Two Men in Town (2014)

A Muslim ex-con forms a friendship with his parole officer.

Director:

Rachid Bouchareb

Writers:

Olivier Lorelle (adaptation), Yasmina Khadra (adaptation)

Stars:

Ellen Burstyn, Forest Whitaker, Brenda Blethyn

1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Ellen Burstyn	...	Garnett's mother
Forest Whitaker	...	William Garnett
Brenda Blethyn	...	Emily Smith
Harvey Keitel	...	Bill Agati
Luis Guzmán	...	Terence
Tim Guinee	...	Rod
Reg E. Cathey	...	Supervisor Jones
Sarah Minnich	...	Christina
Matthew Page	...	Prison Guard
Dolores Heredia	...	Teresa Flores
Michael Anthony Stone	...	Sheriff Deputy (as Michael Stone)
Robert Dean	...	Deputy
Stan Carp	...	Richard Wayne
Chris Ranney	...	Parolee
Joshua R. Aragon	...	Parole

Storyline

Forest Whitaker plays a parolee, who finds Allah inside, and tries to get his life on track after 18 years. He's off to a good start with a job, a bank account, and a good woman. Of course his old partner in crime tries hard to get him to come back to his old ways, but the real problem is the sheriff in town who won't let him forget his dark past.

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Plot Keywords:

new mexico | new mexico desert | new mexico mexico border | muslim | parole officer | 

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Taglines:

One man's freedom is another man's obsession.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film cast includes two Oscar winners: Forest Whitaker and Ellen Burstyn; and two Oscar nominees: Harvey Keitel and Brenda Blethyn.

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Quotes

Bill Agati: You can't break the law to enforce the law.

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Connections

References The Wizard of Oz (1939)

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Soundtracks

With Bare Hands
by Éric Neveux
© 2014 Pathé Production / Tessalit Productions

User Reviews

A slow burner with great performances and New Mexico scenery .....

Though the script is somewhat plodding, the film has a genuine quality to it. Forest Whitaker is good as the tormented parolee. Harvey Keitel plays the revenge seeking sheriff. It is Brenda Blethyn however who steals every scene she is in, as Whitaker's parole officer. I would agree that not much happens in this film, yet it is it's low key performances that keep the viewer intrigued. The cast is first rate. In addition to Whitaker, Keitel, and Blethyn, Luis Guzman and Ellen Burstyn also are quite good. If there is a problem, it is with the ending, which is somewhat unresolved, and hangs uncomfortably. I should also mention that the extra on the DVD titled Fences", is very interesting and timely. The interviews with border residents, for and against the border wall, are very informative. - MERK

Details

Country:

France Belgium Algeria USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 March 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

Enemy Way

Filming Locations:

Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$213,204

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tessalit Productions, Pathé, Agence Algérienne pour le Rayonnement Culturel (AARC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1