Billy le cave

This realistic and harsh re-telling of the Billy the Kid myth is definitely worth anyone's time. Pollard is perfect as a none-too-bright Western punk who unfortunately became infamous. It stars the beautiful Lee Purcell and Gary Busey in a supporting role. Arthur Penn's Left-Handed Gun was very good and this is the second best version of that often-botched story of this kid.

Great and grungy cinematography, true-to-life costume design, interesting soundtrack and authentic western types in a downbeat, almost Cassavetes-like version of the tale. A 7 out of 10. Best performance = Michael J. Pollard. If you can find it, check this moody piece of Western Americana. One of Pollard's best films!

Forgotten little western about young slacker Billy arriving in the West from New York and not wanting anything to do with his father's crop-work. After being banished by his father he wanders aimlessly through town and finds a mentor in the town outlaw Goldie. Not the Billy the Kid story were familiar with; Billy is a dirty, chubby-cheeked kid who doesn't have a care in the world and gets shaky every time he attempts to fire a gun. The film has a terrific feel to it with grainy brown and black colors. Dirty is an appropriate word for the ambiance of the movie. Not much story per se, but the film is well acted especially by Pollard who looks and acts as though he is a rabid puppy. Some jarring moments of violence and a terrific ending. Worth a look if you're a western fan.

*** out of ****

Watch Dirty Little Billy back-to-back with Young Guns for a testimonial to how little faith you can place in Hollywood to give you an accurate portrayal of history.

In the latter we have William Bonney, aka Billy the Kid, portrayed as the fastest, cleverest, most ruthless and domineering youngster ever born...a boy capable of shooting it out with a dozen experienced gunfighters and living to tell about it. Then, in the former, we have the very same William Bonney, aka Billy the Kid, now portrayed as this skinny little punk with his hands wrapped in bandages because farm work is too rough on his delicate skin. He follows his hero, Goldie, around obsequiously, and trembles like he's giving birth to porcupines whenever he's got a gun in his hands.

So which one is accurate? Neither, of course; they're both Hollywood characters. They're both historical B.S., just like almost every other movie ever made about any other famous person who ever lived. I'm sure the real Billy the Kid fell somewhere far in between those two portrayals. No human being that ever lived could have survived all those gunfights that super-bad Emilio Esteves won so easily. (must be kin to Sylvester Stallone), just as a sissy like Michael J. Pollard could never have survived for two days as an outlaw in the Wild West.

But, is the movie good? Yeah, for entertainment value it's O.K. I guess, but my being an old fart that saw it at the drive-in, back in '73, may have something to do with that opinion. (It came on Encore Channel last night, which is why I'm writing this) I also kind of enjoyed Young Guns, even though I had to roll my eyes alot at the ridiculosity of it all. (It IS a word...I just invented it)

If you're a teenage badass wannabe, you probably won't like this flick. It will make you feel uncomfortable as you spot your own sad little weaknesses in Pollard's character. Someone like you is better off fantasizing that you're Vin Diesel, while you watch Fast and Furious or something equally low-brow and gangsta-oriented.

Totally loved this film. the acting was fantastic, especially lee purcell, but michael j pollard did a great job, too. it's an interesting film. billy's just a kid in this before he's the kid. it's grimy. we have these romanticized notions about outlaws, but this film doesn't romanticize them or life in the old west at all. it's quite raw, rough around the edges, but genuine. i have no clue why this doesn't have a higher rating?

the cinematography is stunning; the way light was captured balances out the grimness of the characters. the soundtrack matches the tone of the film. my main critique is that the plot of the movie could've been reworked. it doesn't really flow and at times, it seems like the actors were left to carry the story. all in all, surprisingly refreshing for a dark look at the wild west - it's not your typical western, but it's probably a lot closer to reality than most of us like to watch.

This offbeat Western tells the story of the legendary outlaws' younger years, when he moved with his parents to the country outside a town named Coffeeville. A lazy, bratty, sullen jerk, he doesn't help out with his fathers' daily routine and is subsequently banished from the farm. He wanders into the town, and encounters local toughs including big shot punk Goldie (Richard Evans), who takes Billy under his wing.

"Dirty Little Billy", indeed, is far from being a typical Western. Its deliberately very grimy look combines with a basis in a reality not to be seen in Hollywood treatments of the subject. It very much refrains from romanticizing the Old West, giving us a drab atmosphere that predates the vision seen on the TV series 'Deadwood'. Music (by Sascha Burland), art direction (by Malcolm C. Bert), and wardrobe (by Mickey Sherrard) are all first rate. There is some rather potent violence as we watch the tragic progression of Billy's life, as any possible innocence and naivety in the character just melt away.

Michael J. Pollard of "Bonnie and Clyde" fame does reasonably well in the title role, giving Billy some likability. However, he is outshone by the supporting cast. Evans is quietly effective as the young outlaw with his own way of doing things. Lovely Lee Purcell is both appealing and touching as Goldies' prostitute girlfriend Berle. She has one great scene with Pollard where she pours her heart out. Charles Aidman rounds out the main players as Ben Antrim, while a fair number of familiar character players have roles big and small: Mills Watson, Ronny Graham, Richard Stahl, Gary Busey, Dick Van Patten, Scott Walker, Severn Darden, Len Lesser, and Ed Lauter. Both Lauter and an uncredited Nick Nolte made their film debuts here; extremely prolific voice over artist Frank Welker has a rare on screen role as a young lowlife.

This interesting and very gritty take on the legend is definitely one that could stand to be better known.

Eight out of 10.