Desert Saints

If you're not a Kiefer fan, I'm not so sure. Me, I'm a Kiefer fan and while I will say I liked this film well enough, I'll also say it's not the best film in the world. I enjoyed Kiefer's ability to play a professional killer and yet you actually kind of like him by the end of it. I did not like Melora Walters. Her voice grated on me I guess. Jamey Sheridan (The Walkin' Dude from Stephen King's 'The Stand') was completely wasted in this I felt. He's a great actor as well but I don't think his character was developed enough.

In fact, I'd say none of the characters were really well-developed. And as a fan of character study movies, I was disappointed in this. But it wasn't *all* bad. There are quite a few scenes I found enjoyable to watch but overall, it's just a so-so flick.

Good acting and an interesting storyline but the script is below par. As they say if you don't have a good script you won't have a good movie.

Interesting premise and there is a twist (2 twists actually) to the ending which brings this up to just beyond a "B" movie. Then it stops there.

Meg Ryan is credited as a producer and she certainly picks better movies to act in than produce.

Our lead character, Jack, is a hired... No - wait. Kiefer Sutherland is Arthur Banks, a world class hit-man who happens to wear Jack's Ray-Bans (see 24) and is traveling to his next job. He picks up a woman for a cover and accomplice along the way. The Feds are just two steps behind him.

Whomever wrote this needed some help in fact checking and reality.

At one point there is talk of a tungsten core bullet that spins faster which enhances accuracy. Um, no. It doesn't matter if a bullet is lead, copper, tin, steel or gold. That doesn't affect the spin rate.

The movie starts out in the Southwest. Yet they drive for at least 3 or 4 days before entering Mexico. All on 2 lane roads. Sure, I can see not making a bee line but that's a little silly.

A couple of bodies need to be dumped. Not much thought is given on where to dump them so as not to be discovered. The first one is why not in the bushes? The second body is a good place as long as nobody has a sense of smell.

Don't you think if the Feds were given permission to enter Mexico the Mexican Authorities would at least tag along?

Not worth renting and see what else is on TV before watching.

I watched this because I am a Kiefer Sutherland Fan. If you are as well you won't be disappointed. A great performance by Sutherland as Banks, leaving you wandering if you will ever find out what is going on in his psyche.

Bennie's voice was a tad annoying as was her character, but Walters played the part well. Fantastic performance by Sutherland in the car when he too is getting annoyed with Bennie!!

I liked the ambiguous ending - who was the shot for??? For a film I thought was going to be a B-Movie I was surprised at how good it was. Not a B-Movie in my mind. Definitely an enjoyable way of spending an hour and a half.

Oh, and Kiefer is FWOOOOOAAARRR!!!!

I couldn't find too many flaws in this movie and it certainly wasn't dull. Sutherland did a good job playing a jaded semi-sociopath with a hint of decency. I wouldn't call it entirely realistic human behavior but it had no glaring faults.

I watched this in large part because I've always found Melora Walters fun to look at, but there was an unusual scene where she emphasized that she had big hips, which she doesn't (they're noticeably trim). A double willing suspension of disbelief? Viewers will know what that scene was, and I wondered why they threw it it. Maybe it was originally meant for another actress.

Anyhow, this is worth seeing and probably won't disappoint anyone who likes Sutherland's other survival/road movies.

Bennie Harper (Melora Walters): You sure are a tough guy. Arthur Banks(Kiefer Sutherland): What are you talking about? Bennie Harper: You talk like a tough guy, you walk like a tough guy, you even order drinks like a tough guy... Arthur Banks: I'm not a tough guy - I'm just careful! Bennie Harper: Careful of what? Arthur Banks: Of pretty women...

Well, he wasn't careful enough, but I can't say any more that that without giving it away. Suffice it to say that this was a very interesting story about hit-man Banks, and a girl he picked up (Harper) to help him complete a job. The two acted like an old married couple as they haggles, and argues, and generally got on each others nerves until the job was done.

In the meantime, they are being chased by the FBI in the persons of Rachel Ticotin (Con Air, Total Recall) and Jamey Sheridan ("Law & Order: Criminal Intent").

But the film belonged to Walters (Boogie Nights, Magnoloa) and her gorgeous breasts, and to Sutherland ("24").