Texas Cotton

I love the Texas crime sub-genre and this is a great entry! I also love Troll 2 starring George Hardy and it was really cool to see him in a serious role here. It was confusing at first because I've only ever seen him in what's now famously the "Best Worst Movie" ever made but he works out well in this, even alongside legends like Lew Temple and Gene Jones.

I had only got 49 minutes in to this movie and I had to stop and find out more about it. I discovered it on YouTube completely by accident under a really general list of 'free Action movies 2017'. I've probably transgressed some copywrite issues along with whoever put it up on their YouTube Chanel, somehow I don't think anyone is going to be losing out massively. I've got to say that I haven't even seen the whole thing, but I've had to put it on hold so that I can ascertain that I'm not losing my mind and it's not one of the funniest films that I have seen in years. For a start, it's billed as an action movie, which considering the overall tempo thus-far, brought about my first set of the giggles. I have to say that I can't fairly conclude my review at this stage, but at this juncture, I do SERIOUSLY want to ask: are they taking the mick? It reminds me very much of David Lynch. I'm not an expert of film genres or critique, but I do recognise the term 'noir' and literally translate it as 'dark'. I believe one of the reviews I have read here describes it as such. Were they taking the Micky too? I have really lost all sense of objectivity and I have to say that I think, whether it was meant to be, or not, that it is, beyond all doubt, one of the funniest films that I have seen in years. I will add to this review when I've watched the whole movie and manage to stop laughing.

The story is nothing new. The camera work was great. I can't judge the acting because the script was terribly bad and full of cliches.

I'm usually a fan of neo westerns and I was further drawn to watching this because I was curious to see George Hardy in a straight dramatic role. Although I think Hardy did alright with what he was given ultimately there is very little worth watching here. I won't give any spoilers, and you won't need them because you will most likely figure out the "mystery" here pretty much from the first scene. With no intrigue left you will find yourself simply marveling at the poor writing, improbably scenarios, mostly bad acting and strange explosions. I did learn that apparently in Texas anyone can just walk into a courtroom after the defense rests and just start calling witnesses. Juliette Danielle from the Room is in here ever so briefly but there really is no reason to watch this one. Very disappointing.

This film starts out as Andy of Mayberry but the plot thickens into a British formula mystery. George Hardy is a very believable Texas lawman. Jason Douglas is a full of himself small town mayor. Jud Lorman is a prosecutor and when the prosecutor and the mayor are in court together you can't help but reminisce of those to actors in their scene in Jack Reacher. But in this film they both have significant parts and it is easy to see what great actors they are. Gene Jones also gets to show his stuff much more so than he did in No Country for Old Men.

The plot of this movie requires you to really concentrate for it to make sense. If you put forth the effort it is a great mystery, if you don't you won't get it.

The cinematography is great and the sound track is true Texas. Mike and the Moon Pies "You can't fun out on me" is a real red dirt sensation, too bad it didn't get mor play