Desert Saints

I couldn't find too many flaws in this movie and it certainly wasn't dull. Sutherland did a good job playing a jaded semi-sociopath with a hint of decency. I wouldn't call it entirely realistic human behavior but it had no glaring faults.

I watched this in large part because I've always found Melora Walters fun to look at, but there was an unusual scene where she emphasized that she had big hips, which she doesn't (they're noticeably trim). A double willing suspension of disbelief? Viewers will know what that scene was, and I wondered why they threw it it. Maybe it was originally meant for another actress.

Anyhow, this is worth seeing and probably won't disappoint anyone who likes Sutherland's other survival/road movies.

Good acting and an interesting storyline but the script is below par. As they say if you don't have a good script you won't have a good movie.

Interesting premise and there is a twist (2 twists actually) to the ending which brings this up to just beyond a "B" movie. Then it stops there.

Meg Ryan is credited as a producer and she certainly picks better movies to act in than produce.

Our lead character, Jack, is a hired... No - wait. Kiefer Sutherland is Arthur Banks, a world class hit-man who happens to wear Jack's Ray-Bans (see 24) and is traveling to his next job. He picks up a woman for a cover and accomplice along the way. The Feds are just two steps behind him.

Whomever wrote this needed some help in fact checking and reality.

At one point there is talk of a tungsten core bullet that spins faster which enhances accuracy. Um, no. It doesn't matter if a bullet is lead, copper, tin, steel or gold. That doesn't affect the spin rate.

The movie starts out in the Southwest. Yet they drive for at least 3 or 4 days before entering Mexico. All on 2 lane roads. Sure, I can see not making a bee line but that's a little silly.

A couple of bodies need to be dumped. Not much thought is given on where to dump them so as not to be discovered. The first one is why not in the bushes? The second body is a good place as long as nobody has a sense of smell.

Don't you think if the Feds were given permission to enter Mexico the Mexican Authorities would at least tag along?

Not worth renting and see what else is on TV before watching.

If you're not a Kiefer fan, I'm not so sure. Me, I'm a Kiefer fan and while I will say I liked this film well enough, I'll also say it's not the best film in the world. I enjoyed Kiefer's ability to play a professional killer and yet you actually kind of like him by the end of it. I did not like Melora Walters. Her voice grated on me I guess. Jamey Sheridan (The Walkin' Dude from Stephen King's 'The Stand') was completely wasted in this I felt. He's a great actor as well but I don't think his character was developed enough.

In fact, I'd say none of the characters were really well-developed. And as a fan of character study movies, I was disappointed in this. But it wasn't *all* bad. There are quite a few scenes I found enjoyable to watch but overall, it's just a so-so flick.

Desert Saints is a surprisingly good 'hitman with a twist' tale by first time writer/director Richard Greenberg. He takes the standard 'assassin's last hit' formula, and shakes it up by introducing FBI agents with their own agendas, a 'plant' who may or may not be falling for the gunman, and, in Kiefer Sutherland, a hero/villain who is ruthless, sexy, and, ultimately, sympathetic. His performance is remarkable, and is matched by Melora Walters, as the latest of his string of doomed accomplices, who is keeping even more secrets than he is! She shows a remarkable range in her role, at times ditzy, at times mysterious and sexy, and, by the film's climax, intelligent and self-sufficient.

For an indie, the cast is first-rate all the way, with the always reliable Jamey Sheridan as a veteran FBI agent, as dedicated to his job as Sutherland is to his; Leslie Stefanson as Sheridan's second-in-command, and the wild card of the operation; and, in a very sexy cameo, Rachel Ticotin, who smolders as a waitress and occasional bedmate for Sutherland.

Greenberg cleverly uses flashbacks and flashforwards to lull the viewer into believing they know how the story will end, then springs a surprise that works extremely well, and will have you paying VERY close attention to detail during the last five minutes! While the ambiguous ending may disappoint some viewers, it offers a clever 'capper' to this tale of betrayal, and works for me!

If you are a fan of Sutherland, or stories with a twist and enough sensuality to raise your heartbeat a few notches, 'Desert Saints' is the film for you!

This movie was a lot of fun to watch, and I hope it gets released on DVD because I would buy it in an instant. Kiefer Sutherland turns in an excellent performance as the very interesting character Banks. My biggest problem in watching movies is that I tend to be easily bored, but I was never bored watching this movie. It was thoroughly engaging and entertaining throughout. The script is a good one, with wonderful dialogue, and I think the direction is excellent as well. Well worth seeing.