Under the Radar: Red Rock West

With the passing of the late Dennis Hopper last month, I thought it would be a good time to draw attention to Red Rock West (1993), a film noir sleeper that contains all the elements of a good independent film and shows what good writing, story and casting can and should do. Director John Dahl brings the same finesse he would later show in The Last Seduction (1994), another great little film. He then went on to direct Rounders (1998) with Matt Damon and Edward Norton, so you know the guy has skills.

The film itself is classic noir, a simple case of mistaken identity with harrowing results. A surprisingly good Nicolas Cage plays a drifter mistaken for a hit man by the late, great JT Walsh, who wants to kill his wife. Cage, with nothing to lose, plays along with the intention of not following through. Then along comes the real hit man, and it's Dennis Hopper in one of his best roles. This is where the fun starts. An excellent supporting cast carries the movie, with Lara Flynn Boyle as the intended victim, Walsh as her tavern-owning husband, and Dwight Yoakam in a great cameo for his film debut. The scenery is awesome, as it was shot in Montana and Arizona, though the film takes place in Wyoming. The movie itself has plenty of twists and turns to keep audiences interested, but it's Hopper as the crazy killer that raises the intensity level throughout.

Most of my readers know how I feel about Nicolas Cage, but in this role he shines by giving an understated performance without trying too hard to show how cool he is. He took this role at the urging of his uncle, Francis Ford Coppola, who is a big fan of John Dahl. With the exception of Raising Arizona, I don't care much for Cage but really enjoyed his performance in this film. It's just a good role for him, and that's usually the key with actors: pick the role best suited to their particular style. Even Lara Flynn Boyle, fresh off David Lynch's groundbreaking Twin Peaks, is subtle and effective in her role. With regards to Dennis Hopper, I would put this in his Top 5 performances, like his characters in Blue Velvet and Rivers Edge. As Lyle from Dallas, his hit man shows a case of low self-esteem, constantly repeating "You think you're better than me?" like a teenager with acne. It all leads to a great climax, and this film is so much better all around than films coming out now. I never felt like I was wasting my time or money watching Red Rock West.

The best thing about Red Rock West is the story behind it. The film itself was shot on a budget of $7 million, and only received a $2.5 million distribution deal at the outset. But it was rediscovered by a theater owner in 1994, who made it a point to get the film out there. The results were sold-out shows and satisfied audiences, and led to theatrical release in New York and Los Angeles. This interest breathed new life into a film most people involved thought was dead, and I'm sure the DVD rentals after its release have done better since then. At the time, they just didn't know how to market a "western noir" type of film. In thinking of it now, I realize the similarities between this film and No Country For Old Men, which went on to win many awards including the Oscar for Best Picture. Thankfully, the Coen Brothers didn't have to listen to the "We don't know how to market it" line. Otherwise, we may not have this great film. Just because a film is different doesn't mean it's not worth seeing, or giving others the opportunity to see it. If you make a good film, people will come. It's that simple.

sources: imdb.com, yahoo films