One False Move

Stars: Bill Paxton (Predator II, Aliens), Cynda Williams (Mo' Better Blues, Jungle Fever), Jim Metzler (Circuitry Man, Delusion). First-time director Carl Franklin puts an uncomfortable headlock on the viewer in the opening 10 minutes, as a trio of kill happy crazies bust a party, steal a large cache of cocaine, and methodically kill everyone there. It's brutal, it's nasty, and--while not terribly bloody--it's not prettied up with nice editing. Then the film cuts to the sleepy town of Star City, Arkansas where the sheriff nicknamed "Hurricane" (Bill Paxton), a guy whose never drawn his gun, is about to start playing with the big boys. When a clue points L.A. homicide detectives in the direction of Arkansas, Hurricane tries to impress the cops from the big city with his can-do attitude. It's funny, and it smacks of real life (his wife tells the detectives: "he doesn't know any better; he watches TV. I read non-fiction."). With the set-up completed, and viewers knowing that the killers are going to find a surprise waiting for them in Star City, One False Move does a very interesting thing: while throwing enough obstacles in the killers' path to make their journey exciting, the film starts examining the characters--and it is the growth and revelations about Hurricane's character, in particular, that makes the outcome of One False Move rich indeed. Audience: Not for the weak of stomach, One False Move is nevertheless a powerful and effective thriller that goes beyond the standard action cartoons, offering complex characters that unfold a little more with each scene. A surprisingly good film that deserves a much wider audience on video.