A PAIR OF ACES

US, 1990, 94 minutes, Colour.
Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Helen Shaver, Rip Torn.
Directed by Aaron Lipstadt.

A Pair of Aces is an easygoing modern western. Kris Kristofferson is a serious-mined Texas Ranger. Willie Nelson is a corny but wise safecracker. They work easily together - but Willie Nelson (the executive producer) gets all the best lines and carries them off very well. In the background is a series of gruesome murders of young women.

While the plot of the serial killer runs through the whole film, the focus is also on Kristofferson as a Ranger with safecracker Nelson in his car - being framed by a Fort Worth law officer. There are also themes of family with Kristofferson and his daughters and the woman in his life, played by Helen Shaver. In the background is retired Ranger, played by Rip Torn. There are also the rituals of Texas, the good old boys shooting and singing at a barbecue, a religious prayer meeting with interpretations of the Scriptures, basketball with cheerleaders - and in the background prudish and severe religious women with alcoholic redneck sons.

Easy entertainment, a murder mystery, a variation on the buddy theme. Directed by Aaron Lipstadt (Android, City Limits).

1.Entertaining contemporary western? The old style of the Texas west in the 1980s?

2.The Texas settings, the town, the countryside? The background of Texas with the bars, motels, prisons? Basketball auditoriums? Churches? The barbecue? The musical score?

3.The two stars and their style, complementarity? The title?

4.Rip, Texas Ranger, investigating the murders? The ugliness of the murders? His relationship with his daughters, their reacting against him? His girlfriend, Rose, and their relationship? His friendship with Captain Parsons and his memories of the past? Given the job by Hanson, listening to Billy Roy? Travelling with him, the wisecracks? Talking about the robberies and believing him? His participation in the murder investigations? At home, dancing with Julie, complimenting Debbie? Softening Rip? Friendship with Rose? The barbecue, the dancing? His being abducted by the rednecks? His escaping, helping in rounding them up? The discovery of the body? His helping in taking the murderer? The information about his alibis? His actually having the mayor's wife's ring? His being put on the plane and being warned out of Texas? The complementarity between Rip and Billy Roy? The two country and western singers portraying the roles?

5.The daughters, their dead mother, the memory of their dead brother? Rebellious? Julie dancing with Billy Roy? Debbie going out with Bubba, his abducting her? The rescue? The reconciliation with their father?

6.Rose, memories of her husband, the relationship with Rip? The massage? Being wise, the barbecue, the advice about doing what was right?

7.The rednecks in the bar, the clash with Billy Roy? Church? Their mother and her puritanical remarks? At the basketball game? Their drunken spree, taking Billy Roy? The dogs, the chase? The confession about their brother? His skill at playing basketball, the comparison with Rip's son? His abducting the women, no conscience? His arrest? The background of his severe mother?

8.Captain Parsons, a good old boy, wanting the old days to come again? The scene of the barbecue - and the shooting, the singing of the songs?

9.Life Texas style, Hanson and his ambitions, fabricating evidence? The possibility of being sued? The free and easy life, the traditions, redneck style, religious style?

10.A pleasing combination of humorous and serious elements - and sympathetic stars?