Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Barry Pepper, Julio Cedillo
Director: Tommy Lee Jones
The plot: Melquiades Estrada is accidentally shot near the border by Patrolman Mike Norton (Barry Pepper) and is left for dead. A ranch hand and friend played by Tommy Lee Jones has promised Melquiades to bury him in his home town and kidnaps Mike Norton to help transport the body. A sweeping tale of the border crossing shows the beauty of the desert and mexico. Lee plays the old leathered ranch hand well, while Pepper's character takes as much physical pain as possible while still somehow being slighlty humorous. Dwight Yoakam has a small but well played role as the local police.
A different story makes for a fun viewing. I also learned salt and antifreeze wont keep a dead body too fresh.
Grade: B-