(DML Top 20 Lists - Texas Tales)

Honorable Mention

The Alamo (1960), Director: John Wayne, rated Passed (PG) for Western violence

They stood firing until they could stand no longer...156 MEN AGAINST A RAGING ARMY OF 7000!

Starring: John Wayne, Richard Widmark, Laurence Harvey, Frankie Avalon, Linda Cristal, Chill Wills, Ken Curtis, Joseph Calleia, Patrick Wayne, Jester Hairston, Richard Boone

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"There's right and there's wrong. You got to do one or the other. You do the one and you're living. You do the other and you may be walking around, but you're dead as a beaver hat." - Davy Crockett

Why watch this? It don't get more Texas than this.

Plot Summary: In 1836, the Mexican army, led by General Santa Anna, is invading Texas. General Sam Houston needs time to build his army to stop them, so he orders Colonel William Travis to defend the Alamo mission at all costs. Travis' small troop is joined by reinforcements led by Jim Bowie and the famous Davy Crockett. They must prepare to defend the fort against the vastly larger Mexican forces.

Dad's Preview: As a young student in El Paso, Texas elementary school, I was taught Texas history, and no single event carried more weight than the 1836 battle for the Alamo mission. The Duke created his own independent film company, Batjac, so he could tell this epic story. He threw everything he had into this project, which was also his directorial debut. It's massive, emotional and one of my favorites. Duke is perfect as the famous, coonskin-cap-wearing, Tennessee Senator, Davy Crockett.

The Alamo Co., Batjac Productions;
United Artists

#20 Top

All the Pretty Horses (2000), Director: Billy Bob Thornton, rated PG-13 for violence, some sexuality

Some passions can never be tamed.

Starring: Matt Damon, Henry Thomas, Lucas Black, Penélope Cruz, Ruben Blades, Robert Patrick, Bruce Dern, Sam Shepard

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"I guess the country lasts forever... people ain't but for a little while." - John Grady Cole

Why watch this? A beautiful, at times brutal, Western with a tragically doomed romance.

Plot Summary: After the death of his grandfather, a young Texan cowboy, John Grady Cole, finds himself without a home. Seeking adventure and a fresh start, he and his friend Rawlins head to Mexico, aiming for a life of cowboys. Along the way, they meet a mysterious boy named Jimmy Blevins and become entangled in events that lead to a forbidden love affair and their imprisonment in a Mexican jail.

Dad's Preview: One thing that I always heard growing up in Texas: under no circumstance do you ever want to end up in a Mexican prison. Set in 1949, this film follows two Texas cowboys, John and Lacey, who head to Mexico "because it's there" and they are lucky to escape with their lives. Within this Mexican border tale, the performances are superb, as are the harsh landscapes of Mexico's interior. But be wary, Mexico can be harsh on the unprepared.

Columbia Pictures; Miramax Films

#19 Top

The Westerner (1940), Director: William Wyler, rated Approved

Roaring Prairie Fire. Desperate Fighting. Flaming Romance.

Starring: Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan, Doris Davenport, Fred Stone, Forrest Tucker, Paul Hurst, Chill Wills, Lilian Bond, Dana Andrews, Charles Talton, Tom Tyler

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"When I was a kid, I had a pet rattlesnake. I was fond of it, but I wouldn't turn my back on it." - Cole Harden, to Judge Bean

Why watch this? Cooper and Brennan take center stage in this classic horse opera.

Plot Summary: A drifter named Cole Harden is brought before the corrupt, self-appointed "hanging judge" Roy Bean in Texas and narrowly escapes death by exploiting the judge's intense, personal obsession with famous singer Lily Langtry. Despite this uneasy introduction, the two men develop a strange friendship, which is tested as Harden sides with local homesteaders against the cattle ranchers and ruthless tactics favored by Bean.

