Greetings again from the darkness. Life in west Texas can be harsh. There is nothing romantic or picturesque about the land ... unless you are one of the lucky land/lease owners who have become rich by striking oil. Complementing his long career in the art departments of some massive blockbusters, Mark Lambert Bristol directs his second feature film from a script Julie B Denny, adapted from the 1999 novel "Chocolate Lizards" by Cole Thompson.
Former Harvard student Erwin Vandeveer (Rudy Pankow, who I also saw in 5 LBS OF PRESSURE this week) has just gotten his big break as an actor. He hits the road for the drive from Los Angeles to New Orleans, and is awed by having his name on a set trailer. Now, we've all had some jerk ruin the moment during a movie by checking a cell phone, but you've never seen it happen to the extreme that Erwin experiences when his goes off during his first scene. It's funny for us and devastating for him. On the trip home (after being fired from the movie), his Saab breaks down in Buffalo Gap, Texas. At the local diner run by Faye (Carrie-Anne Moss of THE MATRIX fame), oil driller Merle (Thomas Haden Church, SIDEWAYS, 2004) makes a deal with the desperate Erwin: Use his acting skills to impersonate a land man, and Merle will pay for the car repairs.
Erwin soon realizes Merle is every bit as desperate as he is. The bank is ready to foreclose on his rig, sending him into bankruptcy. His window is narrow to save his business, way of life, and pride. An unconventional (and not altogether above-board) collaboration with Erwin, is Merle's last hope, as is a plot of land owned by local old codger Scheermeyer (Bruce Dern, at age 88, his 65 year career is still going strong). The age-old battle of the 'little guy' taking on the big and corrupt system is at play here, and the clock is ticking.
Most of this is easily predictable, yet the three lead actors work their magic to ensure we remain on board and engaged. Thomas Haden Church is especially effective here, though we do wish Carrie-Anne Moss was given more to do. The ending is pretty hokey, and has a "sports movie" feel ... you know, last second Touchdown, game winning Home Run, or buzzer-beater basket. Still, we all can appreciate a feel-good story, and a reminder that when folks are at their lowest point, sometimes it only takes a helping hand from a neighbor, or even a stranger, to pick them back up.
In theaters beginning March 8, 2024.
