This bleak and depressive story deals a small-time sheriff named Wade Whithehouse(Nick Nolte, also producer) from an icy small-town. He's separated(Mary Beth Hughes, married to Paul Schrader) with a daughter(Tierney) and a girlfriend(Sissy Spacek). He's deranged from his childhood by his abusive drunk dad(James Coburn). When occurs a mysterious murder of a businessman(Sean McCann) during a hunting accident, he suspects his companion(Jim True) and Whitehouse thinks a dark conspiracy that is involved his chief(Osborne). Meanwhile his mother dies and his brother(Willem Dafoe) arrives for the funeral. But the investigation results to be the catalyst for his ending degradation and all goes wrong, including a teeth suffering.
This cold and thought-provoking drama deals about desperation, madness and distress.Outstanding performances, particularly from Nick Nolte as damaged sheriff who looks for redemption during an investigation but gets worse, and James Coburn who won deservedly Oscar for best secondary actor. Downbeat musical score by Michael Brooks. Bleak cinematography by Paul Sarossy with a flashbacks during the childhood in a documentary style. Interesting script by Paul Schrader in the finest work of his career, he adapted it from Russell Banks' novel. Schrader is usually director and writer tales referred beaten-down men who fall into despair as their world crashes around them, such as 'Mishima: a life in four chapters,Blue collar,Hardcore, Light sleeper, Autofocus and Affliction'. Rating : Good but is quite depressing.
This cold and thought-provoking drama deals about desperation, madness and distress.Outstanding performances, particularly from Nick Nolte as damaged sheriff who looks for redemption during an investigation but gets worse, and James Coburn who won deservedly Oscar for best secondary actor. Downbeat musical score by Michael Brooks. Bleak cinematography by Paul Sarossy with a flashbacks during the childhood in a documentary style. Interesting script by Paul Schrader in the finest work of his career, he adapted it from Russell Banks' novel. Schrader is usually director and writer tales referred beaten-down men who fall into despair as their world crashes around them, such as 'Mishima: a life in four chapters,Blue collar,Hardcore, Light sleeper, Autofocus and Affliction'. Rating : Good but is quite depressing.