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Lone Star
Lone Star
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Lone Star

Lone Star

1996
Drama, Crime
2h 15m
John Sayles' murder-mystery explores interpersonal and interracial tensions in Rio County, Texas. Sam Deeds is the local sheriff who is called to investigate a 40-year-old skeleton found in the desert....As Sam delves deeper into the town's dark secrets, he begins to learn more about his father, the legendary former sheriff Buddy Deeds, who replaced the corrupt Charlie Wade... (imdb)

Directed by:

John Sayles

Screenwriter:

John Sayles

Starring:

Chris Cooper, Frances McDormand, Matthew McConaughey, Kris Kristofferson, Joe Morton, Eddie Robinson, Elizabeth Peña, Stephen Mendillo, Stephen J. Lang, Oni Faida Lampley, Miriam Colon, Ron Canada

Genres:

Drama, Crime, Western, Mystery

Country:

USA

Languages:

English, Spanish
imdb IMDb
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Lone Star

1996
Drama, Crime
2h 15m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 66.19% from 903 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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kojilessKojiless
Rated 17 Mar 2012
68
72nd
A study on how best to use Matthew McConaughey in your film--limit his on screen time to a proportion not exceeding 10% of your total running time.
Rated 17 Mar 2012
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 16 Aug 2010
84
77th
A mystery filled with social commentary, it feels a bit heavy handed at times but it's ultimately very successful. It seemed to preempt my objections, as any time I had my doubts the film responded to them and the mystery was more than good enough to keep things on track.
Rated 16 Aug 2010
martintellerMartinTeller
Rated 05 Oct 2008
83
77th
A compelling, multi-layered drama that touches on the cultural makeup of the American south, uncovering the uncomfortable past, and father-son relationships. The past-present transitions are done really well... I'm sure it's a trick that's been done before, but I thought it was pretty neato. The one thing that bothered me was the dialogue, with people talking a little too profoundly. Otherwise, quite a good flick.
Rated 05 Oct 2008
barthalenBarthalen
Rated 30 May 2014
87
94th
Themes with a lot of dramatic weight, a wonderful and diverse cast, a slow unraveling and at the same time intertwining of story threads, all with a sense of sadness, anger and regret... yes sirree, this is how I like 'em. I loved how everything in the film is influenced by history and legacy, how it continues to scar or influence people. This could've been a whole series and I would've been stuck to the screen just as much.
Rated 30 May 2014
suture_selfSuture Self
Rated 15 Oct 2013
8
80th
John Sayles appears to be a dry-to-the-bone storyteller with little concern for flash or style, which is fine by me, because his storytelling abilities are excellent. The strength of the world he creates is more than enough.
Rated 15 Oct 2013
ratedarghratedargh
Rated 05 Dec 2012
95
92nd
Every moment is steeped in the past. Every character is followed by the ghosts of prior years whether that be family or their own actions. Cooper, with each glance and laboured sigh between lines of dialogue, shows a bitterness and resentment for his father who remains steeped in myth. No scenes are wasted, it's all adding layers. It's much more than your standard murder mystery.
Rated 05 Dec 2012
pigletPiglet
Rated 23 Jul 2009
80
91st
Cooper, who is a wonderful character actor, in the role of his life as the sheriff struggling with coming to grips with his findings in a murder investigation.
Rated 23 Jul 2009
joojooJooJoo
Rated 03 Feb 2009
5
81st
Resolves itself a bit too neatly but the town dynamic & crime mystery aspect are so fully-realized that I don't really mind. Seeing Chris Cooper, one for the more dependable actors, in such a large part was a treat.
