User reviews

Dennis Hopper, Barbara Hershey and Ed Harris: now there's three last names- beginning with H-in their prime in the 1980s actors for you. Here's a bigger oddity: nary a profane word spoken by either Hopper or Harris in this movie!

There also is very little violence. However, when it occurs, it is shocking. Hopper plays his normal evil person and is convincing, as always. The film is fascinating for the first half but then bogs down with the romance between Hershey and Harris. It picks up again at the end.

The scenery here of the rural South of the 1940s is very pretty. This is an odd film; almost hard to classify, but certainly worth a look. As you can tell by the number of reviews, it's not a well-known film. I saw it twice and enjoyed it both times.

"Paris Trout" translates to the screen better than any work by John Grisham. The 1949 southern small town atmosphere is flawless, but it is the tremendous character development, lacking in Grisham's films, that drives "Paris Trout". Barbara Hershey as the suffering wife, and Ed Harris as the disillusioned lawyer are terrific. Dennis Hopper was born to play the evil character Paris Trout, and he delivers an "Oscar" worthy performance. Living in a fool's paradise, Paris makes his own rules, and attempts to control everyone else. This behavior leads to murder, and eventually insanity. A true product of his environment, Paris cannot deal with losing control. The consequences of his loss are both sad and fascinating. - MERK

Well-crafted cable drama is troubling as an entertainment per se, but is still skillfully-made and worth-seeing for the leading performance by Dennis Hopper. Adapted from Pete Dexter's prize-winning book about racist businessman in 1949 Georgia who is tried for the murder of a black child, this atmospheric movie captures a particular time and place with style, and Hopper's acting is award-worthy (he doesn't accentuate the Southern bigotry bit with camp fervor--instead he's menacing and quite creepy). As directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal, the film is well-mounted and provocative, but with a story and characters so despicable, it does run the risk of turning off many viewers before it even gets to the second-act. **1/2 from ****

Dennis always amazes me and I think this is probably his best film. If you think he was bad in Blue Velvet, just watch this film. There is no other actor who could have played this role better. It was like someone wrote the part just for him. He is so chilling that you want to turn away. It made me sick the way he brutalized his wife and killed that little girl in cold blood. Paris Trout is a demon in human form. He has no remorse, no conscience and is probably the worst villian in the history of the movies.

Paris Trout is a pretty rough movie. Sometimes it gets too hard to watch, but there is a good reason behind this choice of the director. Rascists are mentally ill people most of the times. If not ill surely misguided. Paris trout is a nearly crazy man and all he deserves is what he gets in the end. This movie is pretty good. Acting is simply excellent. Dennis Hopper makes a great job in his very disgusting role. Ed Harris is once again the big catch in the movie. He gives a great depth to his character. Writing is pretty beautiful. Makes you wonder about many things. Direction is very solid. Everything with this movie was about right. Watch it, but be prepared. It's tough watching movies like that.

I watched this film in stunned silence. Dennis Hopper may have played some nasty people in the past, but he's really excelled himself here as the beast known as Paris Trout. Child murderer, rapist, wife beater, con artist... And the worst aspect of it, he doesn't think he's done anything wrong. This is a guy who stands up in a courtroom lying through his teeth, yet he is so delusional he believes he's telling the truth. There isn't a single redeeming feature about this monster, and I'm sure if he existed there would be a special place in hell reserved between Hitler and Ian Brady for his sorry carcass.

But what of the rest? Well, his wife at least has some sense (Apart from marrying the **** in the first place) and clears off early, and his lawyer actually develops a conscience during a trial for an unspeakable crime Trout has committed and leaves him high and dry too. Oh, if only this would happen in real life! Then again, pigs might fly. Paris's ex and his former attorney then fall in love (Mostly over hatred regarding Trout) and move in together, but you just KNOW this story ain't gonna have a happy ending...

Extremely well performed and cast, Hopper steals the show as the beyond redemption Paris, who seems to get sicker and more sadistic with every passing scene. Barbara Hershey is also good value as the wife who FINALLY develops a backbone, and Ed Harris deserves plaudits for portraying a lawyer who has a heart (DON'T FAINT). Beyond the initial story, there's not a lot more to be told here, and some plot elements seem a tad unnecessary (what was all that stuff about rabies at the start)? But for an acting showcase, it's admirable, and further cements Hopper's reputation for tackling some of the more horrible roles with plenty of gusto... 6/10

This is what films are supposed to be about. Not dripping with profanity, computerized special effects, sped-up chase scenes. It is one of the most faithful book-to-screen renditions in existence although naturally some of the scenes from the book had to be trimmed in order to make the film conform to typical length. But no problem--the skill of the actors and director create the essential thrust of the film. This book concerns true events that happened not far from where I live, and people hereabouts still speak of those events. As for the comment that the fox/rabies/little girl portion of the plot seems disconnected, not true. The fox, the manner in which the kind townspeople respond to her being bitten, the diametrically-opposed behavior of Trout toward the same little girl, and the manner in which the lives of all humans in small towns are interwoven, make for superb writing and film-making. You will never forget either film nor book. Scenes from both will always crop up, especially the bottles--the scene with Hershey and later the contents of the safes.

