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..........
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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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.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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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.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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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.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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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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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..........
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
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.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
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.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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