Lone Star

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Lone Star

R

1996

2h 14m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

140 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

In the Texas border town of Frontera, Sheriff Sam Deeds (Chris Cooper) digs up the past when he finds an old skull in the desert. As he traces the murder of Sheriff Charlie Wade (Kris Kristofferson) 40 years earlier, Deeds' investigation points toward his late father, the much-loved Deputy Buddy Deeds. Ignoring warnings not to delve any deeper, Sam rekindles a romance with his high school sweetheart while bringing up old tensions in the town and exposing secrets long put to rest.

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Critics Consensus

Smart and absorbing, Lone Star represents a career high point for writer-director John Sayles -- and '90s independent cinema in general.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

08/15/2024

5/5

one Star is a richly and densely achieved movie that gets a lot of storytelling done in two and a quarter hours; it is thoughtful and complex and grownup.

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Jake Cole

Slant Magazine

01/24/2024

John Sayles’s Lone Star is among the most literary films ever made.

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Robert Faires

Austin Chronicle

09/06/2023

4/5

Sayles is able to touch on the humanity of each [character] and the details of the region -- the heat, the beautiful but often unforgiving landscape, and especially the pride of the residents -- are vivid and true.

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Michael J. Casey

Boulder Weekly

01/25/2024

5/5

If you haven’t seen "Lone Star" before, you’ll be gob-smacked a movie this good isn’t talked about more.

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ed m

@RT80499164 Dec 28

Excellent movie. Great story telling. Another great performance from Chris Cooper.

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Sep 5

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Brad S. R

@RT07389644 03/28/2025

An excellent contemporary western/murder mystery from the ever-surprising John Sayles.

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Farah R

@Farah 12/06/2024

A well-written and brilliantly-acted drama, albeit slow, Lone Star offers an enriching viewing experience for movie lovers.

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G M

@GM212 10/07/2024

Stacked with great actors delivering compelling performances, this film captivates through its rich storytelling. The flashbacks to the past are undoubtedly the best part, providing depth and a backstory that keeps you engaged. However, the present-day scenes feel a bit boring and tend to drag, lacking the excitement of the historical sequences. Overall, it’s a good film if you’re comfortable with a slow-paced drama, but those looking for an action-packed experience akin to “L.A. Confidential” might find it disappointing.

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John H

@RT44490115 03/05/2024

Great story and movie.

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John Sayles

Director

Chris Cooper

Sheriff Sam Deeds

Elizabeth Peña

Pilar Cruz

Joe Morton

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Ron Canada

Otis Payne

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Synopsis

In the Texas border town of Frontera, Sheriff Sam Deeds (Chris Cooper) digs up the past when he finds an old skull in the desert. As he traces the murder of Sheriff Charlie Wade (Kris Kristofferson) 40 years earlier, Deeds' investigation points toward his late father, the much-loved Deputy Buddy Deeds. Ignoring warnings not to delve any deeper, Sam rekindles a romance with his high school sweetheart while bringing up old tensions in the town and exposing secrets long put to rest.

Director: John Sayles
Producer: Maggie Renzi, R. Paul Miller
Screenwriter: John Sayles
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Castle Rock Entertainment, Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 21, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $13.1M
Runtime: 2h 14m
Sound Mix: Surround

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