It's time to get Western

Starring: Scott Glenn, Kate Capshaw, Ben Johnson, Tess Harper, Balthazar Getty, Mickey Rooney, Gary Busey, Clarence Williams III

DML Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ - above average

"He ain't an old pair of boots going to goodwill. He's a hero! He's MY hero! You don't put away your heroes!" - H. D.

Why watch this? It's a sweet reminder of cowboys, rodeos and riding for 8 seconds.

Plot Summary: An injured former rodeo champion returns home to find his family ranch in disarray and his aging father in a nursing home. He attempts to rectify these issues, despite the objections of his sister, while also reconnecting with an old flame. Ultimately, he considers returning to the rodeo circuit for a final shot at prize money to restore his family's ranch and future.

Dad's Preview: I grew up around cattle, and cattle folk. These are people who live a simple life, and this may surprise you, are not very political. They pray for rain and high market prices. A ranch day is full of hard work, and you're measured by what you do. Boys and men alike still say, "Yes sir." and "Yes ma'am." And they DO love their Dallas Cowboys! This film captures that. We meet a bull rider, H.D., who comes home to check on his aging father. H.D.'s old sweetheart is still sore with him for leaving and staying gone. But now, he has to win big or his Dad will lose the farm and have to move into a nursing home.

E.K. Gaylord II, Martin Poll; The Samuel Goldwyn Company

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall, Colin Farrell, James Keane, Anna Felix, Paul Herman, Tom Bower

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"I wanna talk about how bad you make this room look. I never noticed what a dump it was until you came in here." - Bad Blake

Why watch this? Like Robert Duvall in Tender Mercies (1983), Bridges takes on the talented, tragic "country singer".

Plot Summary: This story is about Bad Blake, a weathered country music singer struggling with alcohol and a fading career. He finds a glimmer of hope when he meets Jean, a compassionate journalist. Their relationship inspires him to confront his destructive habits and potentially find a path towards redemption.

Dad's Preview: Audiences love the story of a nobody who makes it big, then falls from grace. Be it drugs, alcohol or some other vice, they fall, usually hard, and damage relationships with their loved ones. America likewise loves "the comeback". We will forgive almost any transgression. C'mon, sing again! Get back on top! The steady Jeff Bridges always comes through, and he certainly does here, flexing his vocal pipes. As a nod to Tender Mercies (1983), Robert Duvall even shows up in a small role.

Informant Media, Butcher's Run Films, Dune Ent.; Fox Searchlight Pictures

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 Pictures, Associated Film Dist. Corp.

Blood Lost. Life Found. Inspired by True Events

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Will Poulter, Domhnall Gleeson, Forrest Goodluck, Paul Anderson, Kristoffer Joner, Joshua Burge

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"As long as you can still grab a breath, you fight. You breathe... keep breathing." - Hugh Glass

Why watch this? This is a hyper-realistic account of perilous life in the pre-1850 American wilderness.

Plot Summary: During a fur-trapping expedition in the American wilderness of 1823, frontiersman Hugh Glass is brutally mauled by a bear and left for dead by a member of his team. Against all odds, Glass survives his injuries and battles the harsh winter environment in a harrowing journey to seek vengeance against those who abandoned him. His incredible struggle becomes a test of the human will to endure against unimaginable odds in the pursuit of justice.

Dad's Preview: Can you imagine the North American frontier before malls, Arby's and National Parks? It was a brutal existence, and inhabitants had to be able hunt, brave the elements and defend themselves - successfully. Life was, as they say, cheap. This incredible tale centers on a father's love, betrayal, murder and the quest for vengeance. It is essential viewing. That said, what you'll remember most is the harrowing bear attack.

Regency Enterprises; RatPac Ent., New Regency, Anonymous Content,
M Productions, Applan Way Prod.; 20th Century Fox

Dalton lives like a loner, fights like a professional. And loves like there's no tomorrow.

Starring: Patrick Swayze, Ben Gazzara, Kelly Lynch, Sam Elliott, Kevin Tighe, Red West, Terry Funk, Marshall R. Teague, Julie Michaels

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"I want you to be nice... until it's time... to not be nice." – Dalton

Why watch this? "Swayze's swagger" - he sure knows how to portray a man who is sure of himself.

Plot Summary: A legendary bar bouncer named Dalton is hired to bring order to a notoriously rowdy gin palace in a small town. Dalton's methods and success in cleaning up the establishment, the Double Deuce, clash with the interests of a corrupt businessman who effectively controls the town. This escalating conflict culminates in a dramatic showdown.

Dad's Preview: When Patrick Swayze's career was hot, he was awesome. This film features him as Dalton, a classy, yet tough bouncer-for-hire who is brought in to clean up a rather nasty bar. There's action, steamy romance, some funny moments and a fairly good plot. The joy is just watching Swayze take on the bad guy, Ben Gazara, and his gang of hillbilly thugs. Of course, I love Dalton's salty mentor, portrayed by the gruff Sam Elliott.

Silver Pictures; United Artists

Get off my lawn!

