Shunned by the cinemagoing public for two decades, the Western regrouped its forces and emerged in other guises. The modern action thriller, with its constant chases, killings and shootouts, provides an ideal cover and, with its 'Tex-Mex' border setting, and a Texas Ranger hero in Nick Nolte, director Walter Hill's tough film comes closer than most to the old Hollywood shoot-em-ups. There are even the two old friends, now on opposite sides of the law, who must shoot it out at the end. Ostensibly, though, this is a thriller about six soldiers of fortune, all officially listed as dead, who home in on the border town where Nolte's having a tough time keeping the lid on the drugs trade run by his old chum Powers Boothe. Even with some crazy dialogue, Boothe has no problem walking off with the film, especially once Rip Torn's local sheriff has been eradicated from the scene too soon for the movie's own good. Michael Ironside and the chameleon Clancy Brown are the best of the military men; the action itself is formula stuff; and lots of extras, as well as most of the cast, bite the adobe dust. They sure have it tough down Mexico way.


©ipc tx. Film content from TVTimes