Silver City DVD Review

"SILVER CITY" reviews

DVD

SILVER CITY

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2005-11-11 16:33:25

Provider

DVD Review

Indie filmmaker John Sayles' anti-Bush film - it was released in the US to coincide with the 2004 Presidential elections - thankfully doesn't beat the viewer over the head with political rhetoric, remembering to mix its polemic with humour, mystery and thrills.

Adaptation Oscar-winner Chris Cooper plays Dickie Pilager (okay, a joke name like that doesn't suggest an intelligent movie but hang in there). He's from Colorado rather than Texas, but the puppet-like wannabe President's dorkish behaviour and senator father, Jud Pilager (Michael Murphy), don't leave any doubt as to who's being lampooned here. Cooper brings this out further with his array of superbly vacant facial expressions.

The action begins when a dead body floats up in a Colorado lake while Dickie is filming a campaign commercial. His campaign manager, Chuck Raven (the reliably excellent Richard Dreyfuss), hires a reporter-turned-detective (Danny Huston) to investigate.

There are admirable performances by Daryl Hannah as Dickie's sexy sister and Billy Zane as a lobbyist, but the choicest lines are uttered by Dreyfuss. Considering this movie was made for less than $6m and was shot in six weeks, it's a real triumph that shows what can be done if you have an intelligent script.

Comes with audio commentary by director John Sayles, making of documentary, interview with director John Sayles, director & producer interview and an interview with actor Danny Huston.