Le voyage de la dernière chance

Great storyline, well portrayed and well cast. I believe Matt Keesler can be one of the greats of our time. His facial expressions alone are worthy of much more consideration for leading and heavier roles. The entire movie proves that there is room for quality production. I find "Durango" in the same class as Dennis Quaid's directorial debut "Everything that Rises". Quality and good taste. More,More, More!

Most corny old Irish films feature Irish Catholic farming villages, and I guess it seems only fair to have an Irish film with lower-class Protestant cattle herders, featuring a feisty pastor(instead of the usual Catholic priest) and a fiery, bad-tempered, but good-hearted middle-aged woman in tow, succeeding against the odds to get fair earnings (against some wealthy Catholics, for fair measure and complete reversal of the usual stereotype). A side story includes a Irish Army deserter who is determined to join the British army instead, in time to fight Hitler (yeah, right!) Not to say the film is better or worse than the usual sickeningly sweet Irish movie plot, but there is an attempt here to portray Irish Protestants as champions of the rural countryside and underdogs in class conflicts. I'm not sure many Americans will even recognize the ways this film tweaks past depictions of Irish country life, while presenting a very familiar package.

Mark (Matt Keeslar) is a young cattleman in Ireland. He loves a young lady of the area named Annie (Nancy St. Alban). Annie's father, however, is somewhat of a local terror and he is especially attached to Annie. Matt, therefore, has two goals. Find a good price for his cattle and find a way to convince Annie's father that he has what it takes to be a good husband for Annie. Are these attainable wishes? This is a lovely-to-look-at film from the Hallmark Hall of Fame series. The two stars are fresh and funny and old veterans, such as Patrick Bergen and Brenda Bleven, lend their support for good measure. Ireland's glorious splendors of landscape and town are on good display and the plot has twists and turns to keep the story flowing nicely. One might pick this one out of a bin of unsold films (as I did) and be completely satisfied after a couple of minutes of viewing. However, don't wait for the film to fall in your lap. Make a concerted effort to locate the film at the library or video store today.

Though this story is certainly somewhat "predictable", it lets all of its viewers have a feel for something which of late seems almost elusive. That"something" is PERSONAL INTEGRITY. Can you find that much maligned virtue INTEGRITY in places such as Washington D.C., the realm of professional sports, the local street corner where minors are victimized by drug dealers or even in personal lives which seem to be foundering too much of the time?

Somebody once suggested that "virtue is its own reward". This story certainly and eventually heaps rightful rewards on those who make their choices either out of selfishness or integrity. Each of the characters subtly adds a contribution to this tale of love and persistence. And they collide in the scenic Irish arena of the early 1940's when the world was about to change forever.In the end, we are reminded that values are either good or bad and somehow bring conflict and eventual resolution. Good does not always triumph over evil.This simple but enticing story reminds all that there is a difference between them and no one goes on without being affected by whatever choices people will make.

I just saw 'Durango' yesterday on Hallmark. I was kinda put-off by the title but the movie is beautiful and Matthew Keeslar makes you go droool.. Anyway, the movie is basically about how this guy named Mark refuses to be victimised by a corrupted swindler and takes up the cause of the villagers and undertakes an ardrous journey to sell a flock of cattle. The movie is set in Ireland, in the 30s and providing as a background are references to the World War and the IRA. Adding to the appeal of the movie are many humorous situations and Mark's affair with Annie who has a rather domineering father. It's basically a nice sweet movie and you won't feel you've wasted an hour or two but the scenery of the Emerald Isle will linger on long after seeing this movie. The acting is good and Matt Keeslar does have potential excluding his looks.