Saturday, September 26, 2020

Movie review - "The Tracker" (1988) **

 The last film from John Guillermin is a polite late 80s Western with Kris Kristofferson absolutely fine in the lead. Maybe he's too clean cut and groomed for a role that required someone more grizzly - Kristofferson in ten more years, say, or Tommy Lee Jones.

It's kind of like The Searchers with some baddies kidnapping some women and Kristofferson leading a posse. Scott Wilson is a head baddie, the female characters are paper thin, most conflict is between KK and his sophisticated big city son played by Duck Philips of Mad Men.

Duck's character arc is to learn the benefits of killing people. He struggles to kill, is reluctant to kill, he inspires KK to not shoot Wilson but then KK is punished for this by being shot by Wilson, and Duck is forced to kill Wilson. Because when all is said and done killing is the only way, right?

It's politely directed in that late 80s TV style. The dust feels clean. Look it's fine.

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