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang, Christopher Carley, Ahney Her, Brian Haley, Doua Moua, Brian Haley, Brian Howe, Geraldine Hughes

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski

Why watch this? Eastwood is just so damn good. How does he make his role likeable?

Plot Summary:  Aging, embittered, and bigoted Korean War veteran named Walt Kowalski finds his quiet life disrupted when a Hmong family moves in next door. After the teenage son, Thao, attempts to steal Walt's prized Gran Torino, an unlikely bond begins to form between the grumpy widower and the Korean family. Walt becomes entangled in their lives, eventually acting as a protector against local gang violence that threatens Thao and his family.

Dad's Preview: Eastwood directs and stars in what I think is his last great film. His performance as Walt Kowalski, a grumpy, bigoted Vietnam War veteran, is unforgettable. This film is full of memorable moments. I have to warn you, the film's ending will blow you away, even if you see it coming.

Village Roadshow Pictures, Double Nickel Ent., Malpaso Pictures; Warner Bros.

Love Is A Force Of Nature

Starring: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Linda Cardellini, Anna Faris, Anne Hathaway, Michelle Williams, Randy Quaid, Linda Cardellini

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"The bottom line is...we're around each other and...this thing grabs hold of us again...in the wrong place...in the wrong time...we're dead." - Ennis Del Mar

Why watch this? This is a love story, set in a place where folks don't tolerate anybody "different".

Plot Summary: In 1963, two out-of-work cowboys, Jack and Ennis, hire on working sheep in the Wyoming wilderness. Unexpectedly, the two become intimate, something they agree was a "one time deal". They return to their lives, both marrying and having kids. Over the next ten years, however, their forbidden relationship grows as they meet for annual fishing trips.

Dad's Preview:  This complex, unconventional love story painfully illustrates the jagged edge these rugged men had to walk if they dared show their true feelings. Ledger and Gyllenhaal deliver incredible performances under Ang Lee's sensitive direction. The film won three Oscars, including Best Director and Best Score.

River Road Entertainment; Focus Features

Nothing is harder to track than the truth.

Starring: Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen, Graham Greene, Kelsey Asbille; Gil Birmingham, Julia Jones, Teo Briones, Apesanahkwat

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"The bad news is you're never gonna be the same. You'll never be whole. Not ever again." – Corey Lambert

Why watch this? This cold, grim film tensely builds, and builds, to one hell of a climax.

Plot Summary: Set on the remote Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service tracker finds the frozen body of a young Native American woman in the snow. An inexperienced FBI agent is sent to investigate the potential homicide and teams up with the tracker to navigate the difficult terrain and the local community. Together, they work to uncover the truth behind the woman's death.

Dad's Preview: This popped up on Netflix so I gave it a whirl. Man, did it slap me in the face like a frozen Wyoming snow squall! A Native American girl is killed and it's up to wildlife tracker Cory Lambert, and FBI agent Jan Banner, to find the murderer. This very intelligent and character-driven story exposes still-occurring injustices against Native Americans. Native woman, especially, go missing way too much, with not much help from the law. The brutal, yet satisfying, ending, caught me off-guard. Renner and Olsen deliver powerful performances. 

Acacia Ent., Savvy Media Holdings, Synergics Films, Thunder Road Pictures,
Film 44, The Fyzz Facility, Riverside Pictures, Voltage Pictures, Wild Bunch,
Ingenious Media, Star Thrower Ent.; The Weinstein Company

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 Productions; Paramount Pictures

ONE LAST TIME.

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Richard E. Grant, Boyd Holbrook, Stephen Merchant, Dafne Keen

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Nature made me a freak. Man made me a weapon. And God made it last too long." - Logan

Why watch this? ...it is a poignant finale for one of film's great super-hero personas.

Plot Summary: In 2029, a worn-down Logan, aka Wolverine, cares for an ailing Professor Charles Xavier in a secluded hideout near the Mexican border. Their quiet existence is upended when a young mutant girl, Laura, with powers akin to Logan's, seeks his protection from pursuing dark forces. Reluctantly, Logan and Xavier embark on a dangerous journey to escort Laura to a rumored safe haven

Dad's Preview: Hugh Jackson did it the right way. He won the role of Marvel's Wolverine and made it his own. He respected the part, and never disappointed the fans. This is a wonderfully violent send-off thanks to Jackson and Patrick Stewart, reprising his role as Professor X. It started with them, and should end with them. I'm sad to see him retire. I'll miss that scowl. It was a great ride. Thank you, Hugh!
(Well, he's back in the new Deadpool film!)

Marvel Ent., Kinberg Genre, Hutch Parker Prod., The Donners' Co., TSG Ent.;
20th Century Fox

A Super Thriller!

Starring: Spencer Tracy, Robert Ryan, Anne Francis, Walter Brennan, Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Dean Jagger, John Ericson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I think somethin' kind of bad happened here, somethin' I can't quite seem to find the handle to." – John J. Macreedy

Why watch this? With a sparse desert backdrop, this is one tense film, a real nail-bitter.