Rated 03 Feb 2009
vince_leoVince Leo
Rated 14 Aug 2007
70
56th
A good cast of character actors and a refreshing, almost allegorical setting makes for a film that's worth watching more than once.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
hadleyreisHadleyreis
Rated 06 Dec 2021
78
72nd
A guitar solo to add to the sentiment never hurt anyone.
Rated 06 Dec 2021
matthagenmatthagen
Rated 01 Aug 2021
69
84th
A strong drama that is given room to breathe and add to its ever present lore, with snappy, humorous dialogue aplenty. It oozes a time and place, bringing in subplots that are unconnected on the surface, but hit all of the prevalent themes. It has flaws and lulls, but my score is rising as I continue dissecting this underseen gem.
Rated 01 Aug 2021
schnofelschnofel
Rated 31 Mar 2017
77
87th
Sayles is dry like the desert: realism, community, character. Similar to David Simon's Treme we stay for the richness of the multi-ethnic tale - a richness that reaches back centuries and culminates in the hope for a new chapter in Tex-Mex history. The most poetic expression the film achieves is a shared, breathed nostalgia, but otherwise the novelistic seriousness and purpose are their own reward.
Rated 31 Mar 2017
kito1kito1
Rated 20 Feb 2017
50
24th
It has a heart, but most of the scenes and characters are really boring.
Rated 20 Feb 2017
aflickeringAFlickering
Rated 25 May 2015
6
86th
a man tries to understand and improve the present by unearthing and confronting the past, and the film does the very same. so weary and tender, LONE STAR has aches in its bones and yearning in its veins, and it says so much about modern america by looking upon age-old archetypes of genre cinema with a nostalgic but newly penetrating gaze. the optimism of the ending, a decaying drive-in cinema looming in the background, breaks my heart. to hell with history indeed.
Rated 25 May 2015
jasoo2jasoo2
Rated 06 Oct 2013
30
8th
It's slow, and meanwhile I didn't feel enough dramatic tension to make the waiting worth it. I cut it off about halfway through.
Rated 06 Oct 2013
mistersplicemistersplice
Rated 09 Jan 2013
85
91st
8+ excellent
Rated 09 Jan 2013
sebbysebby
Rated 27 Jun 2011
80
91st
This is one of the most novel-like films I've ever seen. Easily Sayles's most intricate and impressive script, and Chris Cooper in a starring role? Hell yes.
Rated 27 Jun 2011
gemteagemtea
Rated 06 Apr 2011
91
87th
Fascinating movie with some good twists and turns. Never has Kris Kristofferson been so good at being bad. He had me believing that he'd kill me in a heartbeat if I disagreed with him. Creepy SOB. I can't recall ever seeing Chris Cooper even at maybe his worst give anything but a great performance. Under appreciated actor. What's cool is that his dad in this show is Matthew McConaughey Yes, much of it told in flashbacks. Both thought provoking and exciting. One of my favs
Rated 06 Apr 2011
hellboy76hellboy76
Rated 22 Sep 2010
74
90th
Fascinating drama that covers multiple eras seamlessly. One of Sayles best films, great work from Cooper and even McConaughey.
Rated 22 Sep 2010
cinematicespCinematicESP
Rated 07 Mar 2009
61
8th
Aside from the wacky ending, which I actually don't mind, I will forget about this movie.
Rated 07 Mar 2009
miss_jesusmiss jesus
Rated 12 Jan 2009
82
83rd
A surprising depth of character, setting, and even chronology elevate this far above the average police mystery. Excellent, realistic portrayals all around.
Rated 12 Jan 2009
stainStain
Rated 30 Mar 2007
80
68th
John Sayles' s usual strong blend of human drama and sociology with enough witty touches to keep it from getting too heavy
Rated 30 Mar 2007
griggs79griggs79
Rated 16 Nov 2024
90
90th
