Tom Thurman's thorough and informative, yet honest and objective documentary paints a fascinatingly vivid portrait of the tortured soul, brilliant mind, and romantic, but fatalistic and self-destructive spirit of legendary renegade iconoclastic director Sam Peckinpah, who revolutionized the Western genre with the landmark masterpieces "Ride the High Country," "The Wild Bunch," and "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid." Sam's son Mathew, daughter Lupika, and sister Fern Lee Peter are very candid in their comments about Sam. Biographer David Weddle likewise has a lot of meaningful stuff to bring to the table. Critics Roger Ebert, Elvis Mitchell and David Thomson offer their astute opinions and observations. Stella Stevens, L.Q. Jones, R.G. Armstrong and Harry Dean Stanton share their experiences acting in pictures for Sam. Billy Bob Thornton, Benicio Del Toro, Paul Schrader and Michael Madison toss in their two cents worth as well. Kris Kristofferson's warm, husky, folksy narration does the trick beautifully well. Peckinpah's best films were transitional works about troubled individuals struggling to maintain their place in a rapidly changing world. One of his principal themes was failure, which was as much a huge part of his life as it was a key aspect of his work. This documentary sharply nails the ragged glory and desperate fury of Peckinpah's life and work. It neither glorifies nor vilifies Sam. Instead this documentary shows you Peckinpah as he was: gifted and intelligent, sometimes kind and funny, occasionally cruel and mean, the type of fellow who was one hell of a guy to know. Essential viewing for Sam Peckinpah fans.
Sam Peckinpah's West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegade
(2004 TV Movie)
A compelling and informative warts'n'all documentary about Bloody Sam
23 August 2007
Warning: Spoilers