Dad's Preview: The two great early Western actors were John Wayne and Gary Cooper. Both always embodied the Western loner, a man of principals and honor who is not afraid to stand up to lawlessness. In those days, they would make six films a year so it's my job to ferret out the better entries. Here, a young, handsome wanderer, Cole Harden, finds himself at odds with the notorious Judge Roy Bean (who was a real judge in Val Verde County, Texas). The strength of this film, centered on a range war between cattlemen and fence-stringing homesteaders, is the tenuous friendship between the gruff Judge and the affable Hardin. You can sense where things are heading. There is action, romance and gunplay aplenty, however, all stands second to Walter Brennan's Oscar-winning performance as the eccentric Judge Roy Bean.

Samuel Goldwyn Productions; United Artists

#18 Top

Dallas Buyers Club (2013), Director: Jean-Marc Vallée, rated R for language, racial slurs, nudity, drug use

Dare to Live

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto, Steve Zahn, Denis O'Hare, Michael O'Neill, Steve Zahn, Dallas Roberts, Griffin Dunne, Kevin Rankin

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Sometimes I feel like I'm fighting for a life I ain't got time to live." – Ron Woodruff

Why watch this? The performances by McConaughey and Leto both won Oscars.

Plot Summary: This biographical drama tells the true story of Ron Woodroof, a Texas electrician diagnosed with AIDS in the 1980s. Faced with a bleak prognosis and limited treatment options, he begins seeking out alternative therapies and smuggling unapproved drugs into the United States. Woodroof's journey leads him to establish a "buyers club" to distribute these treatments to other individuals with AIDS, challenging the medical establishment and fighting for the rights of patients.

Dad's Preview: This is the film that will hold your attention like few do. This fact is enhanced by two stellar acting performances. The first is Jared Leto, as a young transgender woman who is also a drug-addict and HIV-positive. Just wow. The second performance is my Matthew McConaughey - he transforms, both mentally and physically, into a man whose body is dying. His performance is captivating. You will cringe, cheer, and scream with rage. Some of you may even find some empathy for those who suffer from this terrible scourge. That is my hope, anyway.

Truth Entertainment, Voltage Pictures;
Focus Features

#17 Top

Giant (1956), Director: George Stevens, rated G

The legendary epic that's as big as Texas.

Starring: Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Carroll Baker, Jane Withers, Chill Wills, Mercedes McCambridge, Dennis Hopper, Sal Mineo, Rod Taylor, Judith Evelyn, Earl Holliman, Robert Nichols, Paul Fix, Alexander Scourby

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"You come down here and you try to tell us how to run things, insultin' my friends and everything. Now, you look here Leslie, you're my wife, Mrs Jordan Benedict, and I'm asking you right now, when are you gonna settle down and behave like everybody else?" – Bick Benedict to his feisty wife, Leslie

Why watch this? This Lone Star epic pulls no punches and delivers big time!

Plot Summary: Wealthy Texas rancher Bick Benedict travels to Maryland and returns with a cultured bride, Leslie, whose Eastern sensibilities clash with the traditional Texas way of life. Their story unfolds over two decades as they navigate challenges including changing social attitudes, racial prejudice against Mexican Americans, and the disruptive emergence of the oil industry.

Dad's Preview: This family saga, based on Edna Ferber's 1952 novel, captures the expanse of Texas drama just as the ranchers and the oilmen grew into two indomitable forces who would slug it out over the next 80 years, some say even still today. As a Texan, I appreciate how they portrayed the characters - nothing is sugar-coated. It feels pretty dang honest based on my experiences. The cast and scenic shots are incredible, even breathtaking. James Dean, as the shady, bittered Jett Link, out-acts them all. Sadly, this would be the iconic actor's last film, as he died in a car crash before the film opened at age 24. Giant was nominated for nine Oscars, but won only one: George Stevens for Best Director. So, hitch up your spurs, and take a ride to Reata Ranch.

George Stevens, Henry Ginsberg;
Warner Bros. Pictures

#16 Top

Hud (1963), Director: Martin Ritt, rated Approved

A man with a hard-driving fist, and a barbed-wire soul...who never stopped himself from taking anything!