Lone Star is an incredible piece of indie filmmaking that deserves a much wider audience. Going into it, all I knew was that it was set in Texas, and that was it. But what unfolded on the screen completely blew me away. Lone Star is a must-watch if you’re looking for a thought-provoking film that will resonate with you emotionally. This hidden gem is a testament to the power of independent cinema.
Rated 16 Nov 2024
paxtonPaxton
Rated 03 Sep 2024
77
72nd
Remember in Frailty when Matthew McConaughey was on the other side of the flashbacks?
Rated 03 Sep 2024
tpbradburytpbradbury
Rated 22 Aug 2024
18
11th
Fine, I've scored low as I've seen a lot of stuff and skip straight the percentile. It's pretty worthy, slow. I didn't mind it but don't see what all the fuss is about. Good acting including Cooper
Rated 22 Aug 2024
jnsonejijnsoneji
Rated 29 Dec 2021
95
83rd
Very gripping story runs throughout the movie! Loved seeing the history from different point of views.
Rated 29 Dec 2021
capodelnullacapodelnulla
Rated 15 May 2020
85
90th
piramit senaryonun dört dörtlük örneği. fakat teknik kapasitesi bir yana, ince ince öyle güzel alıp insanı katıyor ki sam'in ve toprağın meselesine ne bir eksiği ne bir fazlası var gerçekten.
Rated 15 May 2020
fenixdownfenixdown
Rated 08 Jun 2019
80
75th
A neatly woven drama taking place at the intersection of political and racial tension
Rated 08 Jun 2019
doyler29doyler29
Rated 12 Apr 2019
80
68th
When a human skull is found on the outskirts of town, sheriff Chris Cooper is forced to confront the legacy of his dad Matthew McConaughey who took the job of sheriff away from his violent, crooked predecessor Kris Kristofferson. This densely plotted sprawling character study from John Sayles is one of his best films. Sayles's films with their large number of characters and multiple plot lines often feel more like novels than films.
Rated 12 Apr 2019
actionbergActionberg
Rated 26 Jun 2017
80
71st
A rich neo-noir yarn so driven to tell the Story of Texas that it constantly borders on an unhip, didactic vibe. BUT for that same reason, I think everyone that is from TX, lives in TX, or is moving to TX stands to gain a whole lot from checking it out.
Rated 26 Jun 2017
silverlitSilver_lit
Rated 02 Aug 2014
100
96th
A wonderful cast, led by the amazing Chris Cooper, explores the social tensions in a small Texas town. Watch for the murder mystery, stay for the great characters.
Rated 02 Aug 2014
thehynesthehynes
Rated 26 Jun 2014
45
19th
pretty boring, fails to grab you, just drones on and on.TV Movie
Rated 26 Jun 2014
wetwillieswetwillies
Rated 19 Jun 2014
50
4th
I don't know if it's my fault or what, but this is one of the most uninteresting movies I've ever seen. The appearance of a young Matthew McConaughey didn't make up for it. Unfortunately.
Rated 19 Jun 2014
glm01glm01
Rated 08 Apr 2014
85
83rd
85.000
Rated 08 Apr 2014
alex_watkinsAlex Watkins
Rated 11 Jun 2013
3
38th
There's plenty here to admire: the strong writing, which gives real depth of character to almost everybody in the film (even those with one scene), the complex themes of racial prejudice (criss-crossing between black, white, Hispanic AND Native American characters), and of course the excellent performances. On the flip side, it's a bit too neat and Sayles doesn't do much to elevate this material. As a stylist, he appears rather lacking.
Rated 11 Jun 2013
rickickerrickicker
Rated 16 Dec 2012
85
67th
Sort of like an Atom Egoyan film of the Ollllllllllld West.
Rated 16 Dec 2012
3drevelation3dRevelation
Rated 14 Nov 2012
75
62nd
It was nice seeing Cooper in a rare leading role, but this seemed to have had a little bit too much going on in it. I think I would have liked it more if there was more of a focus on the murder instead of some of the drama. It was presented well, but the ending was kind of odd. The resolving of the murder wasn't really a surprise either. It isn't bad, but I can think of ways it could have been better.
Rated 14 Nov 2012
achayanAchayan
Rated 30 Aug 2012
41
8th
I had expected a lot more from the movie but I started getting hunches that all came out to be true. For this genre that is simply not going to work out. They could have shown a little more of the past and more conflicting versions of what happened to spice things up. This movie was definitely lacking a lot.
Rated 30 Aug 2012
johnsandwichJohnSandwich
Rated 27 Jul 2012
60
41st
Meh, pretty good, I guess, but I'm coming to the conclusion that John Sayles movies don't really do it for me.
Rated 27 Jul 2012
walkenrollWalkenRoll
Rated 13 Jul 2012
85
85th
Pretty great police drama, similar in some ways to Fargo, although nowhere near as good.
Rated 13 Jul 2012
sirrobbieSirRobbie
Rated 17 Jun 2012
70
53rd
It had potential for being something truly GREAT. Fantastic job by almost the entire cast with Cooper being the absolute BEST.
Rated 17 Jun 2012
syvyyssyvyys
Rated 23 Apr 2012
70
24th
there seems to be a thin line between social realism and soap opera.
Rated 23 Apr 2012
aceysaid10AceySaid10%
Rated 02 Apr 2012
80
49th
Hangin' with Mr. (Chris) Cooper...
Rated 02 Apr 2012
susmattsusmatt
Rated 20 Feb 2012
80
87th
Good yarn, thoroughly impressed.
Rated 20 Feb 2012
theyshoot11theyshoot11
Rated 02 Dec 2011
55
10th
#893
Rated 02 Dec 2011
bookhouseboybookhouseboy
Rated 12 Aug 2010
66
88th
#90s#, story, reviews
Rated 12 Aug 2010
billkerwinbillkerwin
Rated 09 Mar 2010
91
86th
A dense, rich movie about borders and false histories, and the secrets that threaten to overrun borders and transform history. The performances are all excellent, with Chris Cooper a real standout. Francis McDormand contributes a brilliant cameo.
Rated 09 Mar 2010
mentaculusMentaculus
Rated 01 Feb 2010
57
30th
Maybe it's due for a rewatch, since I am the only one here who hated it. But I really hated it.
Rated 01 Feb 2010
theyshoot10theyshoot10
Rated 15 Jan 2010
57
14th
868
Rated 15 Jan 2010
pickpocketPickpocket
Rated 15 Nov 2009
8
82nd
John Sayles plus Chris Cooper = good times. Sayles, much like Richard Linklater, really knows how to put McConaughey into a movie. This was a well made movie with outstanding editing and some great dialogue. The blend of past and present was really well done and Kristofferson as a villain is never a bad thing. Really solid all around.
Rated 15 Nov 2009
anselmi86Anselmi86
Rated 11 Nov 2009
80
70th
The film does not work especially well as a thriller or even as a good mystery yarn. However, it more than makes up for that as an extensive study of all forms of human relationships and cultural divides. Overall, it's a fantastic examination of what makes a human being human.
Rated 11 Nov 2009
kahKAH
Rated 26 Jul 2009
3
74th
Memory says: Melancholic and good.
Rated 26 Jul 2009
theyshoot08theyshoot08
Rated 19 Dec 2008
59
18th
824
Rated 19 Dec 2008
hehejajahehejaja
Rated 26 Apr 2008
75
67th
A smart film filled with melancholy and excitement.
Rated 26 Apr 2008
theyshoot07theyshoot07
Rated 02 Mar 2008
60
36th
# 797
Rated 02 Mar 2008
dustydDustyd
Rated 17 Sep 2007
70
63rd
well shot film
Rated 17 Sep 2007
fowpfowp
Rated 14 Aug 2007
85
82nd
John Sayles is brilliant as ever in this tangled web of interpersonal tales where nothing and no-one is as simple as it seems.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
jeg2jeg2
Rated 25 Feb 2007
80
93rd
A classic, well-paced mysetery.
Rated 25 Feb 2007
driscarpindriscarpin
Rated 03 Jan 2007
93
92nd
Lone Star - A Estrela Solitária tinha sua premiere há 25 anos em New York. Lembro como me impressionou quando saiu em VHS nos anos 90, nunca mais o tinha visto, revendo hoje fica claro que é um dos melhores westerns dos anos 90, senão o melhor, é uma mistura de filme de mistério com western moderno que dá super certo e com resultado grandioso. WEBRip RARBG.
Rated 03 Jan 2007

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