Zilla-4 Reviews

The Hi-Lo Country (1998)

A Great Movie Western

[10/10 · 5 September 1999]

This is a wonderful movie produced by Martin Scorcese's group and is the best contemporary western I've seen since "Unforgiven". In some ways it is like a Cormac McCarthy novel brought to life. It has a mature and literate screenplay by Walon Green, is well acted by Billy Crudup and Woody Harrelson, has strong supporting performances by a large and perfectly cast group of actors (including Patricia Arquette, Katy Jurado, Sam Elliott, and Penelope Cruz), is beautifully photographed by Oliver Stapleton against spectacular backdrops in New Mexico, is very well directed by Stephen Frears, and has a haunting score by the superb Carter Burwell. Only an overly sentimental last scene weakens an otherwise great film, but the movie is still well worth seeing.

The Thin Red Line (1998)

A Stunning Achievement

[28 April 1999]

You will either love this film or hate this film. It is impossible to be indifferent to this movie. This is one sign of great art. A generation from now, this film will be considered a classic, misunderstood in its own time, and likely thought of as one of the finest films ever made. It is a towering achievement of filmed poetry, a war movie equal in its own way to the war poems of Stephen Spender.

The Thin Red Line (1998)

Enduring Art

[17 January 1999]

Surely the finest war film. But more than that. Perhaps one of the greatest films ever.