Instant Favorite.

Fresh and Exciting

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Other reviewers have pointed out good and bad features of this movies, and they all have a point.The feeling that struck me as I watched this was that it was too long.I found myself watching the clock on my DVD player to see how much longer it would last.When I find myself experiencing something like this while watching a film, it usually means the film lacks focus.I think that is true here. There are just too many subplots and unnecessary twists and turns that detract from the feeling of unity in this film. My recommendation would be that it be taken back to the editing room and severely pared down to give it the film a more distinct direction.Some good points in the film: I thought the actor playing the young boy did a good job, and his scenes held my attention.The flirtatious scene(s) where the young lawman envies the light on the leading lady's face was touching, and she did tend to "shine" a bit more in these scenes than others -- she looked better and I thought she was more likable in these scenes.The overall tone of the outdoor scenes were appealing....But I return to my main point... the film needs tighter editing....

I liked the movie. I guess many of the previous posters missed the sex and swearing. The New York accent was explained when Arthur was discussing with Miriam her desire to return to New York because of the threat in their town from the presence of a gunfighter. I liked the confusion in the beginning about Jack Cole and it was fun figuring out during the course of the movie the identity of Jack Cole and the story of why Jack Fowler left his family for 8 years. The Bible verses were true to life in that persons were poor in those times and often the only book they owned was The Bible and as a result many became quite conversant with it.

It's great to see a Western that's not the typical shoot 'em up and not the usual trash in the saloon. It's nice to have high morals for a change and show the other side of Western life. Why does everyone think that the West was only a bunch of violent gold seekers and train robbers and drop dead gorgeous women? It's nice to see a change of pace in a Western that looks more at character issues and drama verses more and more useless killing. I thought the cast, the cinematography, and the music was great! It sounded like a rich orchestral score...like worth buying the soundtrack for. There's a bit of everything: Romance, drama, adventure, mystery, suspense. I thought it was a great combo. Enjoy an evening without the typical Hollywood trash. Enjoy seeing Randy Travis, Eric Roberts, Stella Stevens, Ernest Borgnine,Rance Howard (Ron's Dad), Jerry Doyle, Garry Marshall (great to see him acting!), Paul Tinder, and Vaughn Taylor. I'll definitely buy it and watch it again!

Why? Why did they make such an insulting-to-human-intelligence film as this one? To call it a "dog" would be heaping undeserved praise on an unworthy effort, not to mention insulting dogs everywhere. So, how did they get Eric Roberts and Ernie Borgnine to sign on? The only answer I can come up with is, a paycheck. The rest of the cast(?) are unknown, except for sing-through-his-nose, ultraconservative C&W singer, Randy Travis whose acting consists of two expressions, one like he's going potty and the other, that he's just finished. Also, was Gerry Marshall's role as the hen-pecked storekeeper supposed to be comedy relief with his pronounced New York dialect?My wife and I watched this film through because we couldn't believe anyone who have the temerity to make, let alone release, a film as flimsy and mindless as this one. Everything was bad from props- a brand new, unblemished holster belonging to a supposed gunfighter- to the settings- the store with a tiny shelf where Marshall is stacking canned goods. Julia had better tell her brother Eric to find some better scripts, Ernie should rest on his laurels, Penny should tell Gerry that he should be ashamed of himself and Randy should stick to plucking his git-tar and singing his right-wing County music through his nose.