009)
'Tenderness' has legs, but can't stand on its own feet
1 October 2011
"Tenderness" is a film that falls into the category of movies that could have been good but ultimately fail to deliver. It's a psychological drama that invites us to enter the minds and motives of three disparate souls who all seem to be reaching for something they are not sure how to obtain. So far, so good, especially with Russell Crowe in the cast. But the movie seems to meander, never really drawing us in as much as is we'd like. The main portion of the film is a road trip, pairing the main character - a teen recently released from a juvenile correctional facility after murdering his parents - with a young female admirer who alternates between annoying and creepy. They are surreptitiously followed by Crowe, the semi-retired cop who originally put the boy away. Crowe is certain the boy's trail of murder includes more than his parents, and that he will kill again. We watch the whole thing unfold, waiting for something meaningful to happen, but by the time the credits roll, we're left wondering why we cared in the first place.
The Killer Inside Me
(2010)
Twisted plot, Affleck character fails to draw viewers in
23 September 2011
"The Killer Inside Me" contains two sexy stars (Jessica Alba and Kate Hudson), brutal violence (psychopathically delivered by Casey Affleck) and some twisted detective work. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a lot more than that. I'm a fan of some of Affleck's work, especially "Gone Baby Gone" and "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford." But he fails to draw me in here. Oddly, though, he seems to be appropriate for this role. It may just be that the character is not interesting enough. In any case, this movie made me feel as I imagine I would after witnessing an illegal dogfight in which my dog lost. It hurt to watch the violence, and I didn't get anything out of it to ease the pain.
Arthur
(I) (2011)
Unncessary remake of a classic falls far short of brilliance
2 September 2011
I suppose if I were to do a remake of the 1981 movie "Arthur" I could do worse than cast Russell Brand in the title role. He most closely matches the comic talent of Dudley Moore, who starred in the original. The point is, however, why do the remake in the first place? There is an inherent danger in attempting to resurrect a classic, which the original movie certainly was. The new version performs a couple of sex changes. The first transforms Hobson from a man - expertly portrayed in the original in an Oscar-winning performance by Sir John Gielgud - to a female nanny, played by Helen Mirren. Arthur's controlling parent this time around is his mother rather than his father. Other than that, there is little in this effort that is original. Don't get me wrong: Brand is a gifted comedic actor. But in my book, Dudley Moore was - and always will be - Arthur. With Netflix, Redbox and other services available, there is no excuse for those who haven't seen the original "Arthur" to watch this inferior version.
Glorious 39
(2009)
Intriguiging idea, but poor execution
23 August 2011
We can't help but believe there could have been a good movie here, based on the beginnings of World War II. There has been scant examination of the angle of patriotic Brits who believed Neville Chamberlain's strategy of appeasement was the only hope to save an ill-equipped and unprepared Britain faced with Nazi expansion. That is understandable, considering this movie took place two years before the United States entered the war. It is entirely plausible that some elements of British intelligentsia favored leaving the Nazis to their own devices, so that English society could be saved. However, this movie darts, flits and dances all over the screen, where we often are unsure who we should be rooting for. Even in the end, we are disappointed. Many of the scenes do little but tease us, with no payoff. It's too bad. A good idea - as well as some good actors - were wasted in this production.
Flame & Citron
(2008)
Excellent treatment of WWII resistance
9 August 2011
World War II resistance fighters have understandably been held at high regard through the years. It's difficult to imagine folks more heroic than those who risk their lives defending their countrymen against the forces of evil. But as "Flame and Citron" reveals, in partisan warfare, the blood can be obscured by a thick layer of fog. The travails of the main characters - one a young, cool-headed killer and his partner, the older, conflicted but dedicated partisan - provide tantalizing drama. This is certainly one of the best WWII movies I've seen in the past decade, and it's a shame it hasn't had more exposure in America. I highly recommend this well-directed, well-acted film, which provides a look at events that most of us have never read about in history books.
The Dilemma
(2011)
A feel-bad bromance that misses the mark
6 August 2011
"The Dilemma," quite frankly, is one of Ron Howard's worst films. The shaky bromance toggles between comedy and drama, but never reaches adequacy at either extreme. There's so much wrong with this movie, it's difficult to begin. But I'll try. The script is uneven, never settling on what kind of movie it wants to be. The acting is second rate. Vince Vaughn does an admirable job, but Kevin James, Winona Ryder and Jennifer Connolly pretty much showed up to receive a paycheck. Perhaps if this had been a film school graduate's first attempt, it may be forgiven. But this is a Ron Howard film. And we expect much more than this pedestrian effort.
Biutiful
(2010)
Boring and subtitled: Not a good combination
24 June 2011
Despite the obvious care of the director, the performance by the wonderful Javier Bardem and the ambitious reach of the script, "Biutiful" never rises from its pedestrian takeoff point. I watched this movie with great anticipation, since it had gotten such rave reviews. Simply put, it was boring. Bardem plays a low-level criminal who organizes illegal workers in modern-day Barcelona. His life is complicated. His estranged wife is a bipolar alcoholic who earns extra cash prostituting herself with her husband's brother, among others. Bardem's character is diagnosed with terminal cancer and chooses not to tell anyone, including the children who are in his care. That's a combination that could make a good movie. But it falters because there is no action. Personally, I can enjoy a movie devoid of car chases, extreme violence or gratuitous sex scenes. But I have a difficult time getting into a movie when nothing much happens. And that's the case with "Biutiful." Many viewers choosing to sit through its 147-minute length may be left scratching their heads, wondering what it's all about. The film obviously struck a chord with some reviewers, but succeeded only in boring me to tears.
