DON'T LOOK BACK

US, 1995, 87 minutes, Colour.
Eric Stoltz, John Corbett, Josh Hamilton, Billy Bob Thornton, Annabeth Gish, Dwight Yoakam, Peter Fonda, Amanda Plummer, R.G. Armstrong.
Directed by Geoff Murphy.

Don't Look Back is a small-budget thriller but has quite an impact. It was written by the team of Billy Bob Thornton and Thomas Eperson (Slingblade, One False Move). Billy Bob Thornton also appears as a threatening drug lord. However, the film belongs to Eric Stoltz, the star of many such low-budget films and adept at playing washed-out drug addicts. John Corbett (My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Sex in the City) is one of his friends, Josh Hamilton the other boyhood friend. Annabeth Gish plays Hamilton's wife. There are cameo appearances from Peter Fonda and Amanda Plummer and a strong performance by R.G. Armstrong as Eric Stoltz's grandfather. Dwight Yoakam, the country and western singer, appears briefly as a drug dealer.

The film is familiar material, an addict finds a case full of money and absconds with it, going back to his boyhood town in Galveston, being pursued by the criminals, getting the support of his friends, a final shootout. However, with the performances, the tight writing and the direction of New Zealand's Geoff Murphy (The Quiet Earth, Young Guns 2), the film is far more effective than many such routine films.

1. Portrait of a drug addict and his possible redemption?

2. The Los Angeles drug area and bars, apartments? The contrast with Galveston, the coast, the town, ordinary families? Musical score?

3. The title, the pre-credits sequence with the three boys and their playing together on the island, their bonding? The irony of Jesse's separation for seven years? Looking back on his past as he went home to Galveston? The impact, confronting his difficulties?

4. The portrait of Jesse: unkempt, drugs, Los Angeles, seeing the shootout, taking the money and running, with Bridget, going to Galveston? Establishing contact with Morgan, the memories of the friendship, Steve and his attack, the reconciliation? Michelle and her suspicions? Going to see his grandfather, the story of his mother, the bonds with his grandfather? The money, gradually telling the secret? Marshall and co coming to town, the confrontation with his grandfather, his grandfather being shot, hospital? Marshall threatening him, taking him to the island, the money, digging it up, the attack by Morgan and Steve? The chase, the shootout, Morgan's death? Jesse and his change of heart, the bait shop with his grandfather, reconciliation with Steve? Putting the past behind him?

5. The contrast with Morgan and Steve? Morgan, the services, gung-ho in his attitude, welcoming Jesse back? Letting him stay with him, going out with him? Drinking, buddies? The contrast with Steve, his marriage, child? Going out, caution? Michelle's reaction, coming to tell Jesse to stop leading Steve astray? Morgan and telling the story of Steve's mother and Jesse's saving her? The bonds between the three, Jesse in trouble, the two sailing the boat, the shootout on the island? The death of Morgan? Steve and his future?

6. Skipper, the shootout in Los Angeles, losing the money, trying to track down Jesse? Seeing him at the crossing on the road? Marshall and his henchmen, their dominance? Pressure on Skipper? Going to see Bridget in the bar, torturing her, her being murdered? Going to see the room-mate, the pressure on him? Going to Galveston, the cover, the confrontation with the woman bringing the dinner for the grandfather - and her almost being murdered? Pretending to be music agents? The confrontation with Jesse, the island, the shootout? Their deaths?

7. The supporting characters and giving tone to the film: Bridget and her relationship with Jesse, the bar, her murder? Peter Fonda as the dealer who was roughed up? The fat room-mate and his drumming? The woman on the island? Michelle?

8. A "crime does not pay" story, the drug setting, middle America in Texas? A satisfying portrait of a young man in today's difficulties?