“Lone Star” (1996) written & directed by John Sayles, starring Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Peña, Kris Kristofferson & Matthew McConaughey / Z-View

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Lone Star (1996)

Director: John Sayles

Screenplay: John Sayles

Stars: Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Peña, Stephen Mendillo, Stephen J. Lang, Oni Faida Lampley, Joe Stevens, Richard Coca, Clifton James, Tony Frank, Miriam Colon, Kris Kristofferson, Joe Morton, LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Matthew McConaughey .

Tagline: John Sayles invites you to return to the scene of the crime.

The Plot…

Sam Deeds (Cooper) is Sheriff of Frontera, Texas, a small border town.  When a skeleton, a Masonic ring and Sheriff’s badge are found in a shallow grave just outside of town, Deeds opens an investigation.  The remains appear to be those of Charlie Wade.

Wade was the infamously corrupt Sheriff of Frontera twenty years ago.  Sheriff Wade vanished under mysterious circumstances. At the same time $10,000 of county funds was missing.  To add to the puzzle, Wade’s disappearance happened after a public argument with one of his deputies.  That deputy was Buddy Deeds (McConaughey), Sam’s father.  During the argument each man threatened to kill the other.  Many thought Buddy made good on his promise.  That didn’t stop Buddy from becoming the new Sheriff.

But that was years ago.  Although Buddy is dead, his legend lives on.  And now his son,  Sheriff Sam Deeds is determined to discover the truth.

No one could have predicted the lies and deceptions about to surface.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Lone Star was nominated for one Academy Award…

  • nominee Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen – John Sayles

Kudos to John Sayles who wrote, directed, and assembled an all-star cast to create an interesting mystery with heart.  I loved Sayles’ inventive transitions from present to past done without a cut.

I also get a kick out of the fact that the movie appears to be about solving the mystery of who was in the shallow grave and who killed him.  But neither of those hold the answers to the biggest secrets that will be revealed.

Lone Star (1946) rates 4 of 5 stars.