The Tracker (1988)

it is the rare 'crazy' movie that actually has something to say.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

I saw this movie when it first aired. I would rate it much higher but the script was terribly clichéd despite the wonderful performances. Also, David Huddleston is one of my favorite character actors but he was miscast as a lawman in this film. The guy looks like he weighed 300lbs, and there is no way he could have made such a journey tracking those killers. Man, I felt sorry for his horse! I also felt Mark Moses appeared a little too old to portray a wet behind the ears kid. Scott Wilson was simply excellent. He created a full dimensional character instead of a cardboard character for the hero to shoot at. I also enjoyed the Mormon character who came to warn the gang that Noble Adams, the other side's avenging angel, is hunting them. That performance was also excellent. I cannot complain about the action sequences because they were portrayed realistically and brutal. Noble Adams was not in a mood to be nice when violence erupted.

Made for HBO and aired in the winter and spring of 1988 only to be soon forgotten, THE TRACKER is an exceptionally rendered Western and one of the best movies of the genre in the post-Eastwood era. A simple yet interesting premise is blended with tight action and deeply effective characterization to give any Western fan a highly satisfying experience, as it was for me when it originally aired. Adding to its strengths are the evocative and atmospheric soundtrack and the superior scriptwriting, creating a palpable old west atmosphere and fully believable characters who are not overacted or overdrawn. Of special note is Kris Kristofferson's understated and restrained performance, which results in a serious and fully credible character in the form of the tracker Noble Adams. Scott Wilson as the protagonist is excellent as usual, with strong contributions by all cast involved. I urge any true Western fan to obtain and watch THE TRACKER; it is an experience to be enjoyed and appreciated.

Renegade Mormon psychopath (!) Scott Wilson and fellow prisoners, including John Quade and Don Swayze, bust out of prison and go on a bloody rampage. Famous retired tracker Kris Kristofferson is pressed back into service by lawman David Huddleston to help catch them and ends up bringing his eastern educated son. Upon hearing that Kristofferson is tracking them, Wilson ups the ante by kidnapping two young girls.This is one grim, eighties style western that never lets up in terms of action and suspense. The teleplay by Kevin Jarre (who also wrote Tombstone) has a lot of psychological depth, with Kristofferson revealing to his son a different, more violent side and in turn teaching the young lawyer how to be a man.It's good to see character actor David Huddleston in a non-comedic hero role. Scott Wilson is also good as the pitifully disturbed heavy, probably his best role since In Cold Blood. Kristofferson gives a better performance here than in Pat Garrett And Billy The Kid.Director John Guillerman also scored big with faux spaghetti western El Condor, with Jim Brown and Lee Van Cleef. He does a great job capturing the great natural beauty as well as the dark side of the old west.

"The Tracker" is just an old TV-movie from the 1980's you might think, but thanks to Kevin Jarre's well-written story the film works very well, better than most modern action-oriented Westerns. But the film has also Kris Kristofferson in the main role, and he is suitable as Noble Adams. I think Kristofferson clearly shows that he handles his role very well, and one of the main reasons why the film works the way it does.Thanks to very few flaws in the script, this Western works very well. Even if "The Tracker" could be better and would fit nice as a movie for the cinema, it is highly recommended for any fan of the Western-genre.Rating: 6+ of 10.