This movie, although well shot and superbly acted, was awful. I felt as if I was watching a car accident--sure I kept watching but I really wanted to turn my head. The plot leaves little to be desired, was extremely disjointed, and the ending was abysmal. Although, it did fit the tone of the movie, I was hoping for something to improve this movie. I still don't understand what the references to rabies and the child get bit by the fox at the beginning of the movie. Fifteen minutes of plot that really didn't do much. It's really sad to see a movie with fine actors and a beautiful set wasted on such an awful, awful, story. There's not much more to say about this movie. Save yourself the time and watch c-span. It'll be more uplifting.

I saw this in a theater and later found out it was actually a HBO movie in the U.S. but had been amazed by how well done it was. The acting is superb - Dennis Hopper does evil men like almost no-one else, Barbara Hershey and Ed Harris are good in whatever they do. It starts out as a harrowing racial drama but soon grows larger into a tale of authority and the evils of power over those who are weaker unless society and its laws protect them. A powerful and disturbing movie. 9/10

I watched this movie once and could never watch it again. I didn't have any problem with the performances they were all good, Hooper, Hershey and Harris are always good. I didn't have any problem with the plot, yes evil people probably do exist in the world, I suppose; as we're all capable of doing evil to our fellow man. But the problems I had were more with the pace, its slow and with the violence. I never did or would have read the book this story is based on and I don't necessarily have trouble with violence in general but I do have trouble when it involves children. So I watched it once, got really sick and disgusted by the little girl screen and never watched it again. I only gave it a five because I am a huge fan of all three man stars.

Paris Trout is an excellent movie, Dennis Hopper delivers and outstanding portrayal of a sick, demented man who really can't see the evil of his ways. He treats everyone with contempt and is just a truly nasty character. You wonder how he winds up marrying his wife and why his lawyer would continue to try and get this man out of every legal predicament he gets into. Barabara Hershey plays his sweet, innocent wife and does an excellent job of pulling off the portrayal. Ed Harris portrays his lawyer. Much of the film's power derives from Hopper's uncompromising performance in the title role, as an unapologetically bigoted loan shark who holds himself to be above the law in a small Southern town. I recently bought the movie on DVD to watch again, I had not watched the movie since the early 90's and it's still as powerful today as it was then. A friend of mine recommended the movie to my wife and I and it's one of the few dramas that I can really watch and hold my attention. Worth the price to own!

A very literate drama, filled with characters who can speak like poets. Ed Harris is a Southern gentleman lawyer caught up in a set of circumstances that soon escalate beyond his control. His frustration is palpable, and his quiet desperation makes him a man to be pitied. Barbara Hershey is an angry victim of demoralizing abuse in a stultifying environment of prejudice and psychosis. Dennis Hopper is the embodiment of this psychosis. And these three characters are tied together in a tortuous Devil's knot. A fascinating portrayal of good and evil. Put the kids to bed before you watch.

I recently checked this book out of the library and could not put it down! I was please to find out that there was a movie made and lucky enough to get my hands on a copy. The movie does do the book justice. The actors are all perfect for the roles. My only one real complaint is that, while Dennis Hopper is pretty creepy and played the role of Paris Trout better than anyone else could have.....he just didn't scare me like the Paris in the book did. He just wasn't mean enough. I also thought that they left out (or changed) to many of the confrontations between Paris and his wife. Maybe that is why he didn't come off as crazy as he did in the book. All in all I give it an A++. One of the better movies I've seen lately! If you've seen it, read the book too!

put the kids and some of the adults to bed. hopper, hershey and harris are amazing. this is a truly brutal story. and reading some of the other reviews here, i was shocked to realize it was based on a true story. hopper is about as brutal of an innocent as you'll ever see portrayed on film. he just doesn't get it. he has no back-story that would indicate that his character is truly as repugnant and as destructive as a character could be. meanwhile we are all fed clues as to his time and his place in that time that would indicate why he has an innocence of mind that would drive him conversely to do the horrible things that he does. he believes he is above the law because he is a product of a person who would believe that way. he brutalizes his wife and, most distressingly, murders people who he has always believed that it was his right to lord over. the murder scene of the mother and her young girl are riveting(acting)and incredibly shocking. when Paris incredulously finds that the law is against him, he descends gradually into a period of psychosis that he never recovers from because everything inside of him tells him that he has done no wrong and that he is being conspired against. his paranoia makes him place glass on the floors of his bedroom to detect footprints. and, for my money, hopper's best scene (a simple, intense and short one) is when he opens his kitchen cabinet and says, "FOOD in CANS!" i won't go into more details of the story because of other reviews here. and i won't tell the ending. what i will say is that hopper's performance here is probably the most transcendent of his long career. -bobby cormier

When I went to see in in a Parisian movie theater, back in 1991, I remember I was alone in the theater. It did not surprise me, because nothing here is destined to wide audiences. The movie belongs to those speaking of the deep South of the USA. With all the ingredients - and clichés - but so close to reality. Dennis Hopper is here a very nasty character, and Barbara Hershey so convincing in this role of a wife married to a monster, a domestic and real life monster. This is not the only movie showing the deep South of the USA, but the angle used here is very interesting. Fascinating, and disturbing too.