Starring: Paul Newman, Melvyn Douglas, Patricia Neal, Brandon deWilde, Whit Bissell, Crahan Denton, John Ashley, Val Avery

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"That's the shame of it because you don't value anything. You don't respect nothing. You keep no check on your appetites at all. You live just for yourself." – Homer Bannon

Why watch this? I applaud Paul Newman's role choices. This one fits him to a tee.

Plot Summary: This Texas tale follows a clash of generations within a ranching family, focusing on the principled patriarch Homer, his self-serving son Hud, and Hud's impressionable teenage nephew Lonnie. The family's dynamics intensify when a crisis threatens their cattle herd, forcing a confrontation between Homer's moral compass and Hud's unscrupulous drive. Amidst this conflict, Lonnie navigates his own moral awakening, torn between his grandfather's values and his uncle's charisma.

Dad's Preview: Paul Newman's performance in this film is vintage Windham. The Windham's were on my grandmother's side. The men were handsome and blue-eyed-charming. Some where my heroes growing up. Others, especially when they were younger, scared me. They could also be mean, tough-acting and very much like the title character. The film is very realistic regarding the plights of folks in West Texas, right down to the scene where they have to kill their entire cattle herd because of foot-and-mouth disease. My family had to perform that grim task, too. Newman's portrayal of Hud is not likeable, but that's just how some men are.

Salem-Dover Prod.; Paramount Pictures

#15 Top

Tender Mercies (1983), Director: Bruce Bresford, Writer: Horton Foote, rated PG

Robert Duvall is Mac Sledge, His fight for respect was just beginning.

Starring: Robert Duvall, Tess Harper, Betty Buckley, Wilford Brimley, Ellen Barkin, Allan Hubbard, Lenny von Dohlen, Paul Gleason

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Is there a reason that happened? And Sonny's daddy died in the war, my daughter killed in an automobile accident. Why? See, I don't trust happiness. I never did, I never will." - Mac Sledge

Why watch this? Duvall finally gets an Oscar for this bittersweet tale of redemption.

Plot Summary: Mac Sledge is a washed-up, alcoholic country singer at rock bottom, who finds himself working off a debt at a run-down Texas motel. He builds a new life with the motel's widowed owner, Rosa Lee, and her son, but his past soon comes calling, threatening to unravel his newfound stability. Mac is then forced to confront his demons and choose between the life he once had and new life he's acquired.

Dad's Preview: Robert Duvall never ceases to amaze. At first, I could not understand all the hubbub; he doesn't appear to be acting at all. But slowly I began to get it. He's so good, so natural, that it appears he's not acting. He takes on the role, and makes it his own. Here he plays a former country singer/songwriter who has lost his way to pain and alcohol. He finds a little salvation in a loving woman's arms and her son's need for a father figure. But does he really deserve a second chance in the music business? Will it bring back all the demons? Duvall learned to play guitar and sing, solely for this part.

EMI Films, Antron Media; Universal Pics,
Associated Film Dist. Corp.

#14 Top

Hell or High Water (2016), Director: David Mackenzie, rated R for violence, language

Blood always follows money.

Starring: Chris Pine, Jeff Bridges, Ben Foster, Gil Birmingham, Marin Ireland, Dale Dickey, William Sterchi, Buck Taylor, Kristin K. Berg

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I am a Comanche. Do you know what it means? It means 'Enemy to everyone'." - Bear

Why watch this? This is one, brutally great Texas crime film.

Plot Summary: After their mother's death, two brothers, a divorced father and an ex-con, desperately resort to bank robberies to prevent the foreclosure of their family ranch. Two Texas Rangers, one close to retirement and his loyal partner, investigate the crimes and pursue the brothers across West Texas. This creates a compelling cat-and-mouse narrative exploring themes of desperation, family loyalty, and societal injustice.

