michellek10
I saw it many years ago but so many of the scenes still resonate with me. Most of all I remember the stunning finale with Chris Cooper and Elizabeth Peña. Chris Cooper deserved an Oscar for that scene alone, it was so powerful yet so sensitive. Great acting of the kind you see so rarely in films these days.
classicsoncall
This is a remarkable film on a number of levels, not the least of which is the startling reveal at the end of the story regarding the relationship between Sam Deeds (Chris Cooper) and Pilar Cruz (Elizabeth Pena). Additionally, two of the principal characters are already dead and seen only in flashback scenes. I can't recall this device employed in any prior films I've seen, and this adds to the complexity of the story's non-linear narrative.Above all perhaps is the sophisticated writing and direction of John Sayles, who handles the topics of racism and incest in a straightforward but non judgmental manner. I have to say, the ending left me conflicted about the direction the relationship between Sam and Pilar might take. As offspring of the same father, I would have expected there to be a lot more turmoil and conflicted feelings between the two after Sam explains everything he learned about his father's past. The dialog between the characters allows the viewer to reach their own conclusion about where they go from here, though to me it seems they were open to making things work out for themselves.The thing that really jolted me in this story was the person of Sheriff Charlie Wade as portrayed by Kris Kristofferson. I've never seen Kristofferson reach so low in the gutter before to create a character like the former sheriff. He was just vile with no regard for normal decency or human kindness. What happened to Charlie Wade was the lesser of two significant twists in the story. Having set up the viewer to expect that he was killed by former deputy Buddy Deeds (Matthew McConaughey), Sayles once again stuns the viewer with the circumstances of Wade's death. Unquestionably, "Lone Star" is masterful story telling with a masterful cast.
piedbeauty37
Great acting by Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Pena, Matthew McCounaghy, and Kris Krostofferson help make this movie into the fine viewing experience it is.Chris Cooper, playing Sam Deeds, is seeking to know how a skeleton found on a old firing range is connected to his late father, Buddy Deeds. Buddy is a legend in the Southwestern Texas town.The atmosphere with Mexicans, blacks, illegals, white townspeople all in the mix, is great. You feel like you are there experiencing the tensions and clash of cultures good and bad.The mystery builds and with it a fantastic love story with an unexpected plot twist.Highly recommended. John Sayles has created a masterpiece here.
Maziun
I have seen three movies of John Sayles now with this one. For me Sayles definitely works better as a writer than a director. As a writer he knows what he wants , but as a director he fails to deliver it. I get what the movie is about , I understand it and I appreciate it. The problem is that the movie feels much like a long episode of some TV drama. It's not really a cinematic experience , the pacing could be better and the movie lacks style. I wasn't involved emotionally in the whole story for one moment. As a director Sayles kinda fails to put some meaning into the story , to make it something that will stay with you long after the movie is gone. Maybe he should allow somebody else to direct his screenplays ? It doesn't mean that I wasted my time on this one. The mystery about the past of our hero's father kept me interested. "Lone star" is a good drama about conflict between a child and it's parent , which appears here three times (Sam , Pilar and Delmore Payne – they all in conflict with one of their parents). The movie also quite well portrays the tension between the citizens of the city – white , black , Latin . The portrayal here seems very realistic and doesn't take any sides. It's fair look at the serious problem and allows you to make your own opinion.The acting is solid , especially Kris Kristofferson as the evil sheriff. The characters are likable. The screenplay has it's share of good humor and some nice twists near the end.The movie with a better direction and 30 minutes shorter (some subplots don't seem that necessary) could be a really great one. Still , it's a good movie. I give it 7/10.
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