Lawless Range

'LAWLESS RANGE': Four Stars (Out of Five)

A modern day western/crime thriller, about two Texan brothers; struggling to pay back a massive amount of debt, to some dangerous criminals. The movie was directed by Sean McGinly, and written by Adair Cole. It stars Patrick John Flueger, Austin Nichols, Daniella Alonso, Julianna Guill, Neil Brown Jr., Justin Arnold, Dale Dickey, Kris Kristofferson and Beau Bridges (who also executive produced the film). I found it to be a pretty entertaining, and well made, little western drama flick.

Sean Donnelly (Flueger) and Tommy Donnelly (Nichols) live in Texas. Sean has always been the good brother, and Tommy has always been the troubled 'bad brother'. Tommy drinks a lot, doesn't show up for work (where Sean is also employed), and is a bad father. Tommy really gets into a lot of trouble, when he ends up owing $6,000 to a criminal mechanic (Brown Jr.). Sean, once again, comes to his rescue; endangering both men, and their families.

I didn't have a lot of faith in this film, when I started watching it, because it's a low budget indie flick I had never heard of; that doesn't even have a full video release yet (it's not available on Netflix, or at Redbox). I paid $4.99 for an Amazon Instant Video rental of it, because the film costars Courtney Palm (my favorite actress); in an uncredited one scene cameo. She's fully naked in it, like she often is (in movies so far), but her performance is definitely too minimal to rave about. I like the film a lot anyway though. It's just really well made, and the performances are all good. I was never bored, and it's just a lot better than I was expecting!

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There are always some viewers, given a quiet indie film, who don't understand the pacing or subtlety and give it a bad review. I think this will happen, unfortunately, with this little gem of a film.

It's executive produced by Beau Bridges, who has a cameo role. The script is subtle, to-the-point, and sparse in language: like the best indie films, this one relies on a lot of stellar non-verbal acting to tell the story. The story is unique and asks the viewer to think about questions of loyalty and morality, about the meaning of "good" character in a person who does a very bad thing. Is a very bad act justified if the motive is very good?

No review of this film should be made without mention of four things: 1 - The nice little script. I say this as a pro writer and editor. This script is tight, honest, and well-structured. 2 - The beautiful camera work. Slightly arty, it adds to the dreamlike, contemplative quality of the story. 3 - The score. It has an unnerving, menacing quality that keeps the viewer subconsciously nervous. 4 - Patrick John Flueger's beautiful performance. I sat back after this film thinking how underrated this actor really is. He has to carry the film - he's in nearly every scene and the story is fully about his character, and he is never less than mesmerizing. He brings skill that raises the simple lines of the script to a multi-layer level, and a natural charm that invites the viewer into the experience of the character. The character of Sean is ultimately a heartbreaking character - a man trying hard to live a moral, good life in the amoral chaos created by a dysfunctional brother and parental history. Flueger truly brings Sean to life in a way few actors could have. I'd like to shake the hand of whatever casting director's decision this was - it could not have been better..

I wish this film wasn't marketed as a "modern western". What the heck does that even mean? It is simply a unique indie film - part family drama and part crime thriller - that takes place in rural Texas. People, not every film where someone pulls a calf or rides a horse is a "western"! I spend a lot of time searching indie films for the occasional gem (1 out of 50?) and this is one of those gems.

This film is dull, slow and boring and so predictable. It has no saving features. I will never get that hour and a bit if my life back. I tried to stick with it but turned it off 15 minutes from the end as I simply didnt care what happened any longer and wamted the agony to end. How do films like this even get made? Avoid at all costs.

A Texan working man (Patrick John Flueger - 'John Donnelly'), is doing his best to provide for himself and his family. Work is hard to get and harder to keep, but his brother whom he vouched for (Austin Nichols - 'Tommy Donnelly'), is slacking at work, and neglecting his family at home. The grizzled boss (Kris Kristofferson - 'Boss Flood'), is getting twitchy, forcing John's hand to confront his brother Tommy, and learn that his troubles go even deeper.

When a hard world creates hard men who deal in absolutes, it should come as no surprise that some men will break under the pressure. As a likely outcome becomes an inevitable consequence, how far can a brother's love stretch?

This movie speaks strongly to themes on authority, family, loyalty, and just how far is too far. The story is well told, and though slightly unusual in the narrowness of its focus, the lead played by Patrick John Flueger, and his brother Austin Nichols; maintain the drive and tension needed for this to work. A commendable piece of work.