Dad's Preview: Texas, with its sparse, angry-poor landscapes, is such a great setting for crimes bred out of poverty. Hell folks, this is where I grew up. I recognized the signs to Coleman, Texas and I've walked those small town streets. Chris Pine and Ben Foster are stellar as two hard-scrapple brothers. There is a desperation in their nature. However, it is Jeff Bridges, as the seasoned Sheriff Hamilton, who delivers another unforgettable, career-defining, performance.

CBS Films, Sidney Kimmel Ent., OddLot Ent.,
Film 33, LBI Ent.; Lionsgate

#13 Top

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005), Director: Tommy Lee Jones, Rated R for language, violence, sexuality

For justice. For loyalty. For friendship.

Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Barry Pepper, Dwight Yoakam, January Jones, Julio Cesar Cedillo, Melissa Leo, Levon Helm, Mel Rodriguez

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"You try to run away again, and I'll kill you. I guess you know that by now." - Pete Perkins

Why watch this? A memorable Texas border tale about murder, penance and retribution.

Plot Summary: When an undocumented Mexican ranch worker is mistakenly killed and improperly buried, his friend, a Texas ranch foreman named Pete Perkins, remembers his promise to bury him in his hometown. Taking matters into his own hands, Pete kidnaps the border patrol agent responsible for the death and exhumes the body. With his captive and the deceased tied to a mule, Pete embarks on a long, arduous journey across the border to fulfill his vow.

Dad's Preview: This powerful neo-Western is both compelling on it's own and as an allegorical tale. It wanders through a young border patrolman's life - his hate-filled racism, his crime, torture... and eventual redemption - all at the hands of a hard Texas cowboy. Tommy Lee Jones and Barry Pepper deliver wonderful performances in this grueling journey to justice. This marked Tommy Lee Jones' first hand at directing, and it's a stellar effort. What I noticed most was the attention spent on all the little moments: Tender flashbacks between friends, the odd encounter with the blind man, and the scene sitting in the uneventful Mexican bar. There is a richness on display here that perhaps only someone who grew up in a Southern border state can appreciate, but I think it is broader than that.

EuropaCorp, Javalina Film Company;
Sony Pictures Classics

#12 Top

Sicario (2015), Director: Denis Villeneuve, rated R for language, intense violence

The border is just another line to cross.

Starring: Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Benicio del Toro, Jon Bernthal, Maximiliano Hernández, Victor Garber, Daniel Kaluuya, Julio Cesar Cedillo

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"You should move to a small town, somewhere the rule of law still exists. You will not survive here. You are not a wolf, and this is a land of wolves now." - Alejandro

Why watch this? It will help you understand the brutal drug war border states faces every day.

Plot Summary: This intense film follows a female DEA officer who wants to make a difference. She is assigned to an experienced team working on a big drug bust. She quickly learns that things work very differently than the black and white world she's used to. She's also in way over her head.

Dad's Preview: Del Toro once again chews up every scene with his ability to portray the tough guy with a touch of heart. His experienced CIA assassin completely juxtaposes against Emily Blunt's role as FBI Border Agent Kate Macer. The scene where they infiltrate the drug tunnel at night using infrared goggles is heart-stopping! The driving, suspenseful soundtrack is beyond powerful, as is the stark desert backdrop. If you want an education on the real "war on drugs", this is it.

Black Label Media, Thunder Road; Lionsgate

#11 Top

Old Yeller (1957), Director: Robert Stevenson, rated G

A deeply moving story of a remarkable family and a wonderful homely old yellow dog!

Starring: Dorothy McGuire, Tommy Kirk, Kevin Corcoran, Jeff York, Chuck Connors, Beverly Washburn, Spike the dog

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"If that don't beat all. I never saw such a dog." - Katie Coates

Why watch this? Because, every once in a while, a grown man needs a good cry.

Plot Summary: In late 1880's Texas, teenage Travis Coates is left in charge of his family's homestead while his father is away on a cattle drive. A stray yellow dog, initially unwanted by Travis, befriends his younger brother, Arliss, and slowly wins over the entire family through its bravery and loyalty. However, the family's bond with Old Yeller is challenged by the threat of rabies spreading through the area.

