The Hi-Lo Country (1998) ( Hi-Lo Country - Im Land der letzten Cowboys ) ( High Low Country )

The Hi-Lo Country (1998) (DVD) (*)

$20.99

Original Title: Hi-Lo Country - Im Land der letzten Cowboys
Alternate Title: High Low Country
Screened, competed or awarded at:
Berlin International Film Festival
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
Russian ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
Spanish ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
Spanish ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
Spain ( PAL/Region 0 )

Running Time:
114 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (2.35:1)

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Scene Access

Movie filmed in 1998 and produced in:
Germany ( Germany, Central Europe )
United Kingdom ( Great Britain, Ireland )
United States ( USA, Canada )

Directed By:
Stephen Frears

Written By:
Max Evans
Walon Green

Actors:
Billy Crudup ..... Pete Calder
Woody Harrelson ..... Big Boy Matson
Cole Hauser ..... Little Boy Matson
Enrique Castillo ..... Levi Gomez
Darren E. Burrows ..... Billy Harte
Jacob Vargas ..... Delfino Mondragon
Robert Knott ..... Jack Couffer
Sam Elliott ..... Jim Ed Love
Sandy Baron ..... Henchman
Patricia Arquette ..... Mona Birk
John Diehl ..... Les Birk
Craig Carter ..... Art Logan
Penelope Cruz ..... Josepha O'Neil
Walter C. Hall ..... Auctioneer
James Gammon ..... Hoover Young

Synopsis:

Cowboys live again in this 20th century Western about two World War II veterans living on the lush, open New Mexico countryside. Based on the classic American novel by Max Evans about those struggling to continue living the Old West lifestyle in the early Cold War days, the film stars Woody Harrelson and Billy Crudup as two lifelong friends who fall for the same woman. Returning from war is Peter (Crudup), a cattleman who just wants a simple life on the farm, and Big Boy Matson (Harrelson), a big-drinking hellraiser always looking for a fight. Enter married Mona (Patricia Arquette), who turns both their heads and forces these two cowboys to put their friendship to the ultimate test. The film, like Sam Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch, is about freedom in wide-open spaces, so British director Stephen Frears is really out of his element in tackling this type of material. But he focuses the film on the relationships rather than the action, asking questions like "Is the girl more important than their friendship?" In the end, this film is more love story than Western.

In the prairie town of Hi-Lo, New Mexico, Pete and Big Boy return from World War II to their old way of life: raising cattle and working the land. Able to hold their own with other men, and popular with women, they are masters of the land that they are proud to call home. But Pete has always pined for Mona, who is now married to someone else. Pete resigns himself to this loss, and returns to steady girlfriend Josepha. When he discovers that Mona is having a passionate affair with Big Boy, his desires are reawakened and his friendship put into question. Mona represents everything that Pete yearns for but cannot have.

An intimate story of the enduring bond of friendship between two hard-living men, set against a sweeping backdrop: the American West, post-World War II, in its twilight. Pete and Big Boy are masters of the prairie, but ultimately face trickier terrain: the human heart.

This product was added to our catalog on Tuesday 15 November, 2022.