Plot Summary: A stranger arrives in the small, hostile desert town of Black Rock, searching for a Japanese-American farmer. The townspeople are suspicious and want to keep a secret hidden, creating a dangerous situation for the stranger. As the stranger investigates, the hostility escalates into a fight for survival against the town and its leader.

Dad's Preview: There is a way that Spencer Tracy handles himself - Quiet. Purposeful. Cautious. The common everyman. Here he visits a small arid town, and the residents are not very welcoming. He does, however, have a reason for coming to Black Rock, and he must see it through to the end. This film has tension you can cut with a knife. Special recognition goes to Ernest Borgnine and Lee Marvin as two local thugs. The always dependable Walter Brennan delivers a great performance, too.

Dore Schary; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Detective Harry Callahan. He doesn't break murder cases. He smashes them.

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Andy Robinson, Harry Guardino, Reni Santoni, John Vernon, John Larch, Woodrow Parfrey

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"You've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya... punk?" – Harry Callahan

Why watch this? ... for Eastwood's performance - a stoic man-of-action with an engaging charisma.

Plot Summary: Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan is a no-nonsense San Francisco cop with unorthodox methods. He's assigned to track down a deranged serial killer nicknamed "Scorpio" who is holding the city ransom with a series of murders. Callahan must navigate bureaucratic obstacles and legal limitations to bring the psychopathic killer to justice, even if it means bending the rules.

Dad's Preview: Before Dirty Harry, Eastwood was mostly known for his Spaghetti Westerns. This film boosted his journey to mega-stardom. Harry is the detective that gets the worse assignments. Why? Because he gets the dirty jobs done - his way. Here, he's tasked with stopping a killer called "Scorpio" (convincingly played by Andy Robinson). I was surprised to find him so likeable - the man does exude an irresistible charm.

The Malpaso Company; Warner Bros.

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, as it wanders through a young man's racism, crime and torture... and eventual redemption - all at the hands of a hard Texas man. After the murder of his friend, Melquiades, Pete Perkins is hell bent on justice and keeping a promise he made. Jones and Pepper deliver wonderful performances in this grueling film, which was Jones' first hand at directing. Pretty darn good job, Tommy Lee. 

EuropaCorp, Javalina Film Company; Sony Pictures Classics

THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THE MAD

Starring: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Riley Keough

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"If I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die historic on the Fury Road!" - Nux

Why watch this? I never saw this greatness coming, but there's no question - it's great!

Plot Summary: In a post-apocalyptic world where resources are scarce, Max is captured and enslaved by the tyrannical Immortan Joe. Simultaneously, Imperator Furiosa, one of Joe's lieutenants, defies him by absconding with five women, leading to a relentless pursuit across the desert. Max eventually becomes involved with Furiosa's escape, forging an uneasy alliance as they battle Joe and his forces in a desperate struggle for freedom and a better life.

Dad's Preview: Instant classic. As a huge fan of the 80's Mel Gibson Mad Max films, I really thought the franchise was over, and I was OK with that. Then comes this tour de force, again from the talents of director George Miller. It blows you away with each action sequence. Tom Hardy amply fills Mr. Gibson's steady shoes. That said, it is Charlize Theron who steals the film as Furiosa. She is one bad-ass survivor. This epic is visually stunning. Let's hope this is the first film in another trilogy for Max and company.

Village Roadshow Pictures, RapPac-Dune Ent., Kennedy Miller Mitchell; Warner Bros.

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. 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

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 quit an impression.

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

The bride is back for the final cut

Starring: Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah, Gordon Liu, Michael Parks, Bo Svenson, Larry Bishop, Clark Middleton

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"That woman deserves her revenge, and we deserve to die… But then again, so does she. So I guess we'll just see... won't we?" – Budd

Why watch this? ... the bride's showdown with Elle in Budd's double-wide. Keep an eye out.

Plot Summary: Following her murderous spree in the first film, The Bride continues her quest for revenge against the remaining members of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad and their enigmatic leader, Bill. Her journey involves confronting former colleagues, recalling her intensive martial arts training under a strict master, and facing unexpected twists related to her past with Bill. Ultimately, The Bride seeks to complete her mission and find a new beginning away from her violent past.

Dad's Preview: The conclusion to this tale of bloody revenge does keep pace with Part I. We're shown the Bride enduring the tough training under the master, Pai Mai. It's this very training that helps her survive being buried alive. Bill's motivations are explained. I really love the finale. Instead of a big, elaborate showdown, it begins as an intimate, civil discussion between two former lovers looking out for their child. They just happen to both be paid killers. It's personal, and that makes it all the more engaging.

A Band Apart; Miramax Films

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 the crimes that poverty breeds. Hell folks, this is where I grew up. I recognized the signs to Coleman, I've walked those small town streets. Pine and Foster are stellar as the hard-scrapple brothers. However, it is Jeff Bridges, as the seasoned Sheriff Hamilton, who delivers another career-defining performance.

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

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