Dad's Preview: In the 1970s we tuned our TV's to The Wonderful World of Disney once a week on Sunday night. That is where I first saw this wonderful Western film about a flop-eared yellow dog. Old Yeller soon becomes the family's loving pet and protector. This is a family film treasure - You will be inspired. You will fall in love with that dang dog. This flick will make even the toughest of macho men bawl like a baby. But it's worth every mangy flea.

Walt Disney Prod.; Buena Vista Dist.

#10 Top

Red River (1948), Directors: Howard Hawks and Arthur Rosson, rated Passed

Big as the men who faced this challenge! Bold as the women who loved them!

Starring: John Wayne, Montgomery Clift, Walter Brennan, Joanne Dru, Harry Carey, John Ireland, Noah Berr Jr., Coleen Gray, Chief Yowlachie

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"You're soft, you should have let 'em kill me, 'cause I'm gonna kill you. I'll catch up with ya. I don't know when, but I'll catch up. Every time you turn around, expect to see me, 'cause one time you'll turn around and I'll be there." - Tom Dunson

Why watch this? Wayne rarely played against "the good guy" character. Here he is downright nasty as a Western Captain Ahab.

Plot Summary: Thomas Dunson is a determined rancher leading a massive cattle drive from Texas to Missouri after the Civil War renders his land valueless. Faced with Dunson's increasingly tyrannical methods during the arduous journey, his adopted son, Matthew Garth, must choose whether to challenge his adoptive father's authority for the sake of the men and the herd. This conflict between father and adopted son unfolds against the challenging backdrop of the cattle drive.

Dad's Preview: This picture is hailed by many as one of the greatest Western ever made. I love it, too, but feel there are many better Westerns. This features does, for historical purposes, depict the drama and dangers along the epic "cattle drive". I grew up working on a Texas cattle ranch hand so the topic of herd beef rings true to me. Wayne's performance, channeling Mutiny on the Bounty's Captain Bligh, is excellent as a herd owner who pushes his men too hard. This results in a mutiny, led by his adopted son, Matt. They leave Wayne on the trail with barely enough water to survive. Don't ever strand The Duke alive... There's lots of great cowboy action and an excellent ending.

Monterey Productions; United Artists

#9 Top

Lone Star (1996), Director: John Sayles, rated R for violence, language

John Sayles invites you to return to the scene of the crime.

Starring: Chris Cooper, Kris Kristofferson, Matthew McConaughey, Ron Canada, Elizabeth Peña, Joe Morton

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I remember Charlie Wade came to my father's hardware store once... The man winked at me. I peed my pants." – Ben Wetzel

Why watch this? This Texas mystery centers on a cold-case murder and secret relationships.

Plot Summary: Sheriff Sam Deeds is notified to investigate the discovery of skeletal remains in a Texas border town. The bones belong to a notoriously corrupt sheriff who mysteriously disappeared decades earlier. As Sam delves into the past, he uncovers long-buried secrets involving his own legendary father, the town's former sheriff, Buddy Deeds.

Dad's Preview: I didn't expect to like this film, back in the 90's. I was not a huge fan of either McConaughey or Kristofferson, but man, they both won me over with these great performances. That said, the rock of this south Texas crime drama is Chris Cooper. He's calm and quiet, yet complex. The tale follows several seemingly unrelated stories, working through old mysteries being revisited due to new information. It all leads to a rewarding revelation. This is fine film-making by director John Sayles. The plot layers, and outstanding scene segues, give this masterpiece a richness. Then there is Kristofferson, as Sheriff Charlie Wade - he leaves quite an impression.

Castle Rock Ent., Columbia Pics, Rio Dulce;
Sony Pictures Classics

#8 Top

Friday Night Lights (2004), Director: Peter Berg, rated R for language, football violence

HOPE COMES ALIVE

Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Derek Luke, Jay Hernandez, Lucas Black, Garrett Hedlund, Tim McGraw, Ivory Jackson, Connie Britton, Connie Cooper

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #46 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Friday Night Lights

"Gentlemen, the hopes and dreams of an entire town are riding on your shoulders." - Coach Gaines

Why watch this? High school football is one of America's great, unique experiences.

