Streets of Laredo

I just read the book, and haven't seen the TV show for several years. But I have to say that the idea that Lorena would marry Pea Eye is ridiculous. Then having the coal miner's daughter play her is more preposterous. Cissy Spacek is a good actress, but has very strange looks, not the beauty Lorena is supposed to be, and was in Lonesome Dove. Pea eye is a goofy looking guy-you can tell just by his name. He wouldn't look anything like Sam Shepard. I like James Garner, but his shtick is that he is a large man who is basically a coward, and gets out of scrapes using his words. The exact opposite of Call. He's supposed to be a rather average size man, who is shrunken in his old age, yet still a formidable foe. Brookshire is a bookeeper who adapts sort of well to the west, but not the geek that is Charles Martin Smith. Yuk! Yet the book so enthralls, with all it's misery, that I think I am going to go out and rent this TV movie, if I can find it. "Twould be so much better with casting closer to the characters character. And looks.

Aging ex-Captain Woodrow Call (James Garner) from Texas Rangers , is hired by a railroad chief (Charles Martin Smith) to hunt a ruthless murderer called Joey Garza (Alexis Cruz) , only a boy , who kills mercilessly . He joins forces with an Indian scout (Wes Studi) and Pea Eye (Sam Shepard) , whose wife (Sissy Spacek) , a school teacher and ex-whore , is reluctant his husband to follow Woodrow . Both of them decide to leave their quiet life for a last adventure against a savage renegade Mexican and another brutal killer named Mox Mox (Kevin Conway) who burns people . But the past, in the form of Maria Garza (Sonia Braga) and other sad events emerge , taking pace fateful consequences . Later on , Pea Eye's wife (Sissy Spacek) leaves her farm and children and sets out in looking for her husband with unexpected results .

This handsome TV miniseries is a finely detailed evocation of the Old West with an awesome casting and equaly fine production . Including appearance of famous historical characters , such as Judge Roy Bean/Nead Beatty ¨Justice of the Peace , Law West of the Pecos¨ and the notorious gunslinger : John Wesley Hardin : Randy Quaid . However , some changes were made , but the novel and miniseries don't match . Classic Western saga with outstanding and wonderful performances in which a long ride to south Texas and the Mexican side of the border takes place . As James Garner gives a very good acting as Woodrow Call , an ex-captain , now retired from the Rangers, and actually working as a bounty hunter . He is hired by an Eastern rail baron and being joined by his old compadre Pea Eye marvelously performed by Sam Shepard . Sonia Braga as killer's mother who haunts Call provides a splendid interpretation . Alexis Cruz plays a new kind of killer, only a young boy who kills relentlessly from distance with a rifle . And a great support cast who sometimes steal the show : Sissy Spacek , Wes Studi , Charles Martin Smith , Vanessa Martinez , George Carlin , James Gammon , Kevin Conway , Ned Beatty , Randy Quaid , among others . Based on Pulitzer prize-winner Larry McMurtry's novel , whose books about Woodrow Call have been well adapted in ¨Lonesome Dove¨ 1989 by Simon Wincer with Robert Duvall, Tommy Lee Jones , Angelica Huston , Danny Glover , Diane Lane , Robert Urich . Followed by ¨Return to Lonesome Dove¨ 1993 that picks up after the burial of Gus by his friend Call , now played by John Voight , and with William H Petersen , Barbara Hershey, Edward James Olmos , Keith Carradine , Rick Schroeder , Oliver Reed , Nia Peeples , Luis Gosset Jr , being directed by Mike Robe . And a prequel : ¨Larry McMurtry's Dead man's walk¨ 1996 which focuses on the teenaged Gus , David Arquette , and Woodrow , Johnny Lee Miller , along with Harry Dean Stanton , Brian Dennehy , Jennifer Garner , Joaquin De Almeida , F Murray Abraham . An Tv series 1995-96 : 22 episodes with Scott Bairstow as Call , Eric McCormack , Paul Lee Mat , Tracy Scoggins , Paul Johansson , Molly Parker and several others .

This nail-biting and heart-pounding Western was compellingly directed by Joseph Sargent , without a doubt one of the best miniseries of the 90s . Sargent directed as TV as cinema films with enjoyable results . Desperate , swift , nimble realization from Sargent who has made some of television's finest hours , he's been a monster hit in the 70s , 8os and 90s . Joseph made all kinds of genres , such as Comedy : ¨Coast to coast¨, ¨Tribes¨; Court-room drama : ¨Never forget¨ ; Sports : ¨Golden girl¨ ; Sci-Fi: ¨Colossus the forbidden Project¨ ; Biography : ¨MacArthur¨ , ¨Abraham¨, ¨Manions of America¨, ¨Mandela and Klerk¨ , ¨Arturo Sandoval story¨ , ¨WWII when lions roared¨ ; Terror : ¨Nightmares¨, ¨Jaws, the revenge¨ ; Drama : ¨The incident¨, ¨A lesson before dying¨ , ¨Passion Flower¨ ; Novels adaptation : ¨Dostoevsky's Crime and punishment¨ ; action : ¨While lightning¨ and this Western : ¨Streets of Laredo¨ . Rating : Above average . Essential and indispensable watching for Western lovers .

