One False Move **** (1991, Bill Paxton, Cynda Williams, Billy Bob Thornton, Jim Metzler, Michael Beach, Earl Billings) – Classic Movie Review 5365

Bill Paxton’s big break came with his lead role in director Carl Franklin’s critically acclaimed 1991 neo film noir about the hunt for a trio of gangsters holed up in an Arkansas small town after the deaths of six people over a cash and drugs haul in Los Angeles.

Paxton stars as Dale ‘Hurricane’ Dixon, the married local sheriff who joins with two big city cops -LAPD detectives Dud Cole (Jim Metzler) and John McFeely (Earl Billings) – to track down the trio – sadistic, clever Lenny ‘Pluto’ Franklyn (Michael Beach), his San Quentin buddy Ray Malcolm (Billy Bob Thornton) and his girlfriend Fantasia (Cynda Williams). But it turns out that Dixon has been involved previously with the girl.

Stark, violent and naturalistic, this is an extremely well done, exciting movie, with a subtle exploration of relationships and race issues, strongly recommended for those film noir buffs who can stomach much bloodletting.

Director Carl Franklin handles the characters with much subtlety, while effectively controlling the pace and atmosphere. Just a word of warning: the initial wave of killings is quite sickening, and worryingly dwells on the minutiae of murder.

Billy Bob Thornton co-writes (with Tom Epperson) as well as co-stars. Also in the cast are Natalie Canerday, Jimmy Bridges, Derrick Williams and Kevin Hunter. It is shot by James L Carter, produced by Jesse Beaton and Ben Myron, and scored by Peter Haycock and Derek Holt.

Bill Paxton died on 25 February 2017, aged 61. His career started with Jonathan Demme’s Crazy Mama (1975).

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5365

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