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- Kris Kristofferson Plays a Truly Despicable Villain in Lone Star
- Lone Star Is One of the Best Movies of the 1990s
- Kristofferson Was a Great Character Actor
As a film enthusiast with decades of viewing under my belt, I wholeheartedly agree that John Sayles is a master storyteller who can create depth and richness even on a modest budget. His films, like “Lone Star,” are not just movies to be watched once; they’re stories to be explored and revisited.
In the ’70s, Kris Kristofferson found fame both as an actor and a country music artist. He put out several successful albums and gave standout performances in films like “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid,” “Semi-Tough,” and “A Star is Born.” However, by the end of the decade, his career seemed to be on a downward slope. His musical popularity waned, and his role in the critically panned 1980 Western film “Heaven’s Gate” significantly damaged his status as a leading man in movies.
In the 1990s, Kristofferson shifted towards character roles and found one of the most remarkable performances of his career in the 1996 Western mystery film “Lone Star”. Here, he portrays Charlie Wade, a ruthless sheriff from a Texas border-town whose long-hidden remains are discovered, causing significant consequences in the present. In this movie, Kristofferson brilliantly crafts an indelible character using only a few scenes. As the malevolent spirit of Charlie haunts the town he tormented, it must be exorcised before peace can return to the community.
Kris Kristofferson Plays a Truly Despicable Villain in Lone Star
The movie “Lone Star” is centered around the Texas border town of Frontera, where at the beginning of the story, a skeleton is found in the desert alongside a Masonic ring and a Sheriff’s badge. These items are connected to Charlie Wade, a sheriff who was both corrupt and despised. He disappeared mysteriously in 1957, likely after a lethal encounter with his predecessor, the late and revered Buddy Deeds, portrayed by Matthew McConaughey.
As a cinephile, here’s my take on paraphrasing that sentence in the first person perspective: In the heart of our town, the investigation is spearheaded by Sheriff Sam Deeds, Buddy’s son, portrayed by Chris Cooper. Diving deep into the past, Sam’s pursuit of justice uncovers clues suggesting his deceased father as a potential suspect – a man with whom Sam had a strained relationship. An old Texas Ranger shares a chilling memory with Sam about Charlie, describing an incident where Charlie, a seemingly harmless figure, entered his father’s hardware store, winked at him, and sent shivers down the Ranger’s spine, making him wet his pants on the spot.
Through his intense, steely-eyed portrayal, Kris Kristofferson’s character, Charlie, surpasses his formidable reputation initially created in a flashback at a local black-owned bar where he intimidates and threatens a boy who defies him. In another instance, Charlie coldly shoots and murders a man involved in migrant smuggling without compensating him. The climax of the story finds Charlie facing off against Buddy, a character famed for standing up to Charlie, in the same bar where their legend was born.
In the movie Lone Star, Charlie’s impact is just as strong in the current storyline as it is in the flashback sequences. The startling revelation of his remains sets off a chain reaction, uncovering a flood of secrets that significantly influence all contemporary characters and their interactions, particularly Sam’s connection with his ex-high school sweetheart, Pilar, who, portrayed by Elizabeth Pena, had been under the mistaken belief that Eladio Cruz, the deceased migrant smuggler, was her biological father. However, a stunning truth comes to light involving Buddy and Sam.
Lone Star Is One of the Best Movies of the 1990s
Kris Kristofferson’s career peak is showcased in the film ‘Lone Star’, a remarkable achievement for both its director and writer, the talented John Sayles. With a limited budget and confined setting, he crafted a movie that boasts an incredible depth and richness. The film, ‘Lone Star’, showcases such a vast imagination and scope that it easily outshines many big-budget Hollywood action films.
Similar to the film “Dazed and Confused”, the movie “Lone Star”, produced for under $5 million, offers a rich tapestry of intriguing characters and a broad perspective that invites repeated viewing. While “Lone Star” would still be captivating if it centered around its murder mystery and romantic storylines alone, its depiction of a border town where black, Hispanic, and white residents coexist uneasily, serves as a thoughtful reflection on how one’s heritage influences their interpretation of history, while simultaneously challenging the idea of boundaries.
In the tradition of the legendary Buddy Deeds, who earned eternal recognition through the renaming of a local courthouse after him (as portrayed in the movie), Lone Star delves into the intricacies of morality and its connection to good and evil. Buddy is shown in Lone Star as being an upright lawman in terms that truly resonate with people, yet also a dishonest one in ways that his ardent supporters might overlook.
In the movie, it’s Buddy’s son, Sam, who turns out to be his most severe critic. As Sam delves into the mystery surrounding Charlie Wade’s death, he stumbles upon proof of Buddy’s own wrongdoings. The tension between father and son, coupled with a desire for truth, drives Sam to challenge the larger-than-life image of Buddy Deeds. As Sam’s investigation unfolds, he realizes that the legendary Buddy Deeds was neither as villainous as he had been led to believe nor as virtuous as his reputation suggested.
Kristofferson Was a Great Character Actor
After his role in Lone Star, Kris Kristofferson, who passed away on September 28, 2024 at the age of 88, collaborated with John Sayles once more in the 1999 drama film Limbo. In this movie, Kristofferson portrayed Jack, a bush pilot and petty criminal from Alaska who harbors resentment towards the main character, Joe – a traumatized ex-fisherman played by David Strathairn. The death of Jack’s brother at sea had been the source of their conflict.
Following Joe, whose shady brother met an untimely death at the hands of drug dealers on a boat, finds himself stranded on an island with a woman and her child. In comes Jack in a seaplane, assuring them that he’d return after refueling, which leaves Joe doubtful. As the movie reaches its climax, a larger seaplane emerges in the sky, causing both Joe, the women, and viewers alike to question whether they will be saved or met with harm. Don’t miss out on watching Lone Star, available for streaming on YouTube TV.
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2024-10-07 00:31