Plot Summary: The Permian Panthers, a high school football team in the football-obsessed town of Odessa, Texas, faces the pressures of the community's intense expectations to win a state championship. After a significant setback in their opening game, the team and their coach must navigate a challenging season, confronting their own aspirations, personal struggles, and the intense scrutiny of the townspeople.

Dad's Preview: The Glory Days. Fresh cut grass. The band playing. Cheerleaders. The crack of contact. This film follows a Texas team's season. We see the glory, but also the price it exacts. Injuries. Toxic masculinity. Demanding school boards. Obsessed Coaches. Pressure to win. As a former player, I've seen it all. Still, Texas football also saved a fat little kid, taught him the value of hard work, and put him on the path to becoming a good and decent man and father. This gritty film captures all that and more.

Imagine Entertainment; Universal Pictures

#7 Top

Places in the Heart (1984), Director: Robert Benton, rated PG

The story of a woman fighting for her children, for her land, for the greatest dream there is... the future.

Starring: Sally Field, Lindsay Crouse, Ed Harris, Amy Madigan, John Malkovich, Danny Glover

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"You took a no-account piece of land and a bunch of people that didn't know what they were doin' and you farmed that land better than anybody could - colored or white. You're the one that brought in the first bale of cotton this year. Don't you ever forget that." - Edna Spalding

Why watch this? ... two reasons, 1) it's about Texas country folk, and 2) Mom loved it.

Plot Summary: In Depression-era Texas, a newly widowed woman, Edna Spalding, struggles to save her family's farm from foreclosure. Facing immense hardship, she takes the advice of a Black handyman, Moze, and decides to plant cotton, a crop she knows nothing about. To make ends meet and keep her children, Edna also reluctantly takes in a blind boarder, Mr. Will.

Dad's Preview: My mom, Elsie, lived through the Great Depression on a dirt farm in Texas. People today have no concept of a hard life. Oscar-winner Sally Field carries the story as a mother forced to take charge of her farm after the death of her husband. Amid all the hardships to run a 40-acre cotton farm, she enlists help from a kind black man, Mose. A tornado hits the small town, then the Klan attacks her farm and try to murder Mose. You will stand up and cheer at the courage and determination inside this little lady a she fights to defend and protect her own.

Delphi II Productions; Tri-Star Pictures

#6 Top

Office Space (1999), Director: Mike Judge, rated R for language, crude humor

Work sucks.

Starring: Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, Stephen Root, Gary Cole, John C. McGinley, David Herman, Ajay Naidu, Diedrich Bader, Richard Riehle, Alexandra Wentworth, Greg Pitts

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #45 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review of Office Space

"Human beings were not meant to sit in little cubicles staring at computer screens all day, filling out useless forms and listening to eight different bosses drone on about mission statements!" - Peter Gibbons

Why watch this? ... a whole generation of US workers filled corporate buildings... this is for them...

Plot Summary: Peter Gibbons, a disgruntled software engineer at the soul-crushing company Initech, feels trapped in the monotonous cycle of his unfulfilling job. After a series of misfortunes, including his hypno-therapist's unexpected demise, Peter finds himself in a state of blissful indifference towards his work. This newfound apathy leads to a series of unexpected events that challenge the oppressive corporate structure, including a blossoming romance and a daring plan concocted with his equally frustrated coworkers, Samir and Michael.

Dad's Preview: For 40 years I slaved away at the oars of this ship. Don't get me wrong, corporations aren't all bad - they do pay well and provide adequate retirement funds for millions. But they are far from perfect. This comedy nicely sums it up in a neat little package. Corporations are chock full of comedic fodder, and this film hits it all: stupid initiatives, bad managers, lay-offs, even that one guy with too much affection for his red stapler... you know that guy!

