Last Words

After seeing this film I'm reminded of Matt Stone and Trey Parker's first film "Cannibal he Musical". Not because the subject matter is in any way similar, but the feel, setup and overall production is quite close. Essentially, it's a low budget film that sets out to tell a story many people are already familiar with. Is it a Hollywood blockbuster? No, but it never tries to be. It's simple, quaint, and if you go into it with the right mindset can be very entertaining. I fear that many movie goers might expect "3:10 to Yuma" or "True Grit". But realistically this film is on a different level. It's entertaining for all ages and can be enjoyed by western film buffs. But just bear in mind it's not a John Wayne film.

After an Indian attack, Bat Masterson (Tom Langleder) is left dying.... or is he? Caught in a dream state between life and death, he holds several deep-sounding and vague conversations with Paul Tinders, and recalls events in his past, and in his future, should he decide to live.

I suppose the general incoherence of delirium could account for the numerous anachronisms I noticed, as well as the character-defining speechifying in those memories. Vaughn Taylor, who writes, directs, edits, and plays Belle Star seems to have been trying to make one of those mystical westerns that pop up occasionally to comment on the inherent mythic nature of the old west, like Hell's Hinges and Pale Rider, but seems discontent to let mysteries remain mysterious, even when offering the most obvious of platitudes.

In this film Bat is face with choices, the history of "Bat" Mastersons life is mostly accurate. I enjoyed the story line. Its a Western so there is some shooting, but the language was clean. The moral of the story is designed to make you think.