The Outsider

Hi: My name is Pat D'Spain, and I am from Bandera, Texas. I am posting this message to say that The Outsider is absolutely the best film I have ever seen. I can't describe how wonderfully Tim Daly and Naomi Watts fit their parts. They gave top quality performances, and the whole film was perfectly cast. The beautiful music brought this film to an ultimate level. The story is heartwarming and touching. It is portrayed with such deep feeling, and there is not a dull or boring moment. I have viewed hundreds of films and I have never been so captivated by any movie as I am this one. I have watched this film over and over partly because Naomi Watts was so good in her part, and partly because Tim Daly is absolutely the best actor I have ever seen.

We've been down this road before and to better effect but "The Outsider", a made-for-television variation on both "Shane" and "Witness", isn't at all bad. Naomi Watts, (excellent), is the Mennonite widow who takes in a wounded gunfighter, (Timothy Daly), who in turn helps her in her battle with the men who murdered her husband and naturally they fall in love, much to the displeasure of her family and community. It's fairly conventional but it's well acted and it's entertaining. The director was Randa Haines, who made "Children of a Lesser God", and a good supporting cast includes the Carradine brothers, David and Keith.

Aw, shucks, so "The Outsider" (a Showtime original so it will eventually show up in video stores) is based on the kind of a romance novel (by Penelope Williamson) that probably has a flower on the cover.

But beautiful Queensland, Australia fills in quite nicely for Montana as the usual isolated farmhouse works romantic wonders on a hardened gunman (Tim Daly, in a surprisingly convincing tough guy undergoing physical and slow psychic rehabilitation turn) and a kind, religious yet horny widow (Naomi Watt with an excellent American accent) threatened by evil cattlemen.

From the opening shots, the twist is that she makes the significant moves and decisions in her relationships, and the two leads have dynamic chemistry together.

Another twist is that we get to see two Carradines not playing brothers, and neither gets the girl.

Credit to director Randa Haines for the combination of emoting, setting, cinematography, and editing to emphasize the characters' conflicts and changes.

Not just another rehash of Witness or Shane, and in some ways better than either of these classics with the amazing acting talents of Tim Daly and Naomi Watts. Throw David and Keith Carradine into the mix and you have a wonderful, touching film that doesn't rely so much on story as on the characters themselves. From the tearful acceptance of cruel murder at the beginning to the raw emotion carried throughout by the expressive emoting of Tim Daly (when did he get so GOOD?) I thoroughly enjoyed watching and could not tear myself away from the screen. Naomi Watts is a wellspring of sweetness not to be missed, so well does she capture the agony of woman torn between home and heart. David Carradine as the world-weary but caring town doctor is a pleasing surprise. Keith Carradine as the spurned "plain" man also works very well here. If you're a western fan, take the time for this one. If you're a Tim Daly fan or a Naomi Watts fan, make this a must see.

Nope, it ain't a Clint Eastwood western. No deeply wrought moral tales or stoic heroes herein.

But it is a better than average take on the dime-a-dozen romance novel genre. First of all, gone are the distracting subplots that dot the novel written by Penelope Williamson. Second, this version is long on visual poetry. A lot can be conveyed by simply letting the camera stay on the principle characters as they convey the emotional content of the story. Third, the director takes advantage of a much better than expected cast. Naomi Watts has emerged as a powerhouse of an actress in the last few years and she does not disappoint in this role. Tim Daly is restrained and manages to convey more than a touch of humor to what could be a well-worn stereotype of the world weary gunfighter.

If you're in the mood for a simple story, well acted and pretty to look at, this one will serve you well.