Premise - Ex Marine drifter Michael Williams (Nicolas Cage) drives into Red Rock low on gas and looking for work. He is mistaken for a Texas hitman by bar owner Wayne Brown (J.T. Walsh) and is given the contract ot kill his wife (Laura Flynn Boyle). God only knows why I missed out on seeing Red Rock West for so long. It's the kind of film that is right up my alley. Twisting storyline, characters with questionable morals and jet black humour. Red Rock west is the sort of 'guy gets stuck in small American town and can't leave despite his best efforts' film that had been done before and was done again in the equally good U-Turn. The characters in Red Rock West don't have a decent bone in them. All are looking out for number one and are prepared to do anything in order to get what they want. All that is except Michael Williams, Cage's character is the moral core of the movie. He is at the basest level a nice guy, who through exceptional circumstances has to do thing's not generally in his nature to get the hell out of Red Rock. Cage's work in Red Rock West is exemplary. It's the kind of film he used to make before he became a bankable action movie star. That's not to say I dislike him as an action star, I like Con Air, Face/Off, The Rock etc. I just wish that he would make small films like this every now and again to balance out his big budget blockbusters. Although I see that he is starring in Spike Jonze's new movie 'Adaptation', that sounds like a step in the right direction. It's also good to see Dennis Hopper, He doesn't seem to have done much these past few years and I like what he can bring to movie. Someone else whom I haven't seen much of recently is Laura Flynn Boyle. I liked her in Twin Peaks and she is also very good here. I guess she slipped into DTV hell, a real shame as she is quite a talented actress. Fairly easy on the eyes as well. The late great J.T. Walsh is a welcome addition to any movies cast in my opinion. For my money he was one of the best supporting actors to ever grace cinema. Whilst checking up on Red Rock West on the internet I noticed a couple of people calling it 'Lynch or Coen light'. I think it's a bit of an unfair label as director Dahl brings his own style to the plate and gives the film a distinctively dark, but at the same time lovely look. If you haven't seen Red Rock West I would recommend it highly. I'm still trying to figure out why it took me so long to get round to seeing it!

7/10 for Red Rock West. Poster Quote - Red Rock Best.