**Texas yesterday and today: a film where the past serves to weave considerations for the present.** For us, the Portuguese, who see the USA from the outside, it is difficult to comprehend the internal differences between the US states. For us, USA is a country of continental dimensions, which conveys a united and uniform image. And this image could not be more misleading: the US remains a union of fifty small miniature countries, which have their own governments, authorities and laws, which do not necessarily apply everywhere. And as history teaches us, the case of Texas is even more extravagant: Texas is a country that acquired its independence from Mexico, and only after that, by its own will, join the USA (before trying to leave again, with the other states of the Confederation). So it's a country in its own right, just like California and Hawaii, an independent kingdom until it was invaded by the US. I'm saying all of this because this film, despite having nothing to do with these, does rambling on these topics and on the past of Texans, and the difficult relationship between Anglo-Saxon and Hispanic ethnicities. Despite the predominance of the Anglo-Saxon in the authorities and government, the film makes it clear that Texas is a land that rightfully belongs to the Hispanic ethnic group, the so-called “Tejanos”. It's their land, the Anglo-Saxons came later. And yet, the “Tejanos” are humiliated, acculturated, discriminated, and we see the violence of such practices in the relationships between the characters and in the brutal attitude of Sheriff Wade. The script weaves these considerations around a skeleton that is found by chance and that reveals an unsolved crime that may be connected to the late sheriff Buddy Deeds, a character very dear to the city. In charge of the investigation, his son and current sheriff doesn't have the same sympathy for his father and is determined to uncover his father's supposed dark side. There are still some less well-crafted sub-plots here: the insipid romance between the sheriff and the teacher, the corruption and political convenience behind the construction of an unnecessary prison, the bad relationship between a strict black military commander and his father, who owns a bar... The cast includes several well-known names. Chris Cooper is a solid protagonist, who does a very good job. He's not an actor that I know very well, I confess that I've only seen him play relatively minor roles, but I was pleased to see him play a role like that. Elizabeth Peña doesn't disappoint us either, and does a satisfying job with her character, although the subplot that involves her may sound a little far-fetched. Kris Kristofferson also does a very good job, turning the law enforcement officer into an authentic mobster, full of prejudice, brutality and arrogance. Stephen Mendillo, Clifton James and Mirian Colon also give us brief appearances and a job well done. John Sayles is a director I didn't know about until I saw this film. From what I saw here, I liked his work: the director doesn't offer us a pearl of cinema, but he gives us quality entertainment, associated with punctual and accurate political and social stings. The film has good cinematography, it even looks younger than it is, and the camera work is really good, especially in the flashbacks. Light and shadow are well used and the soundtrack, despite not surprising us, does its job.
Brussels, Belgium, 1959. Michel and Charly Kichka, two Jewish brothers, enjoy a happy childhood with their parents and their two sisters. Henri, their discreet and usually silent father, does not speak at all about his past, so they imagine that as a young man he was an adventurer, a pirate or a treasure hunter.
Movie Star Rating : 7.3 Read More
A mysterious new shop opens in a small town which always seems to stock the deepest desires of each shopper, with a price far heavier than expected.
Movie Star Rating : 6.2 Read More
Sheriff Elisha Cooper has to work with New York City officer Nelson after his son is taken hostage by a fugitive who is hiding out on California's Mount Shasta.
Movie Star Rating : 0 Read More
In order to protect the reputation of the American space program, a team of NASA administrators turn the first Mars mission into a phony Mars landing. Under threat of harm to their families the astronauts play their part in the deception on a staged set in a deserted military base. But once the real ship returns to Earth and burns up on re-entry, the astronauts become liabilities. Now, with the help of a crusading reporter, they must battle a sinister conspiracy that will stop at nothing to keep the truth hidden.
Movie Star Rating : 6.8 Read More
After his family tries to kill him and he has been pronounced dead, Michel returns from the dead and sets about getting revenge on his family members. He sends each one a voodoo doll, warning of their fate. Wandering over the streets of Paris, Michel is the haunted and hunted, as he himself hunts his villainous kin.
Movie Star Rating : 5.7 Read More
Tucson, Arizona, September 1996. At the request of his son Martin, George Goldsmith tells him of his past in Nazi Germany as a member of a family of Jewish musicians and the strange history of the Jüdischer Kulturbund, a Jewish organization sponsored by Reichsminister Joseph Goebbels.
Movie Star Rating : 8 Read More
When a promised job for Texan Michael fails to materialize in Wyoming, Mike is mistaken by Wayne to be the hitman he hired to kill his unfaithful wife, Suzanne. Mike takes full advantage of the situation, collects the money, and runs. During his getaway, things go wrong, and soon get worse when he runs into the real hitman, Lyle.
Movie Star Rating : 6.7 Read More
A man against capital punishment is accused of murdering a fellow activist and is sent to death row.
Movie Star Rating : 7.4 Read More
The owner of a seedy small-town Texas bar discovers that one of his employees is having an affair with his wife. A chaotic chain of misunderstandings, lies and mischief ensues after he devises a plot to have them murdered.
Movie Star Rating : 7.3 Read More
After witnessing a mysterious woman brutally slay a homemaker, prostitute Liz Blake finds herself trapped in a dangerous situation. While the police thinks she is the murderer, the real killer is intent on silencing her only witness.
Movie Star Rating : 6.9 Read More
Haunting of the Queen Mary 2023 - Movies (Mar 28th)
Uproar 2023 - Movies (Mar 28th)
Peter Five Eight 2024 - Movies (Mar 28th)
Windcatcher 2024 - Movies (Mar 27th)
The Truth vs. Alex Jones 2024 - Movies (Mar 27th)
Easter Evil 2024 - Movies (Mar 27th)
The Iron Claw 2023 - Movies (Mar 26th)
Kung Fu Panda 4 2024 - Movies (Mar 26th)
The Book of Clarence 2023 - Movies (Mar 26th)
Molli and Max in the Future 2023 - Movies (Mar 26th)
Ordinary Angels 2024 - Movies (Mar 26th)
Imaginary 2024 - Movies (Mar 26th)
Easter Bloody Easter 2024 - Movies (Mar 26th)
Snow Valley 2024 - Movies (Mar 26th)
Drift 2023 - Movies (Mar 26th)
Good One A Show About Jokes 2024 - Movies (Mar 26th)
Sentinel 2024 - Movies (Mar 26th)
Cessationist 2023 - Movies (Mar 26th)
Tig Notaro Hello Again 2024 - Movies (Mar 26th)
The Peasants 2023 - Movies (Mar 26th)
My Acting Coach Nightmare 2024 - Movies (Mar 25th)
Dimension 20 - (Mar 28th)
Resident Alien - (Mar 28th)
Allegiance - (Mar 28th)
Invincible - (Mar 28th)
The Kelly Clarkson Show - (Mar 28th)
The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down - (Mar 28th)
After Midnight - (Mar 28th)
Reality of Wrestling - (Mar 28th)
Gogglebox Australia - (Mar 28th)
Tipping Point Australia - (Mar 28th)
The Chase Australia - (Mar 28th)
Salvage Hunters- The Restorers - (Mar 28th)
Selling Houses Australia - (Mar 28th)
New Zealand Today - (Mar 28th)
Deal or No Deal - (Mar 28th)
Salvage Hunters - (Mar 28th)
Loaded in Paradise - (Mar 28th)
The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle - (Mar 28th)
Dateline- Secrets Uncovered - (Mar 28th)
The Cook Up with Adam Liaw - (Mar 28th)