One False Move (1992)

A small town police chief awaits the arrival of a gang of killers.

Director:

Carl Franklin

Writers:

Billy Bob Thornton, Tom Epperson

Stars:

Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton, Cynda Williams

8 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bill Paxton	...	Dale 'Hurricane' Dixon
Cynda Williams	...	Fantasia / Lila
Billy Bob Thornton	...	Ray Malcolm
Michael Beach	...	Pluto
Jim Metzler	...	Dud Cole
Earl Billings	...	McFeely
Natalie Canerday	...	Cheryl Ann
Robert Ginnaven	...	Charlie
Robert Anthony Bell	...	Byron
Kevin Hunter	...	Ronnie
Phyllis Kirklin	...	Mrs. Walker
Meredith 'Jeta' Donovan	...	Bonnie
Jimmy Bridges	...	Bobby (as James D. Bridges)
Phyllis Sutton	...	Jackie
Derrick Williams	...	Darren

Storyline

In Los Angeles, after a violent drug rip-off, the Los Angeles Police Department detectives find the identity of the trio - the sadistic I.Q. of 150 and college graduate Lenny "Pluto" Franklyn; his not so bright buddy in San Quentin Ray Malcolm; and his girlfriend Fantasia. Their further investigation indicates that the criminals are fleeing to Star City, Arkanas, and LAPD detective Dud Cole and his partner John McFeely contact the local Chief of Police Dale 'Hurricane' Dixon and they head to the little town. The yokel family man Dale, who is used to resolve domestic issues, is fascinated with the chance to participate of a manhunt and befriends the two detectives. But when he sees the picture of Fantasia, he recognizes her as Lila Walker and is haunted by his past, hiding a secret about Lila Walker.

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Plot Keywords:

police | small town | drugs | arkansas | neo noir | 

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Taglines:

All it takes to bring him down is one bullet... one woman or... One False Move.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence and language, and for drug content

Did You Know?

Trivia

When the film was completed, the original plan was to release it straight to video. Stronger than expected word of mouth convinced I.R.S. to send it to theaters. The late critic Gene Siskel voted this film as his favorite of 1992.

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Goofs

When Ray is shot, it appears that the impact is to his left shoulder, though he clutches his right upper chest. Later we see blood all over his back on the right, but the bullet hole is not visible in front.

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Quotes

Dale 'Hurricane' Dixon: How you doin'? Doin' all right?
Old Man Malcolm: Huh?
Dale 'Hurricane' Dixon: I said, are you doin' all right?
Old Man Malcolm: I'm doin' all right today.
Dale 'Hurricane' Dixon: That's good. You remember me? I'm Chief Dixon.
Old Man Malcolm: I'm... fixin' to do what?
Dale 'Hurricane' Dixon: I said I'm Chief Dixon.
Old Man Malcolm: Oh, I'm fixin' to feed these chickens 'fore it gets too damn hot.
Dale 'Hurricane' Dixon: Have you heard from your nephew lately?
Old Man Malcolm: Huh?
[...]

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: The Best Films of 1992 (1993)

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Soundtracks

Rock Me with Your Love
Written and Produced by Odette Springer and Matthew Ender (as Matt Ender)
© 1987 Spidey Music (ASCAP) and Cookies and Milk Music (BMI)

User Reviews

A neglected gem

Three criminals pull off a cash and drug heist in LA, which results in the sadistic and brutal murders of six people. The crooks are Fantasia (Cynda Williams), a bad girl with a soft spot. She got pregnant in her teens and got talked into the robbery by her boyfriend Ray Malcolm (Billy Bob Thornton) who is a paranoid and violent psychotic. Yet throughout the course of events, Fantasia wants to go back home to Star City and see her little boy (something that ultimately contributes to her downfall). The third member of the gang is Pluto (Michael Beach), a would be intellectual crime boss whose personality varies between being a cold and sadistic killer with a passion for knives and a cool calm and collected crook who won't kill unless he has to. Having pulled off the job they decide to make for Phoenix Arizona in order to sale the drugs and split the money. However, things are complicated by Fantasia wanting to go home and more blood is shed along the way.

ONE FALSE MOVE is a neglected gem. It marked the feature-film debut of American director Carl Franklin who takes a run-of-the-mill cops and robbers yarn and wisely places the emphasis on character. He is most ably assisted in this by a largely unknown but solid cast who give their director maximum effort in every scene. Williams, Thornton (who also co-wrote the script) and Beach are excellent as the three gangsters while Bill Paxton is also excellent as Hurricane the Star City cop entrusted with the task of helping the LA police track the gang down. The film got a very poor release at the time and it was even denied the film a screening at the Sundance Film Festival and it was dismissed as too violent. The film starts off quite violently but once it gets going the emphasis is on good old fashioned character study, but because of it's failure to reach the Sundance festival it wasn't picked up by a major distributor and it more or less went straight to video. Director Carl Franklin has done very little since apart from DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS with Denzel Washington, a crime thriller that was well received by the critics but didn't take on with the public. Billy Bob Thornton, however, has since become an international star appearing in such modern classics as A SIMPLE PLAN (1999) and the Coen Brothers' sublime black and white noir film THE MAN WHO WASN'T THERE (2001).

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 May 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hurricane

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$44,545, 10 May 1992

Gross USA:

$1,543,112

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,543,112

Company Credits

Production Co:

IRS Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1