T V movie western that looks like it might pull it off in the early stages but then just gets bogged down and plods along to an unconvincing climax. The two veteran stars look old here, and are no Joel McCrea and Randolph Scott in " Ride The High Country".There are four country & western singers in the cast, so it gives an indication of what to expect.Could have been worse but just isn't very good.
... View MoreTwo aging super-quick gunfighters (Nelson, Kristofferson) re-form their old bunch to revenge the killing of one of the previous members . Spaghetti Western co-production between US-Spain filmed of course in Almeria .¨The long kill¨ also titled ¨Outlaw Justice¨ is an acceptable Spanish/USA co-production with passable writing by Gene Quintano and Imanol Uribe ; displaying a slick direction by William J Corcoran . This exciting Western is packed with noisy action and lots of violence . The movie contains gun-play, action Western , bloody spectacle and fist-fights . Starred by a diverse casting as the good guys are performed by American actors and the bad guys acted by Spanish players as Simon Andreu , Sancho Gracia and Tony Isbert . It's an offbeat , thrilling and uneven Western particularly influenced by Sergio Leone , for that reason it will appeal to Spaghetti aficionados . American-Spanish co-production financed by Enrique Cerezo full of action , exaggerated characters, shootouts and drama . This is a surprisingly low-key Spaghetti Western set in the post-Civil War era in which some washed-out gunslingers (Kris Kristofferson , Willie Nelson) meet up with buddy (Waylon Jennings)'s son (Chad Willett) and join forces with a sheriff named Dalton (Tritt Travis ) and taking on a variety of problems and risks with the aim to get revenge . The gang find numerous complications when the baddies (Sancho Gracia , Tony Isbert) steal a bank and they are accused and detained. But they escape and go to Cottonwood .This entertaining picture contains action Western , riding pursuits , shootouts and bits of campy and refreshing events with turns and twists , though contains a silly ending , including nonsense crossfire among contenders . It's an improbable blending of standard Western , there's a Spaghetti's homage , with pursuits, high body-count and it's fast moving and quite entertaining. An interesting casting formed by Country Western singers and full of American actors as Kristofferson , Nelson , Jonathan Banks along with Spanish players as Simon Andreu , Sancho Gracia , Leonor Watling , May Heatherly , Aldo Sambrell and Marina Saura ; all of them make this oater well worth the watching . Delightful Western in which two aging gunfighters helped by other buddies unite forces in order to avenge the death of their old partner . Using his wits , breaking all the rules and kicking virtually every cliché in the pants realize a killing spree , as they relentlessly rob and murder by means of some spectacular showdowns in operatic style . Amiable but sometimes lumbering Western goes on and on about the same premise , as minutes are superfluous , it has quarter hour of excess , as it packs some moments turn out to be dull and tiring . There is plenty of action and lots of stunts in the movie , guaranteeing shot'em up, fights or stunts every few minutes . The film bears remarkable resemblance to ¨Dollars for the dead (1998)¨ realized at the same time and in similar ink by Gene Quintano with same producer , screenwriter , exteriors and some actors . The musician Jay Gruska composes a nice soundtrack with catching leitmotif and well conducted ; it's full of emotive songs and enjoyable sounds fitting to action. Striking cinematography by Federico Ribes with barren outdoors, dirty landscapes under a glimmer sun, and outdoor sequences shot on Las Tabernas, Almería, Andalucía, Spain .Bill Corcoran's direction is well crafted , here he's more cynical and violent and packs too much action , but especially this moving Western contains broad violence and long shootouts . He is an expert TV director , being his specialty sci-fi genre as ¨Left behind II : tribulation force , Vipers , Rise of gargoyles , Atomic twister ¨ and usual episodes filmmaker of known series as ¨Stargate , Hope island , Mutant x , Kung Fu , McGiver ¨ among others . Rating : 5,5, riotous Western in which there's too action and violence and enough excitement .
... View MoreI've seen the singers before. Willie is always golden... Kris & Johnny Cash did a real groaner about the last days of Frank and Jesse James, but this is MUCH BETTER than that.Willie is always fun to watch, because his timing is so good, and Kris is a great outlaw in this one. Kris just looks at people and they think twice about tangling with him.Waylon is their buddy who gets gunned down like a dog at the beginning, and he narrates a lot after that. (Shades of the Dukes of Hazard.) If you like these guys, you'll LOVE them in this movie. The bad guy is really bad. The "bad guys" -- i.e. "outlaws" -- are really good, and the dialog just rolls along. Not a dull moment -- even Travis Tritt is pretty god, altho he may not be "ten food high and bulletproof." Rick Tombstone, AZ
... View MoreFile this one under one of the better Westerns you probably never heard of. It pits a pair of good bad guys (Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson), against a bad, bad guy in a tale of retribution and revenge that's full of clichés that play out refreshingly well when doled out by Lee Walker (Nelson) and Jesse Ray Tarence (Kristofferson). It probably helps if you're a fan of the musicians, as the film offers a couple of well placed numbers to move it along; Nelson's tune is particularly effective if you listen to the words carefully.The pair are joined by young Chad Willett, portraying the son of Waylon Jennings' character Tobey, who's murdered in the film's opening scene to set up the story. Holden Bonney (Sancho Gracia) seeks vengeance on all three men for a perceived ill toward him; he's the only one of their former gang who did prison time. All the others opted to join the Confederate Army in exchange for pardon upon completing their service. Failing to break their cohort out of jail, Holden has had years to stew about how to get even.What's not made clear is Holden's alliance with a Mexican colonel (Simon Andru), who he hires to help take out his former partners. It's pretty transparent that the two are not very fond of each other, and it seems a bit overdone for him to need an entire Mexican Army regiment to do a Butch and Sundance on the boys.Waylon Jennings offers the film's narration after his brief appearance, in a diary given to his adopted son Brice by Lee. Brice reads the diary during his ride with the former outlaws, and gains new perspective on their life and the code they live by. One confusing element though, Brice's claim to fame was as "intecollegiate heavyweight boxing champ" - in the 1870's??? You just know he'll come to regret that claim, especially after he falls asleep during his first night watch and the group is robbed. He loses his title rather quickly to Tarence. Brice never learned how to handle a gun, his college training taught him how to be a farmer. So it comes as a surprise when he shoots Holden's gun out of his hand in the final showdown. Backing off, Holden uses a hidden derringer at close range to put down his young opponent. As Holden approaches at arm's length, Brice uses a Bowie knife that Tarence gave him earlier acknowledging his lack of skill with a firearm. As the Mexican soldiers are waved off by their leader, Brice collects his "business associates", and heads into sundown with time to ponder on just who these men are that once rode with his father.
... View More