If you rent "The Hi-Lo Country", you're not ripping yourself off; you'll have a decent movie to watch. But what struck me after it was over was the unnerving feeling that it should have been so much better. The prize, a top-notch Oscar contender, was within their grasp, and they fumbled it. Not all aspects of the film miss their mark; there are parts that are much better than others. The professional critics have pointed them out, and they're on target. For one, Woody Harrelson gives a great performance, one of his best. But nobody else does, not even the usually excellent Billy Crudup and Bridget Fonda. For another, the cinematography that highlights the beautiful New Mexico landscape is great. But this is not nearly enough; The direction and editing are languid and loose. The tension inherent in the story slips away at key moments. As a result, the movie does not achieve the heights it could have achieved. If only Sam Peckinpah had lived a little longer
Review of The Hi-Lo Country