Judgmental Films; 20th Century Fox

#5 Top

Rio Bravo (1959), Director: Howard Hawks, rated Approved

They fought back to back...No quarter given...No quarter asked...No way in...No way out...of Rio Bravo

Starring: John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Angie Dickinson, Walter Brennan, Ward Bond, John Russell, Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Well, they call it the "Degüello"... the cutthroat song. The Mexicans played it for those Texas boys when they had 'em bottled up in the Alamo." - Colorado

Why watch this? This is one of Wayne's best films.

Plot Summary: In the small town of Rio Bravo, Texas, Sheriff John T. Chance arrests Joe Burdette, the brother of a powerful rancher, for murder. The rancher, Nathan Burdette, then uses his resources to try and break his brother out of jail. Chance, with the help of a diverse and sometimes unlikely group of allies, must hold the jail against Burdette's forces until a U.S. Marshal can arrive.

Dad's Preview: John Wayne is sheriff John T. Chance. After a deadly bar brawl, Chance locks up the arrogant son of a wealthy landowner. He and his two deputies decide to hole up in the jail and wait for the federal marshal. Overall, the film is superb. The surprise for me is the performance by crooner Dean Martin, who plays the town drunk, and Chance's past deputy. The ever-dependable Walter Brennan is once again excellent as the Duke's crusty old sidekick. This time he's referred to as Stumpy. This is a Western classic by any standard.

Armada Productions; Warner Bros.

#4 Top

The Trip to Bountiful (1985), Director: Peter Masterson, rated PG

A Story Of An Extraordinary Journey.

Starring: Geraldine Page, John Heard, Carlin Glynn, Richard Bradford, Rebecca De Mornay, Kevin Cooney

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

DML Top 50 #36 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of The Trip to Bountiful

"I guess when you've lived longer than your house and your family, then you've lived long enough." - Mrs. Carrie Watts

Why watch this? ... this Texas tale captures our hearts as a woman longs see her home place.

Plot Summary: In 1940s Texas, an elderly woman named Carrie Watts lives in a cramped Houston apartment where she feels stifled by her overprotective son and resentful daughter-in-law. Desperate to visit her childhood home one last time, she manages to slip away from her family and embarks on a solo bus journey across the state. Along the way, she reflects on her past and finds unexpected kindness from strangers as she nears the small, fading town of Bountiful.

Dad's Preview: My sister looked sternly at me and said, "You need to watch this movie". "Why?" I asked? "You'll see..." she replied. I could not believe it... Geraldine Page's performance literally is my mother, Elsie. Mrs. Watts is an elderly Texas woman living with her only son and his uppity wife in Houston. Times are hard so they're living on Mrs. Watts' social security checks. She begs them to take her back to her hometown, Bountiful, just one more time. When they won't help her, she sneaks out and catches a bus in that direction. This heartbreaking film is about aging, regret and longing for home. They say you can never go back, but that doesn't mean you still don't miss it. Geraldine Page won the Oscar for Best Actress.

Bountiful Film Partners, FilmDallas Pics;
Island Pictures

#3 Top

No Country for Old Men (2007), Directors: Joel & Ethan Coen, rated R for language, violence

There Are No Clean Getaways

Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Tess Harper, Barry Corbin, Beth Grant

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #16 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of No Country For Old Men

"If the rule you followed brought you to this, of what use was the rule?" - Anton Chigurh

Why watch this? This tour de force examines the dangers surrounding the Mexican drug world.

Plot Summary: While hunting in the West Texas desert, Llewelyn Moss stumbles upon the aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong and finds a briefcase containing millions of dollars, which he takes. His decision sets in motion a violent chase with a ruthless and enigmatic killer, Anton Chigurh, pursuing Moss and the money across the landscape. Meanwhile, a jaded, tired Sheriff Ed Tom Bell investigates the mounting casualties, grappling with the escalating violence and the unsettling nature of the criminals involved.

