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A Recommended Film You May Never Have Heard Of, But Really Ought To See.

SERENDIPITY CINEMA

"Sunset" Movie Review

81. Sunset
This is a take on the Hollywood that was the subject of
"Hearts of the West."
But it is an entirely different take.
The real Wyatt Earp (James Garner) has been brought in

 to be a "Consultant" on a film
about his life.
The star of the film is real cowboy
turned movie star
Tom Mix (Bruce Willis).

The two men hit it off, they are, at heart,
still that archetype of a cowboy hero,

from the "everyman mold," and they see
the world beyond tinsel and glamour.
Neither of them get along with any
of the studio authority figures
(or, indeed, much of
any authority figures)
that they are supposed to bow too.

They can enjoy somethings about this hedonistic life,
but there are conpromises here
that are not so easy to embrace.
Both men are hard living,
nearly film noir cowboys.

Earp is still a lawman,
even if he doesn't wear a badge.
This doesn't go down well
with the local cops,
who are by the book, even when
the book is laden with graft.
Then things heat up.
There are murders and abuse
and bad people hiding
around the film sets.
The boys get involved and it becomes
an unroutine "Buddy Picture."

Though it doesn't really play
like many films you have seen,
 this Blake Edwards gem
is worth your time.
There is enough real history
here to make you curious,
and there are enough recognizable characters
from Hollywood's
Golden history to make you ask,
"Did ______ really do that?"

Here is the cast:
Bruce Willis. . . . Tom Mix
James Garner. . . . Wyatt Earp
Malcolm McDowell. . . . Alfie Alperin
Mariel Hemingway. . . . Cheryl King
Kathleen Quinlan. . . . Nancy Shoemaker
Jennifer Edwards. . . . Victoria Alperin
Patricia Hodge. . . . Christina Alperin
Richard Bradford. . . . Captain Blackworth
M. Emmet Walsh. . . . Chief Marvin Dibner
Joe Dallesandro. . . . Dutch Kieffer
Andreas Katsulas. . . . Arthur
Dann Florek. . . . Marty Goldberg
Bill Marcus. . . . Hal Flynn
Michael C. Gwynne. . . . Mooch
Dermot Mulroney. . . . Michael Alperin

I am a sucker for fiction clothed
with real historical set pieces
(and have done several novels
with just such a theme)
and this one is a marvelous example
of how well that can be done.

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--posted by Wayne Sunday, April 09, 2006

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