Lone Star Movie Information

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Movie Information

Overall Rank: 5614

Average Rating: 2.6/4

# of Ratings: 34

Theatrical Release Date: 06/21/1996

Language: English

Genre: Crime, Drama

MPAA Rating: R

Director: John Sayles

Actors: Stephen Mendillo, Stephen J. Lang, Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Peña, Matthew McConaughey, Kris Kristofferson

Logan D. McCoy - wrote on 02/01/2024

With its depictions of life in a border town and heinously corrupt law enforcement, it's hard to watch and not think of Orson Welles' masterpiece "Touch of Evil." But the psychologically rich "Lone Star" is more than a callback to a classic film noir. It's an engrossing mood piece that unravels generational frustrations, but most importantly complex racial histories that make this outstanding neo-western still feel fresh and relevant.

Indyfreak - wrote on 12/06/2019

John Sayles’ neo-western-mystery is overstuffed with various subplots. Some pay off, others don’t. The ending is naturally the worst one that leaves a sour taste in the viewer’s mouth. Still, it’s not badly acted. Most of everyone does fine. The late Elizabeth Pena is very good and Kris Kristofferson is fun as a despicably evil racist sheriff.

mitchellyoung - wrote on 02/01/2012

There is a mystery plot here, but it mostly serves as the backdrop to a character-rich study of race relations in a small Texas bordertown. The acting by all is top-notch and the film manages to juggle multiple storylines without undercutting any of them.

Yojimbo
Movie God

"Lone Star" by Yojimbo

Yojimbo - wrote on 05/08/2014

The sheriff of a small Texas border town who languishes in the shadow of his legendary father investigates the murder of a corrupt predecessor who disappeared 40 years previously when his skeleton is discovered buried in the desert. John Sayles' complex murder mystery uses a criminal investigation as a foundation of an intimate exploration of the complexities of tribalism, racial tension and prejudice in the melting pot of seemingly disparate cultures that inhabit the borderlands of the United States. It's a very clever and insightful film as the brilliant Chris Cooper's investigation peels back the layers of secrecy and mistrust to reveal a set of relationships that are more like an intricately interwoven patchwork of greys than the blacks and whites that appear on the surface. …

Daniel Corleone
Movie God

Lone Star review

Daniel Corleone - wrote on 09/02/2013

The picture revolves around Sheriff Sam Deeds (Chris Cooper), his father Sheriff Buddy Deeds (Matthew McConaughey) and Charlie Wade (Kris Kristofferson). Too many subplots and characters were inserted to the main story which adds to the length and hampers the pace of the movie. Wonderfully depicted by Cooper and Kristofferson, the supporting cast was average. Soundtrack was applicable to the setting and direction was skillful. Frances McDormand has a small role in here as well. Screenplay was effective with lines: "Everybody's killing everybody else." “No telling yet if there's been a crime, but this country's seen a fair amount of disagreements over the years,” and "People change." Overall, Lone Star could have been one of the best of its genre, the mystery aspects and …