Dad's Preview: This Texas story's backdrop is the harsh scrub-brush lands near the Mexican border, where life is cheap, especially when you are entwined within the drug trade. The great performances by the film's cast are almost too many to mention. Jones, Bardem and Brolin certainly own the film, but the supporting actors and actresses also contribute, injecting tons of realism. Every time I watch this, it feels fresh, cutting-edge, and pertinent in its masterful simplicity.

Paramount Vantage, Scott Rudin Prod.,
Mike Zoss Prod.; Miramax Films

Genres Action-Crime, Action-Thriller, Crime-Cops, Crime-Crooks, Crime-Drama, Crime-Thriller, Crime-Thriller-NeoNoir, Mystery-Thriller; Neo-Western, Western-Drama

#2 Top

The Searchers (1956), Director: John Ford, rated Approved

The Biggest, Roughest, Toughest ...and Most Beautiful Picture Ever Made!

Starring: John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, Ward Bond, Natalie Wood, John Qualen, Olive Carey, Henry Brandon, Ken Curtis, Harry Carey Jr.

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #8 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of The Searchers

"Seems like he never learns there's such a thing as a critter that'll just keep comin' on. So we'll find 'em in the end, I promise you. We'll find 'em. Just as sure as the turnin' of the earth." – Ethan Edwards, referring to the Indians who kidnapped Debbie

Why watch this? Basically to watch the greatest Western ever made.

Plot Summary: Confederate veteran Ethan Edwards has returned to his brother's Texas homestead only to find it raided by Comanches, his family massacred, and his niece Debbie abducted. Fueled by a complex mix of hatred and a desire for vengeance, Ethan embarks on a years-long search with Debbie's adopted brother, and half-breed, Martin.

Dad's Preview: This is by far the most complex character in John Wayne's long, storied career. Set in the stark, beautiful desert landscape of Monument Valley, famous director John Ford masterfully delivers this Western odyssey filled with danger, tragedy, and two lost men - determined to rescue a kidnapped family relative, young Debbie. After years of making movies together, Ford knew Wayne could create a compelling, conflicted character, and not just play himself. Throw in our history's racism towards Native Americans, and you've got a powerful film. The final scene forever belongs to cinematic history. Wayne deserved the Oscar for Best Actor, in my opinion.

C.V. Whitney Pictures; Warner Bros.

#1 Top

Lonesome Dove (1989), Director: Simon Wincer, rated TV-14 for frontier violence

An Epic Film as Big as The West

Starring: Robert Duvall, Tommy Lee Jones, Danny Glover, Diane Lane, Robert Urich, Frederic Forrest, D. B. Sweeney, Ricky Schroder, Anjelica Huston, Chris Cooper, Barry Corbin, William Sanderson, Steve Buscemi

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #4 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Lonesome Dove

"By god, it ain't dyin' I'm talkin' about, it's livin!" - Gus McCrae to Captain Woodrow Call

Why watch this? An American masterpiece that perfectly balances Western myth and Western realism.

Plot Summary: This epic Western is about two retired Texas Rangers, Augustus "Gus" McCrae and Woodrow Call, who decide to leave their quiet life in Texas for one last great adventure. They gather a crew and embark on a massive, perilous cattle drive spanning 3,000 miles to the unsettled lands of Montana Territory. Along the journey, the men face numerous challenges, including dangerous terrain, outlaws, and personal struggles that test their enduring friendship and character in the unforgiving American West.

Dad's Preview: This epic saga is unforgettable, with its wonderful characters, converging story lines and brutally honest plot points. Capt. Call is a hard, determined leader. He's kept in step by his more laid-back partner, Gus, whose warm smile reminds me of my grandfather, Charley Straley. Charley was a lifelong Texas rancher... humble, hard-working, intelligent, apolitical. He loved to joke, smoke his pipe and partake in an occasional sip o' whiskey down at the barn's tackroom. He and Gus would have been good buddies, for sure.

Dyson Lovell, Suzanne de Passe,
Motown Productions; CBS