Animal Kingdom
(2010)
Riveting Aussie crime family drama
16 April 2011
This Aussie flick came in under the radar and totally captivated me. The film is a mesmerizing look at a brutal Australian crime family, providing us with deliciously memorable villains. Ben Mendelsohn is chilling as the sociopath Pope, an amoral criminal who simmers with pure evil. Smurf, the bleach-blonde matriarch (played wonderfully by Jacki Weaver), is both protective and fiendish, a modern Ma Barker. Thrust into this hellish milieu is 17-year-old J, who has nowhere to go after his mother dies of a heroin overdose. Guy Pearce is convincing as the good-hearted homicide detective who understands the boy's dilemma and does his best to help him. The story is solid, the performances topnotch and the payoff satisfying. "Animal Kingdom" is one of the best movies ever to come from Down Under.
Like Dandelion Dust
(2009)
A potent movie that tugs at our emotions
15 April 2011
After watching this powerful movie, I asked aloud why it wasn't nominated for any awards. It was only after I checked further that I discovered why: It is the product of a Christian movie production company and had limited distribution. The fact that I didn't know that, in itself, is a testament to the greatness of this movie. I'm a grown man who is usually not very emotional, but this movie had my tear ducts working overtime. I can't say enough about the cast, the script, the direction, the music and everything else. The story, about two sets of parents on the opposite ends of society, successfully avoids clichés and provides a realistic and painfully emotional story. This is a tour de force that came in completely under the radar. I highly recommend it.
National Treasure
(2004)
Somewhat entertaining, though lightweight film
12 January 2005
Warning: Spoilers
"National Treasure" is like one of those Saturday matinees of my youth, involved enough to keep one interested, but with a plot too fragile to endure much analysis. In that measure, it is worth a jaunt to the theater (though maybe not more than the matinée discounted price). But since I'm unable to allow plot holes to go unchallenged, here goes: 1. Knowing they need Gates alive and healthy for them to have any chance of deciphering all the clues, why were the bad guys continually trying to kill him? 2. After the document heist, several gunshots and a car chase that involved dozens of vehicles and pedestrians, how is it that the bad guys were never caught? 3. How could the villain possibly expect Gates and the others to be at a certain location in Philadelphia to intercept them, even though they weren't aware a clue led them there? And why did a young boy attract so much suspicion that they followed him outside to interview him? 4. And last but not least, why would an aging widower living alone happen to have a basket full of fresh lemons in his house? OK, I'm done. Like I said, it's a fun, watchable movie as long as you don't think too much.
The Bourne Supremacy
(2004)
Too much razzle dazzle
4 January 2005
While The Bourne Identity was a classy, intelligent thriller, this sequel abandons much of the original's captivating elements and replaces them with a sensory blur. The director takes a chaotic approach, using jerky camera shots, unusual angles and jagged editing to obscure an inferior plot. One has to look no further than the five-minute or so car chase scene to realize that this movie didn't have enough depth to follow the original on its story-telling merits. On a positive note, Matt Damon again turns in an excellent performance as Jason Bourne. Joan Allen also does well in her role as a CIA big shot. Julia Stiles is wasted in a small role.
The Village
(2004)
Good premise, poor execution
31 July 2004
This was a disappointing film from Shyamalan. The premise was indeed interesting, but could have been made much stronger with some relatively minor plot changes. His hallmark twist was there, but the viewer was eased into it; it did not shock as did the classic ending of The Sixth Sense. The acting appeared stilted with the exception for Bryce Howard, who turned in an excellent performance in her feature film debut, and the always steady Joaquin Phoenix. William Hurt and Sigourney Weaver appeared to sleepwalk through their roles. The scares were there, but didn't have the same edge as in his other movies. Not one of Shyamalan's better movies. I thought the premise was better than the one in Unbreakable, but the result wasn't much better.
Lost in Translation
(2003)
The plot is what was lost
16 February 2004
Yes, Sophia Coppola avoided some cliches and obvious approaches in making this movie. Yes, it is a nice change of pace to see a movie that doesn't resort to frenetic action or meaningless sex. Yes, there is some nice cinematography and interesting directorial devices. But in the end, a movie must have a story, and there really isn't one here. Because of the previous points, I didn't hate this movie. But I didn't like it a whole lot either. There just isn't enough here to grab. Though it may be admirable that the plot didn't develop as we would expect, it should at least develop. And the Oscar nomination for Murray's performance mystifies me. I like Bill Murray, but this was a sleepwalking role.
Antwone Fisher
(2002)
Diamond in the rough
30 December 2003
"Antwone Fisher," Denzel Washington's directorial debut, is an excellent movie, though it came in under the radar screen last year. The story, based on true events about a sailor with a tragic, hurtful past and his journey to closure, is well told and requires several hankies at the end. Newcomer Derek Luke is very good as the title character, providing a low-key performance that works well. Washington, as usual, is superb in his acting role and also excels behind the camera. Viola Davis delivers a tour de force, despite her limited screen time and the fact that her entire dialogue consists of two or three lines. All in all, a triumphant movie that should have gotten more attention.
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