Red Headed Stranger

I really enjoyed Red Headed Stranger, which is a great movie project for Willie Nelson. The film has some similarities to Clint Eastwood's Pale Rider. Obviously, both films have preacher characters that stand up for justice (and deliver, Old Testament style). Willie Nelson's Shay shows more vulnerability and is not as hard ( invincible) as Clint. Well, nobody did westerns quite like Clint. The film here is pretty solid and showed how violent and corrupt the untamed land could be. The movie looks great and is paced well with a mix of Willie Nelson's music to go alongside the story. Western icon RG Armstrong gives one of his best performances as Sheriff Scoby. Morgan Fairchild is some serious eye candy as The Preacher's ill fated wife. Everything here was done well in my opinion and I really enjoyed watching this.

Average western drama highlighted by the always welcome presence of charismatic Willie Nelson in the lead role. The story is simple but effective for western style: a preacher (Nelson) became a furious and violent gunman after his wife (Fairchild)leaves him for another man. As a gunman, he must fight against cruel landowner (Dano) and his violent sons for the right of use of a water fountain in a distant and poor town.

Good scenes of fight and a decent photography made this one really watchable. A bit too predictable and slow at same points. But the good cast (R.G. Armstrong, as Nelson' old friend is terrific)is another great background.

I love this movie because I like the music and feel it is probably the best one Willie ever did. Willie Nelson is as good an actor as he is a singer and this movie made me appreciate that all the more. The songs are ones you can sing along to and that is a real bonus. The plot, the scenery is all real. R.G. Armstrong, who is noted for strong performances as a bad guy is exceptional, especially in the bar scene where he wants the young man to kill him. Look into those eyes!!!! Morgan Fairchild and Katharine Ross don't hurt anything either. I have seen this movie several times, never get tired of it. Maybe because beyond the music I feel Willie's pain and can relate to the frustrations of the preacher.

Not much dialog for a movie that I enjoyed. The music was excellent, I guess because I like Willie Nelson. Sad and reflective. It shows how a person can change not just from good to bad but back again. Willies expressions were always sad and for the most part the movie was to.

Along with Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson has been making films as well as albums for years. _Red Headed Stranger_, an idea based on the album of the same name, is pretty much spaghetti-western fare. Nelson plays a preacher, his band plays the bad guys, Morgan Fairchild plays the wife and the carnage begins.

While certainly not Oscar-worthy, it is a must see for any true Nelson fan. I recommend getting some friends, a Willie-style "cigarette", a bottle of whiskey and this movie. Featuring tracks from the album _Red Headed Stranger_, the soundtrack is better than the film. Another notable film is _Honeysuckle Rose_, where Nelson plays basically himself.

All in all, cheesy fun. And, the film was shot in Texas, behind Nelson's Perdenales recording studio and golf club.