1990s Crime Thriller Launches A-List Star, Gets Gorgeous New Upgrade

Lone Star boasts an ensemble cast with Chris Cooper (October Sky) at the head. Elizabeth Pena (Batteries Not Included), Kris Kristofferson (best known for his music career), and Matthew McConaughey all performed in this neo-Western mystery movie written, edited, and directed by John Sayles. 

Lone Star is set in a small town in southern Texas, filmed along the Rio Grande River, and deals heavily with the matter of racism in the area. Following the discovery of a skeleton at the local military shooting range and the evident murder of one of his predecessors, Sheriff Sam Deeds (Chris Cooper) launches an investigation into the matter. 

The sheriff whose remains are found served in the role prior to Sam’s father, Buddy Deeds. Buddy and Sam didn’t see eye to eye much when his father was alive, and the information he digs up as his investigation moves on paints a sinister picture of who his father really was behind closed doors. 

With a story of forbidden love and the struggle of racism sandwiched in alongside the mystery of an old Sheriff’s murder, Lone Star has it all. Action, adventure, romance, thrills, unexpected twists and turns, and a collection of acting talent is the icing on the cake. 

John Sayles created a masterpiece with Lone Star, being hailed for its accuracy in capturing both the zeitgeist of the 90s and the dynamic culture and diversity of life on the Texas border. Filmed primarily in Del Rio, Eagle Pass, and Laredo, Texas, the movie was true in scene and sight. 

Not only was the aesthetic of the movie spot on for the story being told, but the camera work in the production of Lone Star was unique and poetic. The way the scenes were laid out was genius, “changing scenes within a single camera shot, while shifting in back and forth through time in the same location.” 

Even the music usage and placement throughout Lone Star are notable. Mason Daring’s soundtrack takes into full consideration the diversity of Rio County and the borderlands as a whole. The original compositions he added to the film carried the suspenseful feeling of an already stressful moment into a “more emotionally taut” state. 

When Lone Star was released theatrically, it was considered a success. The movie grossed around $13 million when it took only about $3-5 million to create. Lone Star hit well with critics too. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has a 91 percent positive approval rating.

If you haven’t yet granted yourself the opportunity to see the movie, or if you’re looking to see it for the first time, you can’t go wrong viewing it in 4k UHD. Lone Star is rated ‘R’ and has a runtime of just over two hours. 

Source: Criterion