Login
"Red Rock West" is a superb and well written thriller with excellent acting and surprises galore. The plot twists and turns and keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. Nicolas Cage plays Michael Williams who arrives in Red Rock broke and out of work when he is mistaken for a contract killer. Bar owner Wayne Brown (J. T. Walsh) offers him $10,000 to murder his wife. Williams is shocked but pretends to go along with the plan. He decides to warn Brown's wife Suzanne (Lara Flynn Boyle) of her husband's evil intentions but this is where things start to go drastically wrong. The real killer, Lyle (played by Dennis Hopper) then arrives in town which places Williams in many dangerous situations but you will have to see the film to discover just what happens to him next!! "Red Rock West" is a film which did not receive much publicity on its release but is now gaining a cult following. This is definitely a film worth looking out for with a marvellous storyline and many unexpected surprises along the way. J. T. Walsh gave a riveting performance in the film - he had long been one of my favourite character actors and it is tragic that we lost him to a fatal heart attack in 1998. I had enjoyed his exceptional work in many films including "Breakdown", "The Narrow Margin", "A Few Good Men", "Backdraft", "The Client", "Good Morning, Vietnam", "Things Change", "The Grifters", "House of Games", "Pleasantville" and several others. A sad loss. "Red Rock West" was directed (and co-written) by John Dahl who also made another fine film "The Last Seduction" (1994). I plan to watch out for more of his films in the future. "Red Rock" is certainly a surprise hit - one of the best thrillers of the 90's. Do yourself a favour and see it!
Favourite lines:
Nicolas Cage to Lara Flynn Boyle: "I hate to see an innocent woman get hurt but it's an awful lot of money."
Boyle to Cage: "O.K. How are you going to explain impersonating a hired killer and taking $10,000 from my husband?".
