Saturday, February 4, 2012

Southern Comfort - 1981 - 4½ Stars

Actors: Keith Carradine, Powers Boothe
Director: Walter Hill

Thanks, A.V. Club and the death of Walter Hill, for making me aware of this film. A chilling look at what happens when a routine military exercise goes awry for National Guardsmen, this movie is both suspenseful and meaningful. Hill manages some amazing shots and coaxes great performances out of a who's who of 'that guys' - Powers Boothe is particularly great as 'the new guy'.

The movie invites obvious comparisons to Deliverance, but eschews Deliverance's shock value for a subtler aesthetic. It's a shame this movie is not even available on DVD - it should be much more widely known.

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