The White River Kid is an enjoyable movie. It is not an edge of the seat or nail biter, but the story is engaging. Bob Hoskins as Brother Edgar draws you into the story and as he begins to be interested in the other members of this story so do you. Antonio Bandaras brings a certain charm and sympathy to a character with less admirable ambitions. I would comment on each actors role but instead I will say that each one took hold of the character they played and caused you to see each one in an interesting way. I was particularly fond of Miss Eva Nell (Ellen Barkin) and Randy Travis as Sheriff Becker. All in all I really liked this movie.

Part of this movie was filmed in my hometown and I made the final cut as an extra. It's the only reason I even knew the film existed and I went to great lengths to find it. I wish I hadn't. The acting (even mine) is bad, and the writing is worse. Antonio Banderas was an executive producer on the project and that could explain why he always looked miserable on set. There was one really nice scene of Randy Travis(the cliché singing sheriff) crooning, but that apparently got left on the cutting room floor. Oh, yea, and nobody feeds humans to hogs in Arkansas. They are fed to alligators in Louisiana, just kidding. If you want to see a film about how utterly backward Arkansas is, try Sling Blade. But, honestly, we're not all simple minded hillbillys and rednecks...don't let the accent fool you.

Startz finally released this turkey on American television tonight. This film is a waste of good talented actors. Bob Hoskins seems lost in the film as a fake monk. In fact, I could not believe that in one scene he was dancing what is called the Texas Dance in his monk robes in an Arkansas dance hall.The movie is a series of road vinettes that really don't make much sense. I wonder if these actors got paid for the roles. Antonio Banderos was listed as the producer. What got into him. Swoosie Kurtz a good actress was awful in her Presley hair do. No wonder this did not get a theater release.

This is surely the worst film I've seen in the last decade or two. It is difficult to imagine that there is a book on which it was based because there are no characters, no plot and no purpose whatsoever. It is a master class on how NOT to write a script and on how NOT to direct a movie. Arne Glimcher had given us in 1992 "The Mambo Kings", with the same Antonio Banderas. This was a very pleasant film and we could expect for a similar result here. But due to the chaotic situation shown it is difficult to say what went wrong here. Of course, the main fault is with the script that amasses a bunch of loose characters and incidents that never relate to each other in any meaningful way. People come and go out of the film without stating what they are doing or what they were called for. If any praise should be bestowed upon anyone at all, that should go to the actors and actresses involved for the bravura and conviction with which they deliver their lines even if these lines don't mean a thing at all. A consummate disaster that should be avoided at all costs.