First of all, the vast majority of those giving "Streets of Laredo" bad reviews have no legitimate complaints whatsoever. People whine about the dark tone, the killings, the acting, et cetera. Rather, this film has much more in common with the real old west, to a greater degree even than series like "Deadwood". Of course, many of the immature, misguided western fans seem to want happy horse-riding hippies who talk hard and rough but don't live it. How stupid to expect such from the real killers of the west.

Woodrow F. Call (James Garner) is not a nice man. And he should not be pigeonholed as one, either. Garner plays him the way he should be, and is even more impressive than Tommy Lee Jones in "Lonesome Dove", the series which preceded this one. Indeed, despite the rabid fanbase of "Lonesome Dove" (of which I very nearly belong), this series is undoubtedly superior. First of all, the direction is a vast improvement. Joseph Sargent handles the scenery and actors with far more intelligence and grace than Simon Wincer, who proved his woeful inadequacies when he returned for the prequel "Comanche Moon" last year. That series was pure trash, horribly acted and directed despite the great actors involved.

There are many great performances beside Garner. Charles Martin Smith, Sam Shepard, and Sissy Spacek are pure class. Smith, especially, has always been an excellent unnoticed actor. This is perhaps his best performance since "Never Cry Wolf" (1983). He is sympathetic and identifiable as the nervous railman. Shepard and Spacek play husband and wife quite intuitively. Their character development is well-performed to the highest degree. This is also one of Spacek's best performances.

Larry McMurtry has a very intuitive writing style, and the film carries over much of his subtlety. There's no overblown dialogue or direction to be found in "Streets of Laredo", something that the original "Lonesome Dove" series sometimes slipped into. I would say, without reservation, that this is one of the very best and most realistic depictions of the true west. A great film, with stunning acting and direction. A must see for any true film fan - narrow-minded western fans looking for a 'Hollywood' west need not apply.

RATING: 8.5 out of 10

Streets of Laredo - The sequel to Lonesome Dove

Streets of Laredo has much to offer - a long tale of famous Texas legends - some fictional, like Captain Woodrow F. Call, others real - John Wesley Hardin (played by Randy Quaid) and Judge Roy Bean (played by Ned Beatty).

If you're looking for a film to take you back to the wild, wild West, this one will do. It's a quiet story though, not full of action, as some shoot-em-ups are. Like Lonesome Dove it has heartbreak and pain, and some very quiet humor. Roy Bean and Call have a particularly great scene together, as do the young killer Call is after and John Wesley Hardin.

The story is also full of great ideas, something sorely lacking in most films. Family. Loyalty. Old Age. Change. Eastern values. Western traditions.

And while Sam Shephard has always been a respected actor, he MAKES this movie as he is at the center of one of the oldest conflicts on Earth - what makes a man a man, family or duty. He is so quiet! And so powerful when he does speak. His wife Lorena, played by Sissy Spacek, speaks for him most eloquently. Is she, or is she not THE greatest actor Texas ever produced? Who knew George Carlin could act?

James Garner is genuine, and authentic, as he always is.

The story is full of great characters - who fall away until the principles are left to resolve, or not resolve their conflicts.

The score is haunting, the cinematography is especially beautiful, the story is timeless, which is what one expects from Larry McMurtry.

Enjoy!

If you haven't seen any of the other "Lonesome Dove" movies, "Streets of Laredo" is a strong drama with an excellent cast. James Garner is arguably America's least appreciated actor because he was always so handsome and charismatic. News flash: He's a terrific actor, not just a movie/TV star. Sissy Spacek is always wonderful. And all supporting parts filled with fine actors.

Problem is, for those of us who've seen the others in this saga, much of this one doesn't make sense. We have no idea of the year. "Lonesome Dove" was set in 1877, a year after "Custer's Last Stand." Gus, Woodrow and Pea Eye were "old men" about 50 years old who'd been together for 30 years. Lorena was in her early 20s, shy and illiterate. Now Woodrow is perhaps ten years older, Lorena is much older, and is a strong, worldly schoolteacher married to a Pea Eye who's at least ten years younger than the original Pea Eye. They've been married for at least 15 years, and have five children. And Woodrow and Pea Eye have STILL known each other only 30 years.

We wonder why Woodrow is in Laredo instead of at his thriving ranch in Montana. We wonder how and where Lorena and Pea Eye got together, given she went to San Francisco while Pea Eye stayed at the Montana ranch.

The novel doubtless fills in lots of these gaps, but the movie shouldn't require reading the novel. Perhaps McMurtry, a true American literary treasure, just threw this screenplay together.

But even those of us who know and love "Lonesome Dove," still one of the three best things ever made for television (with "Gettysburg" and "Band of Brothers"), can detach "Streets of Laredo" from the other three, ignore its many flaws, and just watch it on its own. When we do that, we enjoy a lot of wonderful acting in a very good drama.