Rent One False Move (1992)

Fantastic Crime Thriller - One False Move review by GI

This is one of those great little films you come across almost by accident and wonder how you've never seen it before. On its initial release it gained a quick reputation and garnered strong critical reviews. If you've never seen this gem of a film then I urge you to find a copy and you'll have a real treat. This is a gritty crime thriller and stars the late and great Bill Paxton, who didn't often get the lead role in films but his presence always lifts a movie above and beyond expectation. He plays the Chief of Police of a small Arkansas town. He's a family man, friendly and enthusiastic about his job and people in general, his nickname 'Hurricane' says it all. The story begins in Los Angeles where three criminals, the coolly nasty Pluto (Michael Beach), the unstable Ray (Billy Bob Thornton, who also co-wrote the script) and the naïve Lila (Cynda Williams) rip off a drug dealer and murder six people in the process. They go on the run pursued by two LA detectives and head for Lila's hometown which is where 'Hurricane' is the Chief. Built into this great thriller is a clash of cultures narrative between the professional big city cops and the almost childlike innocence of Paxton's local hick town cop. The dynamics between the three baddies is compelling and surprising and there's also some warped romance involved too (Hurricane and Lila have a history!). This is an absolutely fantastic film, it has some tough violence and some western genre elements thrown in and is entertaining throughout. I cannot recommend it enough.