all sand, no ocean
Added 10/4/2009
i've got to fly to el paso, rent a car, and drive up to white sands. a plan for years, but never went, so far..so i watch the movie again.
great rourke, a favorite from so many other movies, and samuel jackson when i still thought he was related to the general.
weird plot, varied characters, violence and sex, with at least one indian, and a bunch of horses. those who are more or less clean survive, the evil doers perish. nice and straightforeward. a western with the good guy in a white hat and corvette. the girl rich and with horses. samuel jackson with white sand.
it all adds up to a good time, well worth the popcorn and pepsi.
think i'll get another pepsi, it's dry out here..........
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A Modern-Day 'Noir'
Added 6/30/2009
Here is another modern-day film-noir, featuring interesting characters played by a diverse cast. That cast is led by Willem Dafoe, who reminds me a lot of classic era actor, Dan Duryea.
There is the usual corrupt government/military officials angle but the plot does have a few neat twists and is generally a no-nonsense kind of story. However, I did find the storyline a bit confusing, especially in the last half hour. On a second viewing, five years later, a few things cleared up but not a lot. I guess it will take looks to figure out everything, especially the very end.
Elizabeth Mastrantonio was exceptional in here: playing, by far, the best and most interesting character. The movie has a nice soundtrack. Overall, the good outweighs the bad and the somewhat confusing story helps draw me back for future viewings.
Aside notes: this must have been one of Samuel L. Jackson's first films because he was listed as "Sam Jackson" in the closing credits. Unbilled were three always-interesting actors: Fred Thompson, Mimi Rogers and Jack P. Ryan.
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Amazing. That's all...just amazing.
Added 1/18/2009
Writing a review for "White Sands" is a true challenge, because based on cinematography and Patrick O'Hearn's soundtrack, this is an unquestionable 5 out of 5 stars film.
We know that eye candy and surface-level attributes don't tell the whole story. Is this still a 5-star film, based on the whole package? I believe that it is. For others, it might be "4" or "3" but this has remained a "go-to" movie for me since its release. When I want to watch something GOOD...really, really GOOD...and don't know what I'm in the mood for, "White Sands" consistently comes up on my short list.
In terms of the actors, Samuel L. Jackson, at this point of his career, is "embryonic." Willem Dafoe, as Deputy Sheriff Ray Dolezal, holds his own. You might need to enlist a degree of "suspension of disbelief" when the radiant Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio falls in love with Sheriff Ray, but hey..."suspension of disbelief" is often a prerequisite for this kind of film.
Character actor M. Emmet Walsh is a welcome addition as county coroner Bert Gibson.
Mickey Rourke as the "bad guy?" HEY! What part of "Mickey Rourke as the bad guy" did you miss?
Maura Tierney of "E.R." fame turns in an "anybody could have played this part" performance as Noreen. Sorry, Maura, but I calls 'em the way that I sees 'em.
You also get to see 2008 GOP Presidential candidate Fred Thompson as an arms dealer. FRED!
It is not the individual parts of this movie that make it a monster. It is a sum of the parts. The New Mexico locations will pull you in and seduce you, hold you captive, propel you through a storyline that is at times ludicrous and at other times thrilling. I GUARANTEE that if you make it through the first fifteen minutes of this film, you're not going ANYWHERE until the closing credits.
I've watched this film at least 100 times and will probably watch it 100 more...and then another 100 after that. A favorite, a masterpiece, my highest possible recommendation.
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Interesting mix that delivers entertainment value
Added 8/12/2008
An early 1990s effort directed by NZ director Roger Donaldson (Species etc....) with great cast of William Dafoe in an early lead role as a local sherif who lets his enthusiasm to solve a murder lead to impersonating a dead FBI agent; Mickey Rourke as gum chewing and nattily dressed villain (not too different from his few "good guy" roles now I think of it!); an affluent femme fatale with a difference in Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Sam Jackson as a wild card FBI operative, plus a well scripted multiple double crossing story that keeps you guessing till the end, all beautifully filmed in New Mexico, a part of the USA I still think is amazing for its natural scenery.
I completely missed this on release but purchased the DVD in a clearance sale and would strongly recommend as a take it easy, night in watch. While not a 5 star movie the chemistry of all the above parts still makes for high value entertainment.
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A 1st rate thriller!
Added 8/4/2008
This is a movie with that builds to a climax that is well worth the viewers time. With suspence, action, romance, violent crime, and a 1st rate cast. Dafoe at his best with strong performances by Mickey Rourke, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Samual L. Jackson.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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ROURKE AND HOPKINS WILL HELP YOU TO FORGET THE PLOT HOLES! 2 1/2 STARS!
Added 8/23/2009
I had high hoped for this one, but too many contrivances and plot holes made my hopes disintegrate right before my eyes. Rourke and Hopkins do their best to keep this one from completely failing and keep it somewhat entertaining if you don't think about it too much.
Look for it on cable as I can't see sitting through this one more than once.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Decent acting in dreadful movie!
Added 7/5/2009
As other reviewers I picked this movie to watch due to the cast forgetting that particularly Hopkins really only made the big name for himself later in his career.... what a mistake. He plays decently though but were to my surprise overshadowed by Mickey Rourke's very realistic portrayal of a psycopath (in retrospect he does seem to feel right at home in such roles!).
The cinematography was nice showing beautiful scenery from Utah particularly in the beginning making us viewers wonder if this was a nature film we had ended up seeing... totally unclear what the director had in mind including this in a movie covering a hostage taking situation!
The smaller roles were however played poorly particularly the entire police force led by a woman who seemed as if she had been taken straight out of school play.. (You would think they could afford better with the rest of the cast in mind).
The worst part of the movie however was the completely unrealistic choices made throughout... other reviewers pointed several out already such as why the hostage taker lets one of his men go bringing along the body of a random victim, why he lets the daughter leave on a date (while not knowing the police was already onto him!) and last but not least why he choses to engage in hostage taking right after making a spectacularly unrealistic escape from prison!
Candidate for worst screenplay of the past century but compensated slightly by decent acting performances
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Save us from remakes
Added 4/30/2009
This film is actually a remake of a 1950s film with Humphrey Bogart and Frederic March. It was based on a highly successful novel and stage play by Joseph Hayes. Perhaps if you've never seen the original this version would be more palatable. But there is nothing like Bogart as the sociopath who invades a suburban home and trades insults with papa Frederic March. The original was also shot in the Leave it to Beaver House (now used in Desperate Housewives) just for good measure. So pass this one up and find a copy of the original!
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