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The Good Old Boys (TV) More at IMDbPro »
| Index | 9 reviews in total |
12 out of 12 people found the following review useful:
Well worth watching, 17 May 2002
Author:
jackjack-2 from United States
Perhaps I liked this movie because it reminded me very much of my father
and
mother. My father was an itinerent cowboy and a championship rodeo rider
in
the early part of the 20th Century just like the role Tommy Lee Jones
played
as Hewey Callaway. And he had a side kick much like Sam Shepard's
character
Tarnell. My father met a lady like Sissy Spacek when he was 31 and married
her. Tarnell also got married but he was killed in a rodeo two years later
and my father gave up rodeo riding.
Life was very much like in the movie in those days. You found people that
would go out of their way to help others and the bankers in the movie were
typical of bankers in those days, mean as hell.
The acting in the movie was excellent. Everyone in the movie played roles
that were very typical in those days and they did a good job of it. The
only
gripe I have with the movie is that the ending was unreal. I won't give it
away but I have known many cowboys but I never knew one that didn't want
to
settle down.
One of the funniest scenes in the movie was when the outhouse was knocked
down with the grandmother in it. That was a common prank in those days, to
knock over an outhouse. The grandmother was a pistol. I knew old women
just
like her.
The author either had some experience or he really did a great job of
research because the story (except for the ending) accurately depicted
conditions in those days.
8 out of 10 people found the following review useful:
Fine movie, 12 March 2005
Author:
jimbo55 from United States
I just wanted mainly to comment on another reviewer's review, in which he thought the ending was unrealistic. It just happens that the author, Elmer Kelton, grew up on West Texas ranches and probably knows at least as many cowboys as that reviewer and is a well respected Western author. I would like to see more of his books made into movies. I was working in the Ft. Davis area during the summer the movie was being made there. Tommy Lee Jones is also a West Texan and seems to know how to portray them well on screen. My favorite scene is when Hewey Callaway and his friend rope the old car at the rodeo in San Angelo. Also a very funny one is the one where Hewey shakes the dog urine off a weed onto the pants leg of the Fat banker, resulting in the dog urinating on his leg.
5 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
older cowboy has trouble with a modern world, 28 April 1999
Author:
helpless_dancer from Broken Bow, Oklahoma
Tommy Lee Jones was perfect as a slow moving, slow talking cowboy who comes out of the hills after a 2 year stay. He goes to see his brother and his family finding them in financial trouble. He lends his hand in helping out the troubled family, and falls in love with a local lady. Well done film about a man who finds it impossible to change his roving ways. 4 stars.
3 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
Tommy Lee Jones in perhaps his most unappreciated moment, 29 November 2007
Author:
Steve from Dallas TX
As I recall from trade mags, back when this flick first came out, TNT
approached TLJ to be the lead, but at the time, he was pondering his
future in the film industry and was considering directing. He wanted
more than Turner and his execs were offering as the lead actor, but
agreed to sign on to the project for less if he could be given free
reign to direct, which was a bargain for the price. What ensued was The
Good Ole Boys as we know it.
The product is a Western equally worthy of mentioning in the same short
list as Unforgiven, Silverado, 3:10 to Yuma and recent others. It is a
classic Western that is as priceless as anything given to us from both
Johns Wayne and Ford.
In the opening scenes, we watch a cowboy as he and his horse graze the
high country; a scene that could occur at any time within our frontier
history. He eventually heads home and then we are drawn into a turn of
the century frontier settlement juxtapositioned with the old west;
sweeping sky lines and open ranges slowly encroached by the advent of
Westward Expansion and technology.
The story shows us how a cowboy out on the vast range, isolated by big
sweeping scenes, with only his horse to keep him company, enters into
the new century. After he sojourns back to the land of his roots, a
beautiful and memorable story unfolds with the likes of Frances
McDormand, Sissy Spacek, Sam Sheppard, Wilford Bremly and the (as far
as I know) debut of Matt Damon waltz into the story to reveal hopes,
dreams, missed opportunities and current dilemmas. Soon our cowboy is
thrust into the new world with new problems. His leisurely life amongst
cattle, horses and campfires is soon a distant memory. The choices he
acts upon effect all those around him, and then while his input and
decision unfold, he then must decide if he will stick around in this
New World to witness the results or return to the wide-open country.
This story falls within the framework of time-honored classics; where
we get to see the impact of certain choices made and the ramifications
as they unfold. We witness familial love and hard decisions. What makes
this most memorable are the aspects of very good story, memorable
performances, and great visuals/sound score.
Currently TLJ enjoys worthy accolades for his roles in The Valley of
Elah and No Country For Old Men, which should lead to inevitable Oscar
nominations. His vision and performance in The Good Ole Boys, certainly
worth-while for fans, should round out his current body of work.
8 of 10
3 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
SEE THIS MOVIE!, 12 July 1999
Author:
lele77 from NC, USA
I rented this movie 2 years ago, and then I went straight to the movie
store
to buy it! Tommy Lee Jones is one of my favorite actors. I haven't seen
him in a role I didn't like! I was delighted to see that he could write
and
direct so well. I also love Matt Damon's acting in everything he does.
Matt's character, Cotton, is the nephew of Tommy Lee's character, Hewey.
Cotton has a hard time welcoming Hewey back after Hewey spent two years of
seeing "beautiful country" on horseback. Uncle Hewey promised Cotton, 16,
some things when he was younger and never came through. It's entertaining
and enjoyable watching their relationship mend. This is a great family
movie that I have shared with my family several times. I suggest you
watch
it and share it with yours!
2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Fabulous acting and directing by Tommy Lee Jones, 1 June 2003
Author:
bassisland from Los Angeles
Tommy Lee Jones directs himself and a sensational cast in this western. I couldn't believe how wonderful it was, and went to imdb to see who directed it. The look and feel of this movie are perfect, and every moment rings true. It also looks great. Jones' eye is superb, and the shots are brilliant without calling attention to themselves. Terrific.
1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Good for what it is, 25 February 2007
Author:
kealyd from Lincoln, England
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I was already predisposed to like this - big fan of Tommy Lee Jones,
and I do enjoy my modern westerns. However, I find that the quality on
VHS is quite a big obstacle to my enjoyment these days, and makes the
film seem a lot cheaper than it actually is. Plus, the sound was
terrible, which made it even more difficult for me to decipher Jones'
nasal drawl (a number of times I actually had to rewind and listen
closely again to even get the gist), and which he seemed to be laying
on pretty darn thick, to boot.
Won't beat around the bush with a synopsis: lovable, nomadic rogue
returns to the old homestead after years away, finds things have
changed, has problems integrating and eventually learns to come to
terms with it all. You know the drill. Jones himself is very endearing
- not a man generally known for exuding warmth and upbeat optimism, but
he convinces, as usual. Not the first time he's donned a stetson, he
looks born to the saddle, roping steers, breaking in unruly horses and
other suitably manly activities. There's a love interest in the shape
of Sissy Spacek - could take her or leave her, really, but that's a
personal feeling. Frances McDormand in particular was very good as the
no-nonsense matriarch, and a young Matt Damon does a very serviceable
turn as her son.
Lots of hackneyed 'comedy' moments: dog relieves itself on someone's
leg; fat man falls over; outhouse gets knocked over with someone in it;
man sits on cactus and has to have the spikes extracted from his
backside - hilarious stuff. All pretty weak, but comes with the
territory I suppose. Quite a few bits seemed contrived just to bring
Jones and Spacek together (I'm looking at you, changing room scene) and
they do invite some eye-rolling. A little surprised at the bittersweet
ending, but it fits and the closing image is appropriately meaningful,
if predictable, with Jones riding off into the sunset alone.
The kind of film you find channel-hopping on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
You know what's going to happen, but it's well cast, inoffensive, and
mildly enjoyable in itself.
1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
very good movie, 5 February 2007
Author:
griffinsupply from United States
I love this movie.A story of a man who lives life like he wants to,even
if it doesn't make sense to family and friends.He wants no
responsibilities but will be responsible for all his actions.His time
is gone ,but he will hang on as long as he can rather than conform.We
need more movies like this.
Tommy Lee Jones captures entirely,the people,places and phrases I grew
up knowing and loving.Happy go lucky,always ready to lend a hand.I wish
I was him,or knew him better I would love to hear more about him and
Snort Yarnell.They truly are good Ole boys,and we need more of em.
3 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
adorable, 6 March 1999
Author:
anonymous from OZ
Tommy is adorable in this film. He smiles so much in this film, and is a delight to watch. Great performances by all in this film.
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