The White River Kid (1999)

SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

Purely Joyful Movie!

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

Much to my surprise, I really enjoyed this movie. It was quirky, yes, very quirky, but that was part of its charm. You can't say that The White River Kid was reminiscent of any other movie at all. The script takes grand swipes at Roman Catholicism and rural values as well as throwing the dirt at rustics, crooked sheriffs, sleazy businessmen and aspiring wanna-bes. The acting is well-nigh perfect with Bob Hoskins as an engagingly crooked friar narrowly leading the way from crooked stumble-bum, Antonio Banderas, quick-on-the-trigger outlaw, Wes Bentley and keen-to-be-re-elected sheriff, Randy Travis. The males don't have all the best lines, though they do tend to dominate the action. But who will forget Ellen Barkin as the blind prostitute or Swoosie Kurtz as the bewigged Mummy Weed or young Kim Dickens who makes such a lithe and engaging heroine? The movie was beautifully photographed by Michael Chapman on some really arresting Arkansas (?) locations. Available on an excellent Columbia Tristar DVD under the title, "White River".

basic problem of film remains the expectations, to high, of public. because it is real strange to use a splendid cast for a kind of joke without beginning or end, story or credible characters. but that is it !a comedy about nothing. isles of bizarre scenes, few beautiful images, Bob Hoskins in search of his character credibility and Antonio Banderas in a parody of Hispanic stereotype. but the worse thing is the punishment for poor Wes Bentley who must become a version of fake James Dean, charming boy with dark past , victim of a form of romantic teenager stupidity. an easy comedy about nothing. that is all. only hope - the fun for the film team.because for public remains not seductive crumbs.

Some of my favorite people in real life are the quirky ones. They're what make life interesting rather than one gigantic bore. That's the main reason I love this film and can watch it over and over without getting tired of it. It's a rare film that can do that to me.There are few characters, if any, of what most folks would call "normal" in this movie. Every character is quirky in one way or another. Even characters who only have a line or two then are never seen again are quirky in their own little way. That is taking a gamble by the director and sometimes fails, but it works to a tee here.Read the list for the well known actors names and some not so well known, but one thing is continuous throughout the film; they all had a ball making it. What a pity it has so few fans.

Part of this movie was filmed in my hometown and I made the final cut as an extra. It's the only reason I even knew the film existed and I went to great lengths to find it. I wish I hadn't. The acting (even mine) is bad, and the writing is worse. Antonio Banderas was an executive producer on the project and that could explain why he always looked miserable on set. There was one really nice scene of Randy Travis(the cliché singing sheriff) crooning, but that apparently got left on the cutting room floor. Oh, yea, and nobody feeds humans to hogs in Arkansas. They are fed to alligators in Louisiana, just kidding. If you want to see a film about how utterly backward Arkansas is, try Sling Blade. But, honestly, we're not all simple minded hillbillys and rednecks